Many of you may not know that rice is one of the largest known manmade sources of atmospheric methane. Researchers have been trying to sort out the problem, as they have developed a genetically modified breed or rice that will not only provide increased yield, but will also produce less methane.

Researchers from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory said they have created SUSIBA2 rice by introducing a single gene from barley into common rice. The result is the plant can better feed its grains, stems and leaves and leading to starvation of methane-producing microbes in the soil.

Researchers discovered the transcription factor SUSIBA2, for SUgar SIgnaling in BArley 2, and introduced into a common variety of rice. The team tested its performance in comparison to non-modified version for three years in fields in China.

It was found that the new form has led to increased crop yields and almost complete elimination of methane emission. "As the world's population grows, so will rice production. And as the Earth warms, so will rice paddies, resulting in even more methane emissions. It's an issue that must be addressed", said Christer Jansson, Director of plant sciences at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and EMSL, DOE's Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory.