BASF’s global carbon field trials shows 30% reduction in CO2e emissions

Trials conducted together with the International Rice Research Institute testing technologies and interventions for climate-smart rice

BASF initiated a focused effort on rice within its Global Carbon Field Trial Program in 2024 in the Philippines, together with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to evaluate technologies and interventions for climate-smart rice.

The findings, published in a recent report, are promising. The trial results show that a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas intensity (GHGi) in rice is possible without compromising yield. The water management practice of alternate wetting and drying1 using direct seeded rice and improved straw management contribute significantly to reducing emissions and freshwater use in rice cultivation.

During the rice trials, BASF’s AgBalance Life Cycle Assessment model has proven itself as an accurate way to estimate on-farm emissions – addressing a key challenge for farmers, who typically lack the means to realiably track the emissions from food production. This enables farmers to access new business models like carbon markets, possibly translating into additional value for their operations.

“After we shared the first results from our Global Carbon Field Trials in five key crops last year, these new findings in rice remind us that climate-smart solutions must be implemented and scaled in  where they matter most – on the farm. Only by testing in real-world conditions we can deliver meaningful, reliable results,” says Marko Grozdanovic, Senior Vice President Global Strategic Marketing at BASF Agricultural Solutions.

The trials also highlight the importance of climate resilience, as Yvonne Pinto, Director General at IRRI, adds: “The global field trials with BASF clearly show the potential of climate-smart rice production to reduce emissions while also supporting farmers in adapting to extreme weather and challenging field conditions. This aligns perfectly with the science-driven partnerships we value at IRRI. We look forward to continuing this collaborative momentum and exploring new opportunities together.”

Rice feeds more than 3.5 billion people every day and plays a fundamental role in global food security. At the same time, as agriculture races to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, rice farmers face a unique challenge: how to make production more sustainable — given that traditional rice cultivation contributes around ten percent of agricultural GHG emissions and consumes vast amounts of freshwater — without risking the yields.