Project development assessment: an economic evaluation of the potential benefits of integrating apomixis into hybrid rice

Summary

The four main challenges confronting international rice research at present are: to meet the food needs of rapidly growing populations in the less developed countries; to increase the social equity for poor rice-farming and rice-consuming families; to protect the environment; and
to conserve natural resources for future generations.
Rice is the most important food crop in developing countries and is the major staple for 2.7 billion people in Asia, providing between 35 and 60% of calories consumed. In sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, rice provides approximately 8% of the food energy, and is a relatively new staple in the diet. Demand for rice in these regions is increasing rapidly.
In West Africa, per capita consumption has doubled over the past two decades, and now accounts for almost 20% of calorie intake. In Latin America it increased by about 15%. The world's biggest producers of rice are China, India and Indonesia. Production is concentrated in Asia which accounts for 93% of output and 90% of the rice area cultivated in developing countries. China accounts for 23% of the rice area and 38% of the rice output. Latin America and the Caribbean account for 3.9% of rice production, sub-Saharan Africa for 1.6% and West Asia Rice is grown in four major production environments or 'ecosystems' which are broadly defined on the basis Irrigated areas account for 71% of rice output, rainfed lowlands for 19%, uplands for 7% and deepwater/tidal areas for 4%.