By Gabriela Harrod
Rice is a staple food for more than half of the world's population. But unlike other major grains, it naturally absorbs arsenic — a known carcinogen — because of the unique way it is grown.
For years, scientists have searched for ways to reduce arsenic in rice without sacrificing crop yields or creating new food safety concerns. Now, new research co-authored by an Arizona State University professor shows that a relatively simple change in how rice fields are managed could help accomplish both.
The study found that periodically draining and re-flooding rice fields during the growing season lowered arsenic concentrations in rice grown under commercial farming conditions in Arkansas.
The practice also avoided problematic increases in cadmium, another naturally occurring metal that can become more available as soils dry.
The findings illustrate how understanding the chemistry beneath the soil surface can lead to practical solutions that improve food safety while also conserving water and reducing agriculture's environmental footprint.
Source : asu.edu