Researchers have developed a new rice cultivation method that reduces methane emissions by 70% while achieving record yields of 8.96 tons per hectare. This breakthrough relies on the implementation of alternate wetting and drying (AWD), a water management technique that reduces anaerobic conditions in the soil, which are responsible for methane production. In addition to significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions, this approach also optimizes water use in rice fields.

The AWD method involves allowing water levels in rice paddies to drop below the soil surface at specific intervals before re-flooding. This disrupts the activity of methane-producing bacteria, thereby reducing methane emissions.

Studies have shown that, alongside lowering greenhouse gases, AWD can enhance water productivity and sustain or even increase rice yields. This innovation marks a major advancement toward more sustainable and environmentally responsible agricultural practices.