Revolutionizing Rice Cultivation: Drip by Drip
Drip-irrigated rice crops in Turkey. (Netafim)
WINZ’s Rethinking Rice series speaks to experts innovating water solutions to reduce emissions from rice.
Netafim is working with rice farmers to break from their traditional growing methods: with drip irrigation. The agricultural pioneer estimates drip irrigation uses 70% less water while improving production, as well as garnering huge reductions in methane emissions. Given that rice is responsible for 12% of global methane emissions this represents an enormous opportunity to mitigate climate change in the agricultural sector.
Netafim’s Global Director of Innovation and Climate Solutions, Max Moldavsky, spoke to WINZ about how they are innovating in the rice sector from the benefits of drip irrigation to harnessing carbon credits.
If only 10% of paddy rice farmers shift to drip, the drop in emissions will be equivalent to taking 40 million cars off the road - Netafim
What is the scale of your current work with drip irrigation technology in rice production?
After years of dedicated research and development, the commercial implementation of our drip irrigation technology in rice production now spans an impressive 10,000 hectares across the globe. Since its introduction five years ago, this technology has found application in varied climates and regions, including Brazil, Italy, Turkey, India, China, and Thailand. This adoption underscores the potential universal appeal and effectiveness of drip irrigation in enhancing the sustainability of rice cultivation.
What are the benefits of growing rice with drip irrigation given the challenges the rice industry faces?
Last year’s volatile rice market was triggered by drought which limited supplies and led to India’s export ban. Globally, yields are falling and crops are failing as a result of floods, drought and severe weather caused by the climate crisis. Drip irrigation provides a more stabilized method of rice production, significantly reducing water usage by up to 70% and cutting methane emissions by 90%. We’ve seen great success with projects in Italy and India. These environmental benefits, coupled with improved farmer income through reduced costs and increased yields, highlight drip irrigation as a key solution for sustainable rice production amidst global food and water scarcity.
In India, the world's second-largest rice producer, 65% of the population depends on rice as a staple, utilizing 25% of arable land and 45% of total irrigation water. Indian rice farmers face falling incomes due to shifting crop patterns and increased costs for land, fertilizer, labor, and water from dwindling groundwater.
Netafim's precision irrigation is addressing India's rice challenges. On nearly 100 hectares, this method has doubled growers' incomes by allowing three crop cycles yearly and halving land preparation expenses. Precision-irrigated farms have seen yields increase by 20% and water use drop by 40%, while cutting methane emissions by 80%.
What do you see as potential levers for expansion in the future?
Rice is cultivated on over 165 million hectares worldwide and is the largest food crop on earth so the potential for further adoption of this technology is immense. Rice production needs to increase by 25% over the next 25 years to meet growing demand as the global population increases so drip irrigation technology presents a significant opportunity to meet this demand sustainably.
The expansion of drip irrigation technology in rice cultivation is likely to be driven by the increasing impacts of climate change, water scarcity, and a growing awareness of sustainability among consumers and corporations. Government support will play a crucial role in promoting the adoption of such innovative irrigation solutions.
Netafim has worked with farmers in piloting the use of carbon credits to enable investment in improved water management practices. What have you learned from the experience and what do you see as potential as a component for farmers to invest in new techniques to reduce emissions moving forward?
At the COP27 climate conference, Netafim, Orbia’s Precision Agriculture Business Launched an innovative carbon credit scheme for rice farmers globally. This program plays a crucial role in financially supporting farmers to adopt sustainable practices, each credit equaling one ton of CO2 emissions reduced or sequestered.
“To address the challenge of meeting upfront costs for equipment, Netafim connects farmers with companies willing to buy credits in advance, improving farmers’ access to necessary funds.”
Farmers can earn up to 10 carbon credits per hectare annually by using Netafim’s technology, offering them a new revenue stream. To address the challenge of upfront costs for equipment, Netafim connects farmers with companies willing to buy credits in advance, improving farmers' access to necessary funds. The first project for this program was located at the La Fagiana Farm in Venice, Italy. The carbon credits program is available to farmers interested in regenerative agriculture practices.
This initiative benefits both the farmers, through lower resource use and higher yields, and Netafim, via equipment sales and incentives from the credits. It's a significant move towards eco-friendly farming, showcasing the impact of combining cutting-edge technology with proactive initiatives to combat climate change.
Are there factors that will be decisive for the future of low-emission rice production?
The future of low-emission rice production hinges on the establishment of strategic partnerships across the food and agriculture chain, the development and implementation of comprehensive agricultural solutions, and supportive government policies that facilitate smart water use and effective greenhouse gas management. With the backdrop of increasing global demand for rice and the challenges posed by traditional cultivation methods, precision irrigation stands out as a crucial solution.
“The technology not only addresses the urgent need for water conservation and emission reduction but also opens new avenues for increasing yields and improving farmer livelihoods. ”
Climate financing will also play a critical role in this transition, enabling the adoption of sustainable practices that ensure a secure global food supply while mitigating the environmental impact of rice production.
Max Moldavsky, Global Director of Innovation and Climate Solutions, Netafim
Max is the Global Director of Innovation and Climate Solutions at Netafim, leading the charge in driving sustainable agricultural practices worldwide. With a focus on innovation and climate resilience, Max spearheads initiatives to address challenges and promote novel solutions in the agricultural sector.
About Orbia Precision Agriculture (Netafim)
Orbia’s Precision Agriculture business Netafim is the world’s largest irrigation company and a global leader in precision agriculture solutions that address food, water and land scarcity for a sustainable future. Founded in 1965, Orbia Netafim pioneered the drip revolution, creating a paradigm shift toward precision irrigation. Today, by specializing in end-to-end solutions from the water source to the root zone, Orbia Netafim delivers irrigation and greenhouse projects as well as landscape and mining irrigation solutions supported by engineering, project management and financing services. Orbia Netafim is also leading the way in digital farming, irrigation and fertigation through integrating real-time monitoring, analysis and automated control into one state-of-the-art system. With 33 subsidiaries, 19 manufacturing plants, 2 recycling plants and more than 4,500 employees worldwide, Orbia Netafim delivers innovative, tailor-made irrigation and fertigation solutions to millions of farmers, allowing smallholders to large-scale agricultural producers and investors in over 100 countries to grow more with less™
