Rice is cultivated in the European Union on submerged land in the coastal plains, deltas and river basins on a total area of about 400,000 ha, all located in the Mediterranean countries. The average crop yields in the producing countries are included between 4.80 and 7.25 t/ha, according to the environmental conditions and water availability. Milled rice consumption ranges from about 6-18 kg/capita in the Mediterranean areas, where the crop is traditionally grown, to 3.5-5.3 kg/capita in the non-rice producing countries. In the European rice producing countries most of the consumed rice is from japonica varieties, while in northern countries is from indica types. Ecological conditions of rice cultivation are quite variable. They include climates ranging from temperate to sub-tropical, soils from fine-textured to sandy, pH from acid to basic and saline. European rice ecosystems are currently facing with numerous issues, such as unfavourable temperatures, water scarcity, biotic and environmental stresses, high production costs, which often result in a low return from rice production. Research, and particularly the one carried out with international programmes, is the most effective mean of addressing these issues. Significant progress in the sustainable development of rice production in Europe is expected through the introduction of high yielding varieties tolerant to abiotic and biotic stress and by applying rice integrated crop management systems (RICM).
Rice scenario in the European Union
FERRERO, Aldo
2007-01-01
Abstract
Rice is cultivated in the European Union on submerged land in the coastal plains, deltas and river basins on a total area of about 400,000 ha, all located in the Mediterranean countries. The average crop yields in the producing countries are included between 4.80 and 7.25 t/ha, according to the environmental conditions and water availability. Milled rice consumption ranges from about 6-18 kg/capita in the Mediterranean areas, where the crop is traditionally grown, to 3.5-5.3 kg/capita in the non-rice producing countries. In the European rice producing countries most of the consumed rice is from japonica varieties, while in northern countries is from indica types. Ecological conditions of rice cultivation are quite variable. They include climates ranging from temperate to sub-tropical, soils from fine-textured to sandy, pH from acid to basic and saline. European rice ecosystems are currently facing with numerous issues, such as unfavourable temperatures, water scarcity, biotic and environmental stresses, high production costs, which often result in a low return from rice production. Research, and particularly the one carried out with international programmes, is the most effective mean of addressing these issues. Significant progress in the sustainable development of rice production in Europe is expected through the introduction of high yielding varieties tolerant to abiotic and biotic stress and by applying rice integrated crop management systems (RICM).
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