Startup offers solution to rice’s methane emissions issue

Rize, a Singapore-based startup, is revolutionizing the rice farming industry by tackling the issue of methane emissions, a major contributor to global warming. With $14 million in Series A funding from investors like Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Temasek, Rize is making strides in reducing harmful emissions from rice paddies.

Rice farming is responsible for about 10% of global methane emissions due to the flooded conditions in which the crop is traditionally grown. Rize is introducing a simple technique called alternate wetting and drying, which involves drying out rice paddies for brief periods throughout the season to reduce methane production. By providing farmers with incentives like discounted seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides, Rize is encouraging the adoption of this practice.

Through on-the-ground research and collaboration with farming co-ops in Indonesia and Vietnam, Rize has already seen success in reducing methane emissions by as much as 50%. Farmers working with Rize have not experienced any drop in yield and, in some cases, have even seen improvements in their bottom line. This has led to a high farmer retention rate and plans for significant expansion in the coming years.

While there are still challenges to scaling this technique, such as predicting methane emissions reductions at a large scale, Rize is committed to exploring other technologies and agricultural practices to achieve its goal of eliminating 100 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. With plans to pilot parametric weather insurance and other climate tech investments, Rize is paving the way for a more sustainable future in rice farming.