Climate Change Impact on Rice Production and Breeding for Climate Resilient Rice

Human society is contending with a substantial environmental issue in the shape of global warming. IPCC’s sixth assessment report indicates that high-emission climate change scenarios are expected to render around 10% of the currently suitable cropland unusable by the middle of this century. Rice, among the food crops, holds paramount significance in the context of global food security. Until now, annual rice production has matched the requirements due to advancements in understanding the crop’s physiological and biochemical processes, the genetics of key traits, and the rapid transition and refinement of breeding tools. Rice production must be sustained in the coming years due to the crop’s increased susceptibility to severe biotic and abiotic challenges, particularly unexpected drought and submergence, caused by changing climatic circumstances. Increased events of drought and submergence, seawater intrusions and inland salinity pose serious threats to rice production. Hence, breeding for climate-resilient rice varieties becomes paramount to ensure future rice demands. In the recent past, mechanisms underlying climate resilience in rice have been unraveled, which accelerate the discovery of several resistant genes/QTL regions against various stresses. Ultimately, marker-assisted breeding programs were intensified by the researchers across the globe. Further, establishing well-informed regulatory frameworks concerning new breeding technologies and enhanced collaboration in sharing genetic resources, genomic data, and bioinformatics proficiency between developed and developing countries will be pivotal in effectively addressing the multifaceted challenges arising from rapidly evolving climatic conditions and escalating food demands. The upcoming obstacles to long-term sustainable rice production in the face of global climate change are covered in this chapter, along with contemporary breeding techniques for climate-resilient rice.