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Did you know that rice farming is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions equal to the entire global aviation industry?

Why rice?

Rice is a global staple food impacting climate and nature significantly. Addressing its greenhouse gas emissions, high water usage, and contribution to deforestation can lead to major positive changes, benefiting both the environment and the vast population reliant on rice for sustenance and livelihood.

The demand for rice is projected to increase by 70% over the next 30 years.
Women farmers contribute up to 80% of farm labour but remain systemically excluded.
Rice farming is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, while also generating 10% of global man-made methane emissions.
Rice cultivation uses 30-40% of the world’s fresh water and accounts for 15% of global fertiliser use.

What are the challenges?

Rice production contributes significantly to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane, and faces environmental issues such as high water usage, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss. Additionally, it's predominantly managed by smallholder farmers who struggle with climate impacts, limited support, and market challenges, often leading to poverty and financial insecurity.

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Meet the SRP Squad: How a new generation of rice farmers are pioneering sustainability in Indonesia

Young rice farmers in Central Java are challenging traditional cultivation methods to make the World’s most popular grain sustainable.

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30 years of impact

Creating sustainable impact is at the heart of our mission. Read why and how we do it here.

People

850,000+

farmers, workers and land managers are assured that their well-being, human rights and cultural heritage are protected.

Nature

32.6 million

hectares of land where nature and environment are protected from degradation and conversion through use of sustainability standards.

Climate

32,000+

tonnes of CO2 emissions have been reduced, thus lowering the climate impact.

Aadarsh

Have a question? Contact us

Our goal to foster lasting, positive transformations in key agricultural and forestry products around the world is guided by seasoned professionals. These experts bring a wealth of practical knowledge from their extensive time in the field and their involvement with international supply networks. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out. 

Aadarsh Mohandas
Regional Director, South Asia | Rice Commodity Lead
amohandas@preferredbynature.org 

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Other

Our mission extends beyond these focus areas to any crop or product with potential for sustainable impact. We support conservation and ecosystem restoration projects worldwide and help businesses adapt to changing regulations.

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We work with businesses on all aspects of their sustainability journey

Certification

Strengthen your organisation’s commitment to sustainability, showcasing impactful business transformations.

Tailored services

With over 30 years of experience in sustainability, our experts can support you in enhancing your sustainability journey.

Expert courses

Engage in impactful training experiences through our programmes, project-specific sessions, or bespoke courses upon request.
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Do you want to support our efforts to create a better world?

Small steps lead to a big change and all contributions are valuable.

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