Severe floods significantly reduce global rice yields

This paper's findings highlight the need for flood-resistant rice cultivars to mitigate risks and support global food security, and implement adaptation strategies against both flood and drought rice yield losses. Research suggests that as climate change accelerates, intensifying extreme weather events, the stability of future rice production is at considerable risk.

Although rice is a semi-aquatic crop that benefits from controlled inundation—such as irrigation or shallow flooding during early growth stages—uncontrolled or severe flood events can substantially reduce yields. Globally, the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters, such as droughts and floods, has placed substantial pressure on rice yields, historically leading to famine, supply shortages, and regional price volatility.