Guragon, India
September 2026
Multi-year research in India shows direct-seeded SAVA-134 FullPage® can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve water productivity, and support long-term soil health while maintaining strong yields.
RiceTec, a global leader in hybrid rice seed technology, today announced the results of a multi-year study showing that SAVA-134 FullPage® grown under direct-seeded conditions reduced methane emissions by nearly 90%, delivered the highest water productivity, improved soil health, and showed the greatest potential for carbon credit generation compared to conventional transplanted rice systems. The findings demonstrate that direct-seeded rice can help farmers reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve resource efficiency, and maintain strong crop performance.
The study, “Popularization of Direct-Seeded Rice Technology for Climate Change Adaptation by Reducing GHG Emissions and Acquiring Carbon Credit,” was conducted in two major rice-growing regions of Himachal Pradesh, India by Dr. Dhanbir Singh, Assistant Soil Chemist, Department of Agronomy, CSKHPKV, Palampur, with support from Savannah Seeds, RiceTec’s India business. Researchers compared conventional transplanted and direct-seeded rice systems across multiple growing seasons to assess their impact on yield, water use, GHG emissions, and soil health.
Among the direct-seeded treatments evaluated, SAVA-134 FullPage delivered the strongest overall balance of productivity, resource efficiency, and environmental sustainability, maintaining strong yields while using fewer resources and generating a significantly smaller carbon footprint.
Rice is the world’s most important food crop, grown on more than 164 million hectares (405 million acres) and providing a primary source of energy for more than half of the global population. In Asia, where about 90% of the world’s rice is produced, rice is traditionally grown by transplanting seedlings into flooded fields, a water- and labor-intensive practice that contributes significantly to methane emissions. As farmers face growing challenges related to labor availability, water use, production costs, and climate change, more sustainable production methods are becoming increasingly important.
“Our goal was to evaluate practical solutions that can help farmers improve productivity while reducing environmental impact,” said Dr. Singh. “The results demonstrate that direct-seeded rice can play an important role in advancing more climate-smart and resource-efficient rice production systems.”
Key findings:
- SAVA-134 FullPage consistently delivered the strongest overall performance among direct-seeded treatments.
- Methane emissions were reduced by nearly 90% compared to transplanted rice systems.
- Water productivity was highest under the direct-seeded SAVA-134 system.
- SAVA-134 FullPage showed the greatest potential for carbon credit generation.
- Soil health indicators improved, including higher soil organic carbon, increased microbial activity, improved water-holding capacity, and lower soil compaction.
- The FullPage system maintained strong yields while using fewer resources and generating a smaller carbon footprint.
The findings show that direct-seeded rice can help farmers improve resource efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and build more resilient production systems.
“Rice farmers are being asked to produce more food with fewer resources while also reducing environmental impacts,” said Ajai Rana, RiceTec’s APAC Business Head. “This research demonstrates that innovation in crop genetics and production practices can help achieve both goals.”
The findings support RiceTec’s ongoing commitment to developing technologies and agronomic solutions that help farmers increase productivity, improve resource efficiency, and contribute to global food security.
Click here to read the report.
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