Vietnam Tests Climate-Smart Rice Farming to Reduce Emissions

In the heart of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, a 60-year-old farmer named Vo Van Van is pioneering a new approach to rice cultivation. His fields stand out from the traditional flooded paddies – they use less water, and a giant drone fertilizes the crops from above. These innovative techniques represent Vietnam’s efforts to address a crucial paradox: rice, while a staple food, contributes significantly to climate change.

Rice cultivation requires unique methods – flooded fields and individual planting – which are labor-intensive and generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Rice paddies account for 8% of human-caused methane emissions, according to a recent FAO report. This highlights the need for climate-smart solutions.

Vietnam, the world’s third-largest rice exporter, has a deep cultural connection to this grain. The Mekong Delta’s fertile fields have been crucial in feeding the nation since the end of the Vietnam War. Rice is not just a food staple; it’s revered as a divine gift, woven into the fabric of daily life, transformed into noodles, wine, and more.