International Discovery co-led by UMass Amherst offers strong potential to address three major global challenges: a growing population, the effects of climate change, and the increasing economic and environmental pressures facing agriculture.
Rice cultivation, which supports more than 3.5 billion people worldwide, carries significant environmental, climate, and financial burdens. New research from scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and China’s Jiangnan University may offer a path forward.
Their work shows that applying selenium at the nanoscale can reduce the amount of fertilizer required for rice production while maintaining yields, improving nutritional content, increasing soil microbial diversity, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team also provides the first real-world evidence that these nanoscale treatments function effectively outside controlled laboratory settings.
The fertilizer program
“The Green Revolution massively boosted agricultural output during the middle of the last century,” says Baoshan Xing, University Distinguished Professor of Environmental and Soil Chemistry, director of UMass’ Stockbridge School of Agriculture, and co-senior author of the new research. “But that revolution is running out of steam. We need to figure out a way to fix it and make it work.”
