Temperate rice technology for the 21st century: an Australian example

Abstract

Performance of the New South Wales rice industry is examined in the context of global rice production and demand into the 21st century. The need to double global production of rice by 2030 without major expansion of area will ensure strong export demand from temperate rice growing areas including southern New South Wales. Factors leading to the very high yields now achieved are discussed and the potential for further increasing average yields that are already the highest in the world is explored in terms of maintaining gains already made, raising the yield ceiling closer to the environmental limit, and reducing the gap between potential yield and those achieved by producers. Details are provided of the release and utilisation of varieties from the breeding program, and significant barriers to further yield increase are identified. The importance of 'Ricecheck' (a simple decision support system for farmers) is discussed. Problems of tailoring crop and land use practices to obtain environmental stability while at the same time substantially increasing productivity are highlighted.