Environmental Impact of Rice Production in Indonesia: A Study on Climate Change

Strategic Insights -

A new study from the Universitas Trisakti has revealed the significant environmental impact of rice production in Indonesia, highlighting the country's role in contributing to global warming. The research, published in the Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology, assessed the environmental performance of rice production in Jatibarang District, Indramayu Regency, West Java Province. The study found that the agricultural sector is a significant contributor to global warming, with rice cultivation producing greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.

Key Takeaways:

  • The agricultural sector, particularly rice cultivation, is a significant contributor to global warming, producing greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.
  • The study used life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impact of rice production, focusing on the effects of global warming, acidification, and eutrophication.
  • The research found that the rice production stage with the most significant impact was the use of chemical fertilizers in the form of urea and NPK.
  • The analysis resulted in a value of 734 kg CO2 eq for global warming, 3.13 kg SO2 eq for terrestrial acidification, and 0.228 kg P eq for freshwater eutrophication.
  • The study concluded that the application of LCA in the agricultural sector can provide information to help policymakers understand the potential environmental impacts of rice production at various spatial scales.
  • Additional authors for the research include Ika Wahyu Utami, Dian Mardi Safitri, Sucipto Adisuwiryo, and Ahmad Farhan.

Statistics:

  • 734 kg CO2 eq: the value of global warming impact of rice production in Jatibarang District, Indramayu Regency, West Java Province.
  • 3.13 kg SO2 eq: the value of terrestrial acidification due to rice production.
  • 0.228 kg P eq: the value of freshwater eutrophication due to rice production.
  • 18: the number of environmental impacts of rice production assessed in the study.

Sources:

  • "Environmental impact assessment of rice production in Indonesia: A case study from Jatibarang, West Java." Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology (SJST), 2024, 46(6): 531-538. (Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology (SJST) - http://rdo.psu.ac.th/sjstweb/index.php)
  • NewsRx. Study Findings on Global Warming and Climate Change Are Outlined in Reports from Universitas Trisakti (Environmental impact assessment of rice production in Indonesia: A case study from Jatibarang, West Java). Global Warming Focus. June 16, 2025; p 734.