Rice has been produced throughout the world for thousands of years, and today it is a staple food for more than 3.5 billion people. The United States, while newer to the rice game than some other exporters, produces several varieties of nutritious, high-quality, and delicious rice.
Numerous man-made and natural disasters as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have only increased the need for such assistance. Two years into the pandemic, the World Food Programme reports (1) that global and national economic disruptions caused by subsequent waves of the virus have resulted in an estimated 97 million more people living in poverty in 2021 compared to 2019, leaving tens of millions more people hungry and malnourished.
In addition to being nutritious, rice has a long shelf life, is easy to prepare, fits into the diets of many different ethnic groups, and is one of the least allergenic foods, making it a perfect fit for assistance programmes.
Rice usage in international food assistance has been growing not only in terms of volume, but also in the diversity of the programmes in which it is utilised.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has two principal international assistance programmes: Food for Progress, a monetisation development programme that sells U.S. grown commodities in the recipient country and then uses that cash to create economic and agricultural programmes within the country; and McGovern-Dole Food for Education, a global school feeding programme and a primary user of fortified rice.
A third programme is Food for Peace, the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) emergency feeding programme which works to create a world free of hunger and poverty.
Given that it is a global staple, rice has seen increased use across all three of these government assistance programmes. Recently, more than 100,000MT of U.S.- grown milled rice was monetised in West Africa to support the cashew and sesame industries in several countries in the region.
As for fortified rice, it is the most utilised commodity in McGovern-Dole, having been awarded for all 2022 school feeding projects. USAID also recognises the value of fortified rice for the people it serves, having increased volumes over the past few years and with the eventual goal of having all rice used in its programmes be fortified.
The U.S. rice industry
In addition to the privilege of helping those in need, the U.S. rice industry also prides itself on its sustainable farming practices, having made substantial changes over the past 30 years that led to numerous environmental benefits.
Some of these benefits include a 52% decrease in water use, a 41% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, and a 39% increase in land use efficiency. U.S. rice farms, 96% of which are family-owned, contribute to a safe and strong supply chain for the well-being of all through sustainable practices and being good stewards of the land.
On a global level, rice production has hit record levels for the last several years, with another record projected for the 2021/22 crop year and global stocks maintaining their highest levels in history.
For rice consumers around the world, whether they are able to purchase rice at their local grocery stores or need assistance to feed themselves and their families, the U.S. rice industry is there to answer the call.
FAQs
Rice is a major food staple in Asia, Latin America, and some parts of Africa, feeding over half the world's population.
Is rice the most popular food in the world? ›
Rice is the primary staple food for more than half the world's population, and Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South America are the largest consuming regions.
How many percent of the world eats rice? ›
Approximately half of the world's seven billion people consume rice daily. Rice by the numbers: A good grain. Millions of people around the world rely on rice as the bulk of their daily diet. Over 3.5 billion people globally depend on rice for over 20% of their daily calories.
How did rice become a staple food? ›
The domestication and cultivation of rice spread across the entire Asian continent. Later, it was introduced to the rest of the world. According to Chinese mythology, rice was given as a gift from the animals after a large flood, giving the Chinese people a source of plentiful food.
Does the world eat more potatoes or rice? ›
The potato is the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption. More than a billion people worldwide eat potato, and global total crop production exceeds 300 million metric tons. There are more than 4,000 varieties of native potatoes, mostly found in the Andes.
Which country loves rice the most? ›
China. China has the distinction of being the world's biggest producer and consumer of rice on an annual basis. Rice consumption behaviour varies across different regions of China.
What is the #1 most eaten food in the world? ›
Rice is the staple food of more than half the world's population, and it's been that way for centuries. It's cheap, it's filling, and it can be easily grown in a variety of climates. Rice is so important to so many people that it's no surprise that it's the world's most-eaten food.
What is the number 1 dish in the world? ›
Pizza is the dominant meal, surpassing barbecue in second place and brunch in third. Chinese restaurants are the most common, representing an average of over 9.5% of all restaurants in the top visited cities, followed by Italian restaurants at more than 8.5% and Indian restaurants at 8%.
What is the most eaten food on Earth? ›
Rice is a food staple for more than 3.5 billion people around the world, particularly in Asia, Latin America, and parts of Africa. Rice has been cultivated in Asia for thousands of years. Scientists believe people first domesticated rice in India or Southeast Asia.
Which country eats the least rice? ›
Serbia consumes the least amount of rice annually at 1.2 kg per person.
Hawaii has the highest rice consumption per person in the U.S. at an average of 100 pounds (45kg) per year. Click on CHARTS and MAPS below for additional information about rice.
What is the most consumed food in America? ›
popularity is the % of people who have a positive opinion of a american dish. Find out more
- 1 Mashed potatoes86%
- 2 French Fries86%
- 3 Hamburgers85%
- 4 Cheeseburger83%
- 5 Grilled Cheese82%
- 6 Steak and Baked potato82%
- 7 Hash browns82%
- 8 Fried Chicken82%
Many of the foods enjoyed in North America today were brought over from Africa during the slave trade, including rice. Many Africans were taken from rice-producing regions such as Casamance in South Senegal due to their knowledge of how to cultivate rice.
When did humans start eating rice? ›
The oldest archaeological evidence of rice use by humans has been found in the middle and lower Yangzi River Valley region of China. Phytoliths, silicon microfossils of plant cell structures, from rice have been found at the Xianrendong and Diotonghuan sites and dated to 11 000–12 000 bc (Zhao, 1998).
How important is rice to the world? ›
As a complex carb, it is the primary source of energy for over half of the world's people. Depending on the strain of rice, it can contain decent amounts of fibre, protein, vitamin B, iron and manganese. This means it can play a vital role against malnutrition. In some cultures, rice is thrown at weddings.
What role does rice play in the world? ›
Rice is a staple crop for more than half of the world's population, and it is also of vital nutritional importance. However, the majority of rice production is concentrated in a few Asian countries, including China and India.
Does rice feed half the world? ›
Each day, more than half of the world sits down to a meal of rice. As a staple food for so many, the amount of rice we produce and consume each year is mind-boggling.
Does rice help the environment? ›
After ruminant meat, rice is the food item responsible for the most global warming. Flooded rice paddies are a breeding ground for methane-producing microbes. And rice is a staple food for much of the world, which is also why it has such a big environmental footprint.
