Rice and the Environment

Our natural resources are a major focus for the Australian rice industry and it’s one of the most proactive agricultural industries in the area of environmental management.

Our industry was the first to initiate a project to return water to the environment through the Living Murray initiative, delivering more than 12,000 ML to the river system. We were the first agricultural sector in Australia to develop a Biodiversity Strategy and Plan, outlining the future direction of rice growing and the environment.

The RGA also has a Greenhouse Reduction Strategy and a world leading Environmental Champions Program which promotes environmental improvements on-farm.

Download the Rice Industry Environment Policy here.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of life forms within an ecosystem and we depend on it! Environmental health is judged on the level of biodiversity.

Rice farms are a haven for all sorts of plants and animals. In fact, the ric...

Greenhouse Strategy

In rice, methane is considered the main contributor to greenhouse gases and is produced by bacteria in the anaerobic environment. Water management, soil structure, gypsum applications and the amount of stubble incorporation can affect the level...

Water Efficiency

The rice industry recognises that our natural resources are a valuable asset for Australian agriculture. In the past 10 years, Australian rice farmers have improved water use efficiency by 60% - growing more rice with much less water.

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