Researchers at Chile’s Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) have made significant strides in combating water scarcity by developing a new rice strain called Jaspe. This cutting-edge variety, developed through advanced plant breeding techniques, aims to meet the growing challenges presented by climate change, particularly in drought-prone areas. That innovation couldn’t have arrived at a better moment, as farmers look to adapt to growing and more volatile climate impacts affecting their weather and water availability.
Agricultural engineer Karla Cordero, along with her colleagues at INIA, worked together to develop the Jaspe rice variety. It was their collaboration that made this pioneering variety of rice possible. Through selective breeding, they created a hybrid of a native Chilean seed and its Russian counterpart. Though each can adapt to some extent, this combination especially excels in cold, dry climates. The outcome is a fortified rice variety. It uses less water and demonstrates more adaptability to increasingly severe weather conditions such as hurricanes, flooding, and heatwaves.
Farmers can produce rice with the Jaspe strain and a more sustainable cultivation technique known as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). This pioneering method does away with the long-standard practice of spawning crops in inundated paddies. Together, this powerful combination maximizes the ways to significantly reduce overall water usage. This is particularly pressing for areas that are receiving less water.
Innovations in Rice Cultivation
One of the biggest benefits of the Jaspe rice strain is its capacity to grow without flooding. Traditional methods of rice cultivation often require approximately 2,500 liters (660 gallons) of water for every kilogram (2.2 pounds) of rice produced. She said the process is very water-intensive. It accelerates the establishment of weeds and other pests.
Unlike the Jaspe-SRI approach which focuses on flooding fields to aid in irrigation conservation, the product in contrast uses strategic irrigation. One farmer who has implemented this new technique, Javier Munoz, experienced a 50 percent decrease in his water usage. He expressed optimism about the future, stating, “If we want food security and care about the environment, this is the way.”
Karla Cordero brought her results from almost two decades of experimentation. She presented her results at the International Rice Research Conference held in Manila in early 2023. The reception was nothing less than spirited. This momentum shows that this jurisdictional approach can revolutionize how rice is produced in Chile and globally.
“The plants are much more robust, which allows rice to be produced without flooding.” – Karla Cordero
Commercial Rollout and Future Prospects
All of these key research findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. In a landmark move, in 2023, Chile’s Agriculture and Livestock Service approved the commercial rollout of the Jaspe strain. Each seed grows into about thirty plants, harvesting almost ten times as much per seed as traditional flooded rice paddies. This surge in productive potential gives farmers—big and small—the opportunity to grow pollution-free.
Javier Munoz plans to increase his production area from one hectare to five hectares next year, demonstrating the potential for scaling up this innovative farming technique. The team at INIA is looking forward to testing this new Jaspe rice strain in Brazil, currently the largest rice-producing country in South America. They hope to test in other countries around the region.
“Irrigating rather than flooding rice fields is a historic step towards the future.” – Javier Munoz
Experts have taken notice of this development. Makiko Taguchi, an ecologist specializing in rice cultivation at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), underscores the necessity of creating resistant varieties such as Jaspe. These varieties are absolutely essential to increasing resilience to climate change. She described the initiative as “a promising approach to improving rice production while reducing the environmental impact.”
Environmental Benefits
Through sustainable practices of the Jaspe-SRI method, we conserve trillions of gallons of water. It has the added benefit of significantly cutting methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas associated with conventional rice cultivation practices. With climate change an ever-growing challenge around the world, innovations such as Jaspe are important steps forward in achieving more sustainable agricultural practices.
By successfully bringing the Jaspe strain into production, we can make meaningful strides towards food security. It can help to address environmental concerns associated with conventional agricultural practices. New, ongoing trials and the ability to scale into countries’ often larger, more populous neighbors bulk up that excitement. Thanks to this new rice variety, it holds great potential to help South America’s agricultural systems become more resilient.