Better Rice: Boosting Food Security, Profits without Increasing Yield

Arkansas could produce an estimated 1 to 3.5 million more servings of rice per year. That’s according to recent research analyzing rice quality in the state.In this episode of Food, Farms and Forests, Dr. Lanier Nalley, interim department head and professor in the agricultural economics and agribusiness department, explains his research on the impacts of improving rice milling quality. Dr. Nalley and Dr. Alvaro Durand-Morat conducted a study titled "Feeding More With The Same Output: How Enhanced Rice Quality Genetics Can Lead to Increased Food Security and Producer Profitability." This research explores how enhancing the genetic quality of rice can significantly increase the amount of rice available for human consumption without increasing the yield.Nalley explains how improving rice quality can reduce the percentage of broken rice kernels during milling, which often end up as pet food or brewing ingredients rather than on people's plates. By ensuring more rice kernels remain whole, Arkansas could produce an estimated 1 to 3.5 million additional servings of rice per year, contributing to greater food security locally and globally.   Nalley also discusses the collaborative efforts and hard work of the Arkansas Rice Breeding Program in achieving these results. Read the Research: Feeding More With The Same Output: How Enhanced Rice Quality Genetics Can Lead to Increased Food Security and Producer Profitability Related Links:Improved Rice Milling Quality May Help Combat Food InsecurityStudy: 1 Percent Increase in Unbroken Rice Could Help Feed Millions More, Boost Producers ProfitU of A System Division of AgricultureArkansas Agricultural Experiment StationAgricultural Economics and Agribusiness DepartmentDale Bumpers College of Agricultural Food Life ScienceArkansas Cooperative Extension Service