Carolyn Beans: Why is rice so popular?

Why is rice so popular?

Rice contributes over 20% of the calories consumed by humans each year. Korean bibimbap, Nigerian jollof, Indian biryani, Spanish paella, and countless other culinary masterpieces all begin with rice. So how did this humble grain end up in so many cuisines? Carolyn Beans investigates the global expansion of this beloved crop and the unintended consequences of its popularity. [Directed by Na Na Na Studio, narrated by Christina Greer, music by Cem Misirlioglu, Jesse Barnes].

Rice supplies over one-fifth of humanity's calories, filling plates from Indian biryani to Spanish paella. Its global spread began thousands of years ago, with independent domestication across Asia, Africa, and South America. While rice thrives in flooded fields that boost yields, this method consumes a third of the world's irrigation water and fuels about 12% of human-caused methane emissions. Sustainable practices like alternate wetting and drying offer hope for feeding the world while helping the planet.