Growing rice alongside aquatic life reduces need for pesticides

Read the full story at EcoWatch.

While rice is an important staple in global diets, rice cultivation and production are not so eco-friendly. Most rice agriculture relies on pesticides and chemical fertilizers for higher yields and less issues with insects and weeds. Now, researchers have found a way to minimize pesticide use for rice fields, instead using aquatic animals to help stifle weeds and improve crop yields.

Conventional farming involves planting large monocultures, or fields of the same crop. That makes each crop vulnerable to pests and weeds, which could wipe out most of one field. As such, farmers use pesticides to prevent weeds, pests, and diseases from taking over the crops and to boost yields.

But some farmers are testing ways to grow their crops while using natural methods to keep away pests and weeds.