Over half of the world’s population eats rice as its staple food. But did you know that rice production also contributes to about 10% of the world's methane emissions?  And that methane is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in warming the planet?  Reining in rice methane is a sticky problem. Different rice types and growing strategies to limit methane often create other problems like lower farming yields. An innovative SRI method developed in Madagascar in the 1960s increases yields and has the promise of reducing greenhouse gas emissions  And if that’s not good enough news…Scientists in China, the world's largest rice producer, are collaborating with U.S. researchers to cultivate a hybrid rice that will be a game changer for our ever-warming planet.Guests (in order of appearance): Dr. Uphoff, Cornell UniversityDr Niu Kunyu, Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesKenneth Graves, Arkansas Rice Growers AssociationDr Lu Shihua, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural SciencesTim Crews, The Land InstituteDr Fengyi Hu, Yunnan UniversityProduction credits:Executive Producer: Marcy Trent LongCo-Host and Producer: Chermaine LeeAssociate Producers: Sam LiXiaoYu, Zack Chiang, Lara-Nour WaltonContributing Editor:  Jill BaxterMusic Composition:  Cole Chiu Intro/outro music:  Alex MauboussinSign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched!Resources:This podcast series is part of a Wilson Center China Environment Forum and Ohio State University initiative called Cultivating U.S. and Chinese Climate Leadership on Food and Agriculture.  The initiative explores the actions both these “food superpowers” are taking to rein in agri-food greenhouse gas emissions and identifies potential areas of mutual learning and collaboration.Blogs from the China Environment Forum:Soil’s Key Role in Fighting Climate Change in U.S. and Chinese Agriculture: The Wisdom of Dr. Rattan LalMilking the Dairy Industry for Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions in ChinaRice: A Recipe for Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U. S. and China?The Forgotten Greenhouse Gas: Nitrous Oxide as an Issue for U.S. and Chinese AgricultureFarming Our Future Carbon Neutral Agriculture in the US and ChinaChina Environment Forum Webinars:Reining in the Methane Hoofprint of Cows in CaliforniaThe Blue Planet Turns Green: Algae Fouls Waters as the World Struggles to Grow More Food in a Changing ClimateOpportunities for Enhanced Near-term U.S.-China Climate Action: The Food SystemDigging into Soil for Food Security and Climate: A Green Tea Chat With Rattan Lal, 2020 World Food Prize WinnerMapping China’s Pathway to a Carbon-neutral Food SystemClimate Action Down on the Farm: Food and Climate Nexus Opportunities in China and the USLOGO images Created by Jennifer Nguyen and Ann WilliamsCartoon tractor is from NatBasil/Shutterstock, farmer from Canva