Global warming is accelerating 5,000 times faster than rice can evolve
A recent study indicates that global warming is accelerating at a rate 5,000 times faster than rice can evolve. This rapid change threatens rice cultivation, which is vital for over a billion people worldwide. Researchers warn that many regions currently suitable for rice may soon become too warm for the crop to thrive.
- ▪Climate change is pushing rice-growing regions into temperatures beyond those at which rice has been cultivated for the past 9,000 years.
- ▪The study suggests that warming is proceeding 5,000 times faster than rice has ever evolved.
- ▪Rice is a staple crop for over half of the world's population, with 90% of cultivation occurring in Asia.
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Planet Earth Global warming is accelerating 5,000 times faster than rice can evolve A new study finds that climate change is creating environments where humans have never successfully cultivated rice before. By Stephanie Pappas published 19 May 2026 in News When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. A terraced rice field near Sapa, northern Vietnam. New research suggests many areas that currently cultivate rice could become too warm for the crop in the coming years.
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