RICE and food security:

Rice is the daily staple for more than 3.5 bn people, accounting for 19% of dietary energy globally
Rice provides livelihoods for over 1 bn people
Rice is produced on 160 m hectares, mostly by 144 m smallholders
Feeding 9bn people: a 44% shortfall in global rice production by 2050

RICE and environment:

Rice uses 34-43% of the world’s irrigation water for production
Rice is responsible for up to 10% of global methane emissions
Rice fields represent 15% of the world’s wetlands
Southeast Asian rice farmers are among the world’s most vulnerable to climate change impacts such as rising sea levels, salinity, temperature rise, drought and flooding

From Paddy Field to Table (SRP Overview in Chinese)

The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation is the world’s first voluntary sustainability standard for rice.

SRP Standard Version 1.0

Lessons learned: Drawing on lessons experience with other agri-food sustainability initiatives, the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation was developed over a 2-year period with broad stakeholder participation
A tool for improvement: an inclusive tool for practitioners in public and private sectors to drive wide-scale adoption of climate-smart sustainable best practice among rice smallholders
A compact standard: 46 requirements structured under 8 themes, each aimed at achieving a specific sustainability impact
Keeping it real: designed for farm-level impact at smallholder level, each requirement is relevant, practical, and under the farmer’s control.

SRP Standard Version 2.0

The Standard is complemented by a set of 12 quantitative Performance Indicators. By identifying ‘hotspots’, the Indicators enable users to monitor impacts of adoption of climate-smart best practices- as well as other field interventions such as training.
These tools are being used to develop an evidence base to measure the effectiveness of recommended practices, and also as a basis to develop sector-wide benchmarks.
Together, the SRP Standard and Indicators offer an objective ‘working definition’ of sustainability that can serve as a normative basis for monitoring and evaluation, policy-making, as well as a benchmark for supply chain assurance schemes.

SRP Performance Indicators

Sustainable rice production in Thailand

Thailand’s Rice Department, GIZ, OLAM and UTZ have jointly conducted a pilot implementation of the SRP Sustainable Rice Cultivation Standard with two rice farmer groups in Ubon Ratchathani province in late 2016. This activity was also considered as one of Better Rice Initiative Asia’s (BRIA) interventions to improve market access for resource-poor rice farmers in selected areas.

The collaborative project commenced with an orientation for participating farmers, followed by a full training programme. Three months after it was launched, an external audit was conducted to verify compliance of the farmers with the SRP Standard, revealing an impressive 84% farmer compliance. The independent third party assessment was conducted by OneCert auditors, who were trained and accompanied by assurance experts from UTZ.

During the pilot implementation phase, Olam International played an active role in facilitating liquidity for participating farmers. The company engaged a major local miller who agreed to buy the entire production from the farmers at the most competitive price. This arrangement guaranteed a better price for participating farmers as it simplified the value chain by avoiding brokers and other middle-men. By the end of the pilot phase of the project, a total of 400 tonnes of rice had been produced.

The success of the activity can be attributed to the strong commitment and contributions by participating organizations from different sectors. It is expected that the pilot will be extended to more farmer groups in the coming years.

Cambodia

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has trained 150 farmers in Kampong Thom Province to produce rice according to the SRP Standard, with the support of the Battambang Rice Investment, Co. and Mars Food. A National SRP Working Group coordinates multi-stakeholder activities, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Cambodia Rice Federation, private sector actors and NGOs.

India

Following Mars Food’s commitment to 100% sustainable rice sourcing, some rice farmers in Haryana state were invited to participate in the pilot testing of the SRP Standard. Mars in collaboration with UTZ, promoted the implementation of a farm management system, as well as an Internal Management system to strengthen the capacity of participating farmers and millers to adopt sustainable best practices.

Pakistan

As part of Mars Food’s commitment to source 100% of its rice sustainably, Mars partnered with UTZ to implement a pilot test of the SRP Standard with rice farmers in Punjab province. Main activities included: 1) Assessment of the SRP Standard; 2) Building capacity of farmers to adopt sustainable practices; and 3) Implementation of a farm management system.

Thailand

GIZ-BRIA has joined with Thailand’s Rice Department (RD) and Olam International to pilot the SRP Standard among farmer groups. Following a baseline survey of a group of 32 rice farmers in Det Udom District of Ubol Ratchathani Province, northeastern Thailand, a 10-module training course was provided to enhance farmers’ skills and promote adoption of the SRP Standard.

Vietnam

The Loc Troi Group, a leading Vietnamese rice exporter, recently harvested its first crop of “SRP Rice”, grown by 150 farmers in the southern provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap and Kien Giang. Preliminary findings indicate lower seed rates, chemical use, and water pumping costs. Net incomes were improved by 18% compared with non-participating farmers. The programme will be expanded to 4,000 farmers in 2017.

Rice Facts

RICE and food security:

RICE and environment:

The SRP Standard

The SRP Performance Indicators

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