{"id":10141,"date":"2016-11-04T17:27:35","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T21:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/can-stress-tolerant-rice-help-mitigate-food-security-challenges-brought-on-by-climate-change-in-bangladesh\/"},"modified":"2016-11-04T17:27:35","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T21:27:35","slug":"stress-tolerant-rice-securing-bangladeshi-livelihoods-from-consequences-of-climate-change","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/stress-tolerant-rice-securing-bangladeshi-livelihoods-from-consequences-of-climate-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Stress-Tolerant Rice: Securing Bangladeshi Livelihoods from Consequences of Climate Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

My parents\u2019 homeland\u2014Bangladesh\u2014sadly ranks first as the country most vulnerable to climate change.[1]<\/a> In fact, the World Bank asserts that if climate change continues on its current path, by the 2050s, 40% of Bangladesh\u2019s land will be submerged.[2]<\/a> Situated north of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh has already been experiencing irregular monsoons, salinity intrusion, intense cyclones and flash flooding\u2014all of which will only become more severe and threatening to agriculture as climate change continues. Agriculture is Bangladesh\u2019s most important sector, contributing 12% to GDP and employing nearly half of Bangladesh\u2019s workforce.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Source:<\/a>
Source: National Geographic, \u201cBangladesh, India at Risk from Climate Change,\u201d http:\/\/voices.nationalgeographic.com\/2010\/10\/20\/bangladesh_india_at_risk_from_climate_change, accessed November 2016.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the backbone of the country, the agriculture sector must become more resilient in the face of climate change challenges or else food security and livelihoods will be in serious jeopardy. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI)<\/strong> plays a critical role in this endeavor. With rice as the country\u2019s staple food and source of income, the country has much to lose from unproductive and damaged rice fields.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

BRRI was established in 1970 to develop and disseminate high-yielding rice varieties and rice production technologies to rural farmers at a low cost.[5]<\/a> BRRI\u2019s role, though, has recently changed as rice fields are being destroyed by volatile weather brought on by climate change. BRRI is now focused on using its\u00a0research to create stress-tolerant rice varieties that can withstand the excess water exposure and salinity intrusion brought by climate change.[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Source:<\/a>
Source: New Security Beat, “Amid Perfect Storm of Climate Challenges, Can Aquaculture Net Food Security Gains in Bangladesh?” https:\/\/www.newsecuritybeat.org\/2013\/10\/perfect-storm-climate-challenges-aquaculture-net-food-security-gains-bangladesh, accessed November 2016.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What is BRRI doing to adapt to the effects of climate change? <\/strong><\/p>\n