Researchers say they can improve rice harvests and grain quality by essentially turning off a temperature-sensitive gene found in some common rice varieties.

Rice cultivation is responsible for around 12% of global methane emissions, and these emissions are expected to increase with global warming and as the human population continues to grow.

The company sources its rice straw from within an average 25-mile radius of the plant, providing a local benefit in both jobs and sustainability. The region produces 20% of the country’s rice.