Rice is the staple food for Asians, and the jasmine rice has remained the best rice in the world, guaranteedby numerous international awards and votes. The disappearance of jasmine rice isn’t just the threat to food security, but also the loss of Thailand’s identity, tradition, and livelihood.
Recently Reuters has reported about that the world would be without kimchi, the iconic South Korean fermented side dish that has been a common dish across the world, thanks to K-pop culture. Over the past 20 years, erratic climate patterns have affected the growth of napa cabbage, kimchi’s main ingredient, cutting the harvest by half. Scientists have predicted that the cabbage cultivation will entirely disappear by 2090.
The situation isn’t much different for Thai jasmine rice. Thailand has been working hard in the last three decades to create rice varieties that withstand not only pests and harsh weather such as prolonged drought and flood. However, the rising temperatures is a huge challenge. Food security has gained increasing attention from governments and scientists, following rapidly deteriorating environment.
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