Rice serves as the staple food for more than half of the world's population, but it's also the one of the largest humanmade sources of atmospheric methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Now, with the addition of a single gene, rice can be cultivated to emit virtually no methane from its paddies during growth. It also packs much more of the plant's desired properties, such as starch for a richer food source and biomass for energy production, according to a study in Nature.
With their warm, waterlogged soils, rice paddies contribute up to 17 percent of global methane emissions, the equivalent of about 100 million tons each year. While this represents a much smaller percentage of overall greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide, methane is about 20 times more effective at trapping heat. SUSIBA2 rice, as the new strain is dubbed, is the first high-starch, low-methane rice that could offer a significant and sustainable solution.
Researchers created SUSIBA2 rice by introducing a single gene from barley into common rice, resulting in a plant that can better feed its grains, stems and leaves while starving off methane-producing microbes in the soil.
"Researchers created SUSIBA2 rice by introducing a single gene from barley into common rice." So, does it ferment to sake, or beer?
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday July 30 2015, @06:51PM
> the first high-starch, low-methane rice
How much extra methane is emitted by the rice's consumer?
(Score: 3, Informative) by ikanreed on Thursday July 30 2015, @06:55PM
Given that starches tend to be fast-metabolized and don't feed your microbiome very well, not that much.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Thursday July 30 2015, @07:21PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by BananaPhone on Thursday July 30 2015, @06:58PM
Unless it is given away, nobody will be able to afford it.
Meanwhile the entire world suffers.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday July 30 2015, @06:59PM
http://www.goldenrice.org/ [goldenrice.org]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_rice [wikipedia.org]
vitamin ayy
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(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Thursday July 30 2015, @08:02PM
I heard a funny thing about Golden Rice.
It seems that the the vitamin A deficiency it is supposed to address is being caused by farmers being pressured (economic and regulatory) into only growing rice. If they were allowed to grow the diverse crops they used to grow people would get all the nutrients they needed from the more balanced diet.
Please let me know if you've heard otherwise.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 4, Informative) by takyon on Thursday July 30 2015, @08:46PM
http://www.goldenrice.org/Content3-Why/why1_vad.php [goldenrice.org] (obviously pro-golden rice)
These countries have had rice-heavy diets for some time.
http://www-plb.ucdavis.edu/labs/rost/Rice/introduction/intro.html [ucdavis.edu]
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(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Friday July 31 2015, @10:19AM
None of the links refute or confirm what i had heard about the root cause of the deficiency's that GR was made to address,
thanks for the links though. I learned a few things about rice i didn't know :)
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 30 2015, @09:31PM
Monsanto? LOL, fuck off.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Ken_g6 on Thursday July 30 2015, @07:07PM
> So, does it ferment to sake, or beer?
It's the roots that ferment. So I suppose it ferments to root beer?
(Score: 0, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 30 2015, @07:13PM
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 30 2015, @07:42PM
Indeed. Its getting harder and harder to maximize profits because I can't exploit my workers. I used to be able to withhold overtime, no lunch or breaks, 12-16 hour work days. I paid those ungrateful bastards what I thought they were worth. Not what some pencil neck commie thinks they are worth. Used to even be able to pay a nigger less money than a white man and they'd keep their mouth shut and say "thank you master". I'd fill my whole plant with niggers and have a few whites watch to crack the whip over those lazy monkeys. Chinks are also cheap workers and you can pack em into dorms, 20 to a room in cramped bunk beds like a prison. And they still say thank you. I also have to pay for safety equipment. What an insult. If some yahoo gets killed in my plant then there are a hundred, perhaps even a thousand looking to take their place. It's a *privilege to work for me* so why should I worry about their safety again? If they are so worried then let them buy their own equipment. And health insurance, are you kidding me? The nerve of some people. Let them buy their own. I also can't dump or bury my toxic waste anymore either. Used to be we ran our runoff right into the river. Not like I eat the fish out of it. That's for the poor. Now we have to pay to have our toxic waste hauled away and disposed of properly. Used to dig a big hole and burn the solid waste too. And don't get me started about all of greenhouse gases and other harmful emissions. So what some little spic kid got asthma because he lives in a shack next to my smoke stacks. Too bad I say. Go move somewhere else if you don't like it.
No wonder I moved my factories to third world hell holes. They are more in line with the good old days: worker abuse, slave wages, no environmental laws, etc. A place where a man can run his business as he sees fit. The USA and other rich nations ain't going to be rich much longer if they keep on legislating the businesses off shore.
(Score: 2) by richtopia on Thursday July 30 2015, @07:16PM
Must be a slow news day for the world, because this article made the front page of AlJazeera this morning:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/07/potato-solve-china-future-food-150730120105034.html [aljazeera.com]
Not trying to save the planet from global warming, but there are other issues with rice that has the Chinese government promoting the potato as an alternative. My understanding is the farming techniques involved in both: the potato is more robust to hills and cold weather.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday July 30 2015, @08:49PM
World Potato Congress is serious business.
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(Score: 3, Insightful) by PinkyGigglebrain on Thursday July 30 2015, @07:52PM
This new strain of rice need more water and fertilizer to achieve the promised higher yields. If it doesn't get them it doesn't live up to its hype.
Most Fertilizers are petroleum based, need lots of water to create and generate loads of GH gases during production.
In many of the areas this is supposed to benefit water is in short supply.
Have these issues been taken into account with regards to the "Green house gas reduction" and "higher yield" claims?
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 30 2015, @09:46PM
More importantly: What's the licensing cost?
(Score: 1) by Ron on Friday July 31 2015, @02:44AM
Barley contains Gluten.
I know the gluten-free fad is mostly a lot of horse patooey, but those of us with true celiac disease shudder at the though of barley being crosse with rice.
You have no idea how pervasive wheat-based and barley-based ingredients are until you can't eat them anymore. Without rice and rice flour, my diet would have to be way more "paleo" that I ever want.