Smart Net-Zero

March 9, 2026 | Rice Today (IRRI) |

The article reports that a Google-backed N-Drip pilot in Changhua City, Taiwan, showed how gravity-based drip irrigation could reduce both water use and emissions in rice farming as part of a "water-positive" blueprint for the sector. Results from the first growing season indicated 57%t lower water use, more than 80% lower methane emissions, and a 5.4% increase in rice yield compared with conventional flood irrigation. The 24-hectare pilot combines gravity-fed water delivery with sensors and real-time analytics to optimize irrigation and fertilization without relying on high-pressure pumps. The article argues that the approach could be relevant for water-stressed rice regions in the Global South, although wider adoption would still require overcoming specific challenges such as selecting rice varieties suitable for non-flooded conditions, addressing potential iron deficiency in rice grown in aerobic soils, and designing layouts to lower installation costs.