RETHINKING OUR RICE CONSUMPTION

RETHINKING OUR RICE CONSUMPTION

Whoever invented the marketing gimmick of “unlimited rice” must be out of his mind. It might have sounded like a good business tactic to attract customers, but when you examine the ecological and agricultural cost of producing rice, it becomes clear how unsustainable that offer really is.

Did you know that it takes anywhere between 2,500 to 5,000 liters of fresh water to produce just one kilo of rice, depending on the method and the climate? That’s not even counting the additional water we use to wash and cook the rice. At this rate, if we don’t change course, we will either run out of land to plant rice or run out of the fresh water needed to irrigate it.

And if you’re thinking we can just import more rice when our supply runs low, think again. Climate change, natural disasters, and growing populations may eventually force rice-exporting countries to hold on to their own supplies, regardless of how much money we wave at them.

So again, why advocate for unlimited rice?

Let’s consider the current trends: more and more arable land is being converted into subdivisions, highways, and shopping malls. Meanwhile, our fresh water supply is dwindling — aquifers are drying up or getting contaminated, and in many coastal areas, rising sea levels are turning our water sources salty. Sure, desalination might come to mind as a solution, but that process is energy-intensive and would only drive up the cost of rice production even further.

As of 2024, the average Filipino consumes 151.3 kilograms of rice per year — a figure that reflects our heavy reliance on rice as a staple. However, according to Dr. Theodore Mendoza, an agronomist from UP Los Baños, we need to cut that figure nearly in half, down to 80 kilograms per year, to make our consumption sustainable.

Dr. Roel Suralta, another expert from UP Los Baños and PhilRice, agrees with this assessment. He recommends diversifying our diets to include other carbohydrate sources such as corn, potatoes, cassava, and sweet potatoes. At a recent forum sponsored by Future Earth Philippines, Dr. Mendoza, Dr. Suralta, and I found common ground in the belief that food diversification is essential for food security.

Even the venerable Dr. Ruben Villareal, also from UP Los Baños and now 86 years old, testified during the same forum that he has long embraced a varied diet and is all the healthier for it.

From Mindanao to Camotes Island, examples abound. Some Indigenous Tribal Peoples (ITPs) have long relied on cassava, bananas, and sweet potatoes during hard times. In Camotes Island, where Dr. Suralta hails from, people eat more corn and root crops, and according to him, they are generally healthy and thriving.

This isn’t a new idea. Even European explorers marooned in the South Pacific managed to survive by eating taro (gabi). The body can adapt — what’s harder to change is our culture. As Mr. Mark Rondel, another UP Los Baños scientist who moderated our forum, pointed out: our deep-rooted emotional attachment to rice makes dietary change a real challenge.

Let’s not forget that rice is a political issue. A rice shortage could spark public unrest or even a political crisis. Which is why it’s imperative that we act now — before we’re left with no options.

The bottom line: we need to reduce our rice consumption and embrace a more diversified food culture. Doing so is not only good for our health and environment but is also a step toward safeguarding our nation’s food security. Unlimited rice may be tempting today, but if we don’t rethink this mindset, tomorrow’s plate might be empty.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

07-05-2025