{
  "id": 17366,
  "title": "Why rice crops could be in for a weird year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/31/why-rice-crops-could-be-in-for-a-weird-year",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-07-31T08:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Grist",
    "slug": "grist",
    "url": "https://grist.org/extreme-weather/why-rice-crops-could-be-in-for-a-weird-year/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rice is a crucial food source for more than half of the world's inhabitants, but this year's El Niño weather pattern and the ongoing climate crisis could lead to a significant decline in global rice yields, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In the United States, where most rice is cultivated in the Mississippi Delta, production for the upcoming season is expected to drop by more than half, reaching the lowest levels in 40 years. High temperatures can substantially reduce rice yields, said Atul Jain, a professor at the University of Illinois. El Niño, a naturally occurring phenomenon that occurs roughly every two to seven years, is predicted to be the strongest on record this year, intensifying extreme weather events such as severe droughts across the globe. As this super El Niño intensifies, major disruptions to food systems that depend on staple crops like rice could occur. While some countries are better prepared than ever for the variability brought by climate change, many are facing challenges. In India, for example, advances in irrigation and plant-breeding technology have helped boost production, pushing the country to the top of the list of rice-growing nations. However, the world is now oversupplied with rice, which has resulted in falling prices and less money for farmers. Additionally, high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere enhance photosynthesis and improve water-use efficiency in rice cultivation, but the warmer and drier conditions caused by climate change could hinder rice growth. For every degree of warming, rice production is expected to fall about 8 percent. Groundwater depletion in some regions, such as India, poses another risk, as it will eventually catch up with farmers. The ongoing El Niño and climate change risks highlight the critical need for continued focus on adaptation measures to offset climate impacts and ensure the resilience of rice production in the face of future challenges.",
  "summary": "Researchers explain how El Niño and global warming are combining to create \"the haves and the have-nots.\"",
  "key_points": [
    "El Niño weather pattern and climate crisis could reduce global rice yields.",
    "U.S. rice production expected to drop by more than half, lowest in 40 years.",
    "High temperatures and carbon dioxide levels affect rice growth and yields."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}