The implications of red rice on food security

Abstract

Due to its genetic similarity with commercial rice, red rice is one the most damaging weeds in direct seeding rice systems. Using an integrated approach to estimate the economic, environmental, and food security impact of red rice infestation in the U.S. as an empirical case study, we find that losses under a moderate infestation scenario from 2002 to 2014 amount to 5.7 million tons or 6%, with an environmental cost of $457 million. The resulting production loss in the U.S. is enough to feed 12 million additional people a year. We extend these findings to selected Asian countries where adoption of direct rice seeding is increasing, and estimate that red rice can have significant impacts on global food security.