Although recent rapid industrialization has contributed greatly to improved living standards, it has also resulted in an increase in concentration of "greenhouse gases" leading to global warming. The relationship between climatic change and agriculture is particularly important, as world food production is under pressure from a growing population. Rice is the second most important crop in the world after wheat, with more than 90% currently grown in Asia where it is the main item of the diet. It has been estimated that rice production needs to increase by 70% over the coming decades to meet the demands of population growth. Hence it is vital to understand the effect of climate change on rice growth, development and production. This book is the outcome of a collaborative study between the United States Environmental Protection Agency s (EPA) Environmental Research Laboratory and the International Rice Research Institute. It quantifies the impact of climate change on rice production using crop simulation models and integrates existing knowledge of the effects of increased levels of carbon dioxide and temperature. Detailed scenarios are provided for selected major rice-producing countries in Asia: Japan, India, Malaysia, South Korea, China and the Philippines. The book represents a major addition to the literature."