top of page
21 Arlington St, London, SW1A 1RN, UK | Tel. 020 7493 2521 | Email: info@riceassociation.org.uk
Sustainability
Efforts and case studies
The Rice Association is sharing its Sustainability Position Statement, highlighting the sector’s commitment to environmental and sustainability initiatives along with a Best practice guide for sustainability claims to support members in developing transparent and substantiated claims.
​
You can learn more by downloading out Sustainability position statement and Best practice guide documents.
​
Our members are making progress to drive positive change across the rice value chain. By working with researchers, farmers, technical experts, technology providers, they implement measurable, evidence-based initiatives that improve both cultivation and processing—from field practices to mill-level efficiencies. Find out what our members are doing to support sustainability.
Supporting sustainable rice cultivation
Tilda: reducing the climate impacts of growing rice
Tilda started to work with a small group of Indian farms in 2021 to test AWD techniques in the field. In 2022, they extended the programme to 699 farms and this grew to 1,268 farms in 2023 and 3,240 farms in 2024. In a traditional continuously flooded rice production system, farmers would usually carry out 20-25 flooding cycles per growing season (which uses between 3,000 and 5,000 litres of water per kilogram of paddy rice). This produces large amounts of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and is a by product of the anaerobic (without oxygen) process that takes place when rice plants grow in flooded fields. However, farms in our AWD project typically carried out at least five fewer flooding cycles. Evidence from the 2023 crop, shows that the use of AWD coupled with integration pest management allied to farm-specific extension advice resulted in significant reductions in crop protection product, fertiliser, fuel and water use while increasing crop yields by nearly 7% and improving farmer gross income by nearly 10% per hectare. Tilda’s ambition is to encourage all of their basmati farmers to join its sustainability programme as well as encouraging all farmers to adopt these practices.
For more information: Tilda Impact Report 2023-24
Westmill: SRP basmati in Pakistan
Since 2018, Westmill’s pioneering Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) project in Punjab, Pakistan, has empowered over 1,000 smallholder basmati farmers with training to adopt climate-smart practices. The results are transformative: 15,000 tonnes of SRP-certified basmati are now produced annually, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 48% and water use by 30% compared to conventional farming methods. Alongside environmental gains, farmers benefit from more sustainable livelihoods due to 9% increase in yields and 26% rise in incomes. The results demonstrate a scalable, high-impact model for sustainable agriculture and supply chain decarbonisation Westmill’s partner Galaxy Rice delivers direct training and resources to basmati farmers in Pakistan on farming to the SRP standard, focusing on innovative practices like Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and laser land levelling. Laser land levelling improves field uniformity, allowing water to spread evenly and reducing runoff, which significantly lowers overall water use.
To drive continuous improvement, a new three-year pilot launching in 2025 will integrate regenerative agriculture and parametric insurance. Regenerative practises - such as reduced inputs, minimal tillage, and crop rotation—restore soil health and reduce nitrous oxide emissions by increasing organic matter and improving soil aeration. Weather-indexed insurance will protect farmers from climate shocks, enhancing financial resilience and further improving livelihoods
Westmill: SRP Thailand
In Thailand are supporting 800 Thai Hommali smallholder farmers with training to reduce the environmental impact of rice cultivation. As Thai Hommali is a rain fed crop, greenhouse gas emissions cannot be reduced through AWD. Instead, the focus is on reducing fertiliser usage which also promotes the growth of methane emitting bacteria, as well as improving water quality. The project has resulted in a 56% decrease in fertiliser usage and a 21% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for farmers in the project from Year 1. Additionally, farmer incomes have increased by 12%.
For more information: Agriculture and farming practices - Grocery - ABF
Riso Gallo
Riso Gallo – one of the oldest Italian rice millers – is a pioneer in responsible rice farming across Europe, offering a range of products grown through independently verified sustainable practices, according to the international FSA (Farm Sustainability Assessment) standard of the SAI Platform.
The company works with a network of over 200 farmers, all of whom adhere to Riso Gallo’s Rice Charter — a set of eight guiding principles designed to promote best practices in responsible farming and ensure full traceability of each rice crop, from cultivation to distribution. In 2025 the Riso Gallo Rice Charter has been certified by an independent third-party auditor.
One crucial focus area of rice cultivation is field water management, which plays a key role for cultivation and environmental impact. The anaerobic conditions that typically characterise paddy generates, from organic matter decomposition, significant methane emissions - a greenhouse gas responsible for roughly 50% of global warming.
After several years of research and field trials on pilot farms, Riso Gallo has tested the application of the mid-season drainage period and succeeded in reducing methane emissions by an average of 30% and lowering the rice’s carbon footprint by 20%, according to LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) studies conducted by the University of Milan within the BESTsomRICE project.
Riso Gallo’s ambition is to continue expanding the network of farmers joining the Rice Charter, enabling a growing community to benefit from shared expertise that can have a positive impact on both the environment and farm profitability — by enhancing the overall value of their rice production.
For more information: Sustainability – Riso Gallo UK
Sun Valley
The U.S. rice industry takes environmental stewardship very seriously. Through practices such as conservation tillage, rice straw incorporation, and alternate wetting and drying, farmers have driven significant improvements over the past four decades. These efforts have resulted in a 52% reduction of water use, 28% less soil loss, 34% lower energy consumption, and a 41% cut in greenhouse gas emissions. Building on this success, the industry has set six sustainability goals for 2030: reducing soil loss by 8%, greenhouse gas emissions by 13%, water use by 13%, energy use by 10%, and increasing land use efficiency and biodiversity by 10%.
In California, where Sun Valley Rice sources its grain, the rice sector is widely recognised for its strong commitment to sustainability. California rice has a uniquely close relationship with the environment. The California Rice Commission highlights that rice grown in the Sacramento Valley not only produces high-quality grain but also supports over 230 wildlife species by mimicking historical wetland habitat.
For more information: U.S. Rice Industry Sustainability Report, U.S. Rice Industry 2030 Sustainability Goals, A Conservation Footprint for California Rice
Reducing environmental impacts of UK rice processing
S&B Herba: energy savings and carbon reduction
S&B Herba installed in 2024 voltage optimisation units in their mills in both Cambridge and Liverpool. These units help regulate and reduce the incoming voltage, ensuring that the equipment runs more efficiently. As a result, the mills are achieving significant power savings, contributing to lower energy costs and reduced environmental impact. From 1 January to 31 July 2025, the Cambridge mill achieved power savings of 213,827 kWh, corresponding to 53,017 kg of CO2e. Over the same period, the Liverpool mill saved 158,094 kWh of power, equivalent to 39,044 kg of CO2e.
bottom of page