Rice is an integral part of Thai identity and the backbone of rural livelihoods, with over five million households engaged in rice farming. As a major global rice exporter, Thailand plays a crucial role in food security. 

At the same time, rice cultivation carries along significant climate challenges, accounting for 51 per cent of agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Thailand. These emissions largely result from methane from flooded paddy fields, inefficient fertiliser use, and mismanaged biomass residues. Another issue is extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, which increasingly threaten yields and accordingly farmer livelihoods.