Rice can feed the world – even with fewer farmers

IN A world worried about looming food shortages triggered by the climate crisis, the collapse in rice prices – now approaching their lowest in 18 years – is evidence that interventions by governments and modern agricultural methods may save the day. The key is productivity: more food from fewer farmers.

When we think about technological advances, what comes to mind are the Internet, smartphones and now the arrival of artificial intelligence. But farming has enjoyed a dramatic and often overlooked productivity revolution: Over the last century, crop yields have exploded.

Rice is a great example. In 1975, farmers around the world harvested an average of 2.4 tonnes per hectare; the yield improved to 3.8 tonnes by 2000, and today it’s almost doubled to 4.7 tonnes.