Japan bets on heat-resistant rice as scorching summers hurt harvest
Grappling with a rice shortage after extreme weather ravaged its crops last year, Japan is hoping that new heat-resistant breeds of its crucial staple can help stave off future supply shocks. The local government in Saitama, a prefecture north of Tokyo that is one of the hottest regions in the country, hopes science can avert future shortages and is pushing ahead with one of several nationwide projects to develop more temperature-tolerant rice plants. Last summer's high temperatures and dry conditions led to lower rice yields and damaged the quality of grains, contributing to the lowest inventories seen in 25 years, according to official data. This year's conditions were even hotter, as Japan sweltered in its warmest July on record in 2024.
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