Relocating rice cultivation domestically is conducive to climate mitigation and land utilization without compromising food security

Abstract

Apart from agronomic advancements and field management, spatial redistribution of rice cultivation areas can be an effective way to cut CH4 emissions. Coupling the linear programming approach with subregional in situ CH4 measurements to reveal heterogeneity in locality and cropping season, we assessed the potential of CH4 mitigation via spatial redistribution of Taiwan’s rice cultivation areas without slashing rice production. Our results showed (1) 1,961 kilotons CO2e, or 18%, can be cut from pre-relocation for the normal crop year 2017, which outperforms peak annual carbon sequestration from accumulated afforestation; and (2) saving 9,518 hectares of rice paddies in selected subregions for growing soybean could significantly raise national self-sufficiency rate in soybean from 2% to 8%. We discuss here the feasibility of spatially relocating rice cultivation in the Taiwanese policy context and implications for Asian rice-growing countries in their pursuit of climate mitigation and food security.