A Closer Look at RIPE’s Qualifying Practices: Dry-Seeded Rice

RIPE’s researchers continually work to expand the set of practices that would qualify for a $100 per unit payment under the proposed RIPE100 program by collecting research that demonstrates the combined environmental value of climate-smart practices.

Here we are highlighting dry seeding for rice grown in California or regions south of 1-10. This protocol has been accepted by California’s offset program, which is one of the strictest programs in the world.

Farmers who adopt dry seeding provide significant climate benefits. The practice reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 1 metric ton per acre, but even that significant benefit is only around $22 per acre. However, the practice also delivers nearly $80 in air quality benefits and $8 in water conservation per acre, reaching a total of $109 per acre.  

Review our methodology and sources for this practice, which compiles research from USDA, land-grant universities and peer reviewed studies, in the chart here. Access our current list of proposed qualifying practices here.