Technical opportunities for sustainable temperate rice production in the medium-term future

Since 2000, the total rice cultivation area and production in temperate climate areas have increased steadily, reaching about 25% of the global rice harvested area, while contributing about 35.7% to the total world’s rice output. Mostly in western countries rice farming is highly mechanized. Direct seeding is widely practiced for crop establishment in most countries, while transplanting is still a dominant crop establishment in Egypt and most Asian countries. Rice yield in temperate climate areas is limited by several environmental and biotic constraints. Main environmental problems are related to the cool weather and strong winds during stand establishment. Major biotic issues include weeds, such as barnyard grass and weedy rice, and pests like blast, sheath blight and stem borers. The options for managing these constraints are based on the introduction of high yielding varieties suitable to the unfavorable environmental conditions and the application of rationalized crop management practices.