The rice genome sequence as an indispensable tool for crop improvement

Abstract

Rice is one of the three major staple food crops in the world. In 2004, world rice production representing total rice yield was about 450 million tons. This indicates that the introduction of high-yielding rice varieties coupled with improvements in agricultural practices over the last three decades have made a major impact in the form of increased rice production. However, although the global production and consumption of rice is currently at an equilibrium (http://worldfood.apionet.or.jp/index-e.html), the majority of the population in rice-producing areas, particularly in many Asian and African countries, is still suffering from hunger, malnutrition and extreme poverty. Although a stable supply of rice is closely associated with the agricultural policies of each country and the natural environment that supports agricultural activities, the scientific community can play a major role in maintaining a sustainable agriculture system for the benefit of mankind. Therefore, continuous efforts towards innovative research should be encouraged in order to address the many aspects related to increasing rice productivity in the midst of all the obstacles associated with rice cultivation, such as land scarcity, depleted water resources and climatic changes. Fortunately, recent advances in the field of genomics may offer new opportunities to tackle problems associated with crop improvement and agricultural productivity.