ABSTRACT
Rce is part of the heritage of the most ancient civilizations-in China, close to the Yangtze river, traces of rice cultivation date to about seven millennia ago. Today, in the developing countries, rice represents nearly 50% of the cereal production, far more than wheat and maize. The world production of paddy, or dehulled rice, is close to 540 million t. It is cultivated on about 150 million ha, of which 90% is in Asia. In this region, the per capita annual consumption of milled rice is often higher than 100 kg, and can reach up to 200 kg in Myanmar or Laos. On other continents, the consumption is more variable but can reach 100 kg, particularly in Madagascar, Sierra Leone, or Surinam. In the European Union, the per capita consumption of rice is about 5 kg. Most rice is consumed locally, international commercial trading amounting to less than 5% of the production. However, with economic progress, the populations that are the highest consumers of rice are gradually diversifying their diet, while populations that consume small amounts are progressively integrating more rice into their diet. According to demographic forecasts, by the year 2025 the demand for rice is likely to increase by 70%.
