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Genetic selection could help farmers and breeders reduce greenhouse gases from crops, particularly rice cultivation, research by the University of Warwick and Cranfield University shows.

The intensification of farming to meet global food demand has made agriculture one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While practices such as nitrogen fertilizer use are known to drive nitrous oxide (Nâ‚‚O) emissions, crop varieties themselves also influence emissions. Until now, it has not been clear which varieties best balance high yields with lower GHG release.

A new study, in Frontiers in Agronomy, has performed the first comparison of crop variety impacts on GHGs on a global scale. The analysis shows that the choice of crop variety (specifically rice) has a greater effect on methane (CH₄) emissions than fertilizer management—a critical finding given the importance of rice in global food supply.

By analyzing 180 crop genotypes from trials around the world, researchers discovered:

• Nitrous oxide (Nâ‚‚O) emissions are closely tied to nitrogen fertilizer inputs, regardless of genetic variety.
• Methane (CHâ‚„) emissions, by contrast, are strongly influenced by genotype, highlighting selective breeding as a key strategy for reduction.
• Yields also depend heavily on genotype, indicating opportunities to selectively breed to align productivity with sustainability.

Crop traits such as root structure, nitrogen-use efficiency, and soil interactions all influence GHG emissions and can be selectively bred. The findings suggest that while fertilizer management remains essential, breeding programs should prioritize genetic traits that reduce methane emissions.

This is the first global synthesis to separate the effects of genotype and fertilizer on crop GHG emissions. The authors argue that plant genetics must be integrated into future greenhouse gas reduction strategies in agriculture.