Improving Sustainability for Smallholder Farming

At a Glance

Programme Snapshot

Temasek Foundation has been addressing rice decarbonisation and resilience by supporting projects across the rice value chain, de-risking innovation and impacting planet and people. Highlights of two innovations are:

Qarbotech's photosynthesis-boosting nanotech
Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory’s (TLL) low-carbon rice cultivation system

Qarbotech’s biocompatible foliar spray uses organic carbon quantum dots to help plants absorb more light and CO₂ while simultaneously lowering the need for synthetic pesticides.

TLL’s nutrient cocktail via drip irrigation reduces methane emissions and input, while delivering higher yields for rice farming – traditionally a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Issue in Focus

Asia accounts for 90% of global rice production. Emissions from rice cultivation accounts for 10-12% of global methane emissions. Climate change is reducing rice yields and increasing pressure on smallholder farmers, while traditional inputs are becoming less effective, putting food security and farmer incomes at risk.

TLL

5 to 10% increase

in rice yield shown in pilot trials in India and Singapore

What This Enables

Pilots of innovative, sustainable crop-boosting solutions can be accelerated into larger field trials across Asia, strengthening climate resilience and food security by helping farming systems adapt to growing climate stresses.

QARBOTECH