CNA Correspondent - Can rice farming ever be climate friendly?

Traditional rice farming is a major climate problem. Flooded paddy fields release methane, a greenhouse gas 27 times more potent than carbon dioxide. But a Singapore-led project in Indonesia is testing a new way forward. By changing the way rice is planted and grown, researchers say emissions can be cut by up to half, without hurting farmers’ incomes. Arnold Gay speaks to CNA Senior Correspondent Saifulbahri Ismail about the science behind low-methane rice, the challenges of changing long-held farming practices and if consumers will go for a more climate-friendly grain.