Dutch farmers pilot rice cultivation to combat peatland sinking

Farmer Sander Roeleveld is piloting rice cultivation in the Netherlands to address environmental concerns regarding sinking peatlands. Roughly one-tenth of the country is peatland, which releases carbon dioxide and subsides when drained for cattle grazing. Researchers hope that keeping fields wet for rice will mitigate this land subsidence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which account for 2-3% of national totals. The pilot project involves 0.6 hectares and 30 international rice cultivars to test viability in the temperate Dutch climate. While historically focused on dairy, researchers and farmers are exploring alternative wetland agriculture to protect the low-lying nation's future.

Editor's note: The article is accurate but leaves out significant source material, including the goal to produce three tonnes of rice and the specific mention of sushi/risotto applications.

This article is AI-generated and fact-gated. Original reporting: Phys.org