Australian rice growers are continually improving their water use efficiency
Water restrictions in urban Australia have nothing to do with rice farms
Rice is a valuable crop to Australia
Rice varieties grown in Australia are not the same as those grown in Asia
Water used on rice is not the same as drinking water
Rice farms promote biodiversity
Rice is not the agricultural product which uses the most water
If there’s no water, there’s no rice crop
Rice growers are committed to the environment
Rice farms promote biodiversity
Some people have claimed that rice farms ruin the environment – however this is far from the truth.
Rice farms are a haven for all sorts of plants and animals. In fact, the rice growing regions of Australia have become part of The East Asian-Australian Flyway Zone; an international flyway corridor for migratory journeys of many bird species, including water birds that would otherwise not be seen in this part of the world.
Rice bays and irrigation channels are an ideal home for insects and animals including tortoises and frogs. Research by the University of Canberra has shown that around 40 billion native frogs are found on rice farms throughout the rice growing region and the Endangered Southern Bell Frog relies on the rice industry for its survival.
Rice growing creates a series of artificial wetlands which provide a haven for these species.
Together with the CSIRO, the rice industry has developed a Biodiversity Strategy and Plan to provide practical guidelines for rice growers so that they can address and act on improving biodiversity.
Growers are implementing measures on and around their farms that will ensure native plants and creatures can live in harmony with the rice growing environment. Some of the activities include planting and maintaining areas of native vegetation and ensuring Black Box and Red Gum woodland depressions are flooded occasionally to rejuvenate wetland species.
Want to know more about this issue?
Below you will find links to useful information:
Fact Sheets
- Southern bell frog (PDF | 180kb)
- Rice and Biodiversity (PDF | 216kb)