Growing rice in the UK ‘not so crazy’ as climate warms
Written by stingfm on October 31, 2025
Wearing large rubber boots, Nadine Mitschunas joyfully handled mature rice plants peeking through the water of her small plot growing in the fertile soil of eastern England.
Growing rice “has not been done before in the UK”, said Mitschunas, a field ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH).
But as temperatures warm due to climate change, “it’s not such a crazy idea because it seems to work”, she added.
As rice grows in eastern England, lemon groves and chickpeas were also…
Growing rice “has not been done before in the UK”, said Mitschunas, a field ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH).
But as temperatures warm due to climate change, “it’s not such a crazy idea because it seems to work”, she added.
As rice grows in eastern England, lemon groves and chickpeas were also…
