Challenges and opportunities for a sustainable rice production in Europe and Mediterranean area

Rice is the second largest cereal crop grown worldwide. One-half of the world population and virtually all of East and Southeast Asia is wholly dependent upon rice. Rice production in the Mediterranean regions dates back to the seventh century. This crop was first introduced into Egypt and gradually spread, towards the fifteenth century, to most countries of the Mediterranean basin.

Rice is at present cultivated in many European and Mediterranean areas on submerged land on coastal plains, deltas and river basins, on a total of about 1,200,000– 1,300,000 ha, depending on price and water availability. In these areas, rice growing allows a diversification of agricultural production and landscape maintenance.