Rice lands release up to 14 per cent of the world's methane emissions that cause global warming. Now, Philippine-based International Rice Research Institute (irri) is studying ways to reduce methane emissions. An irri researcher, Noel Nocon, has said that the research project is determining what rice land conditions induce methane emissions, including types of fertilisers and rice varieties.

Nocon says that the results will be used to recommend ways to cut back on the emissions. Officials at the irri say that they have set up eight stations in China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines to collect data on rice land-emitted methane. "There are opportunities for reducing methane emission by deliberately changing farming practices," the institute says.