Rice is the most important food crop in the
developing world and the staple food of
more than half of the world’s population. In
developing countries alone, more than 3.3
billion people depend on rice for more than
20% of their calorie need. Worldwide, there are
about 150 million ha of harvested rice land.
Annual production of rice is about 650 million
t, of which 90% is produced and consumed in
Asia. On top of actual rice production, another
116 million t of rice is projected to be needed by
2035 compared with the rice demand in 2010.