Project
Dutch rice
In this pilot project we explore the potential of rice cultivation in the Netherlands. If pilot experiments are successful, we aim to expand experimentation and develop models to determine where and how rice cultivation could improve the ecosystem services (specifically greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity conservation) of agriculturally used peatlands.
Following large scale drainage, peatlands have become hotspots of agricultural production in northwestern Europe with intensive dairy and vegetable production. However, as a result of drainage, peat mineralizes into carbon dioxide, causing soil subsidence of several mm per year. The idea of this project is simple: stopping the continued subsidence of land requires re-wetting, and rice grows well in water.
We have identified hundreds of cold-tolerant Japonica rice cultivars that could be suitable for the climatic conditions of the Netherlands, from regions with long-lasting traditions of rice cultivation (Uzbekistan, North Japan, North China, and Russia). In this pilot experiment we would like to screen a short-list of these varieties in free-air experiments to identify most promising varieties for Dutch conditions. In parallel, we plan to continue experimenting with the design of fish-rice systems in Oud Ade (S. Holland), where we performed last year’s field experiment.