[Narz]

This could be a huge deal, deforestation for cooking (and the pollution generated by cooking) is a huge problem in the 3rd world (one of the issues that most devastated Haiti for example) so a rice that you wouldn't have to cook has the potential to improve billions of lives potentially.

http://english.cri.cn/7146/2010/01/15/1901s542672.htm
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/scientists-find-lifesaver-for-india-ndash-rice-that-doesnt-have-to-be-cooked-1788718.html
http://www.indiaenews.com/business/20091005/224945.htm

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')b]Scientists develop rice that requires no cooking

By Jatindra Dash. Orissa, India, 10:00 AM IST

Indian scientists claim to have developed a rice variety that requires no cooking, only soaking in water.

The rice variety developed at the government-run Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) at Cuttack in Orissa is characterized by low amylase content and becomes soft on soaking in water, institute director Tapan Kumar Adhya told IANS in an interview.

Production of rice in India is extensive and last year's production figure stands at 98.5 million tonnes. The present variety, he said, can serve specific niche consumers and make rice cooking a hassle-free affair.

The new variety, named Aghanibora, tested by the institute is of 145 days duration with a yield of 4-4.5 tonnes per hectare and is at par with the currently grown rice varieties in the country, he said.

'One can get ready to eat rice after soaking it for about 45 minutes in ordinary water, and 15 minutes if soaked in lukewarm water, whereas other rice varieties need cooking,' Adhya said.

The rice is a local, improved land variety of Assam under the 'Komal chawl' category and is not genetically modified rice. It is like any other rice variety grown and consumed in India.

'However, this variety is usually prepared as parboiled rice and then it can be used for consumption after milling,' the researcher said.

The initial experimentation was to test whether the rice variety could be grown in the hot and humid climate of Orissa and still retain the property of softness.

Scientists at the institute have done extensive research over the past three years and tested its nutritional properties and other biochemical parameters, he said.

'We are glad that our experiment has proved successful, and from our knowledge we believe it could be grown in the eastern states of India,' he said.

'The present rice variety is an already released variety and can be taken up by the farmers with the availability of the seeds,' Adhya told IANS.

According to the institute director, the rice variety can be grown in all the eastern states of Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and coastal Andhra Pradesh. 'As such there is no technical barrier in cultivating it in any part of the country,' he said.

'We do not have knowledge of any other country developing such rice variety as rice is a cereal with huge diversity.

'We do not have specific data about the average household requirement of fuel. But this variety of rice will help in saving fuel, at least for cooking of rice. Moreover, it will be a relief to housewives,' he said.

[anador]

Just one more way to feed raw food to your cat I see

[efarmer]

Okay Monsanto, the onus is on you to show you are king of the
GMO realm and bring out already pooped corn. Don't have to eat
it, digest it, etc. etc.

Now that is a real innovation.

It's already pooped and it's Roundup ready.

[pablonite]

There is something about warm cooked food that feeds the soul. Cold wet rice in your Quonset hut to go, with your billions of other cold dead souls.

I eat some pretty raw steaks from time to time, had sushi a few times, like most of my vegetables raw. I dunno about cold rice, sounds like something you feed to inmates or livestock. Wait a second...

[Narz]

If you're starving I don't think you'd care much about the temperature of your food.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Narz', 'I')f you're starving I don't think you'd care much about the temperature of your food.

[Narz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Narz', 'I')f you're starving I don't think you'd care much about the temperature of your food.

[Outcast_Searcher]

Now if only the 3rd world had consistently safe, clean and reliable water supplies to soak said rice in, and someone to pay for said rice, that's goodness.

The risk of course, is that this just ratchets up the population explosion in said 3rd world, making things (net) worse.

Great innovation and intention -- too bad humans will probably manage to screw it up when all is said and done.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Narz', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Narz', 'I')f you're starving I don't think you'd care much about the temperature of your food.

[Narz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Narz', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Narz', 'I')f you're starving I don't think you'd care much about the temperature of your food.

[pablonite]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', 'N')ow if only the 3rd world had consistently safe, clean and reliable water supplies to soak said rice in, and someone to pay for said rice, that's goodness.

The risk of course, is that this just ratchets up the population explosion in said 3rd world, making things (net) worse.

Great innovation and intention -- too bad humans will probably manage to screw it up when all is said and done.

[PatciMkc]

Anything new, worries me. We'll see!

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Narz', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Narz', 'I')f you're starving I don't think you'd care much about the temperature of your food.

[Narz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', 'Y')ep, if you're starving you definitely care if you have to pay for the no-cook rice.


<<<<<< Queen of the Non Sequitur

[Tyler_JC]

Any estimates yet on the expected yields of this rice? Are we giving up agricultural efficiency for culinary laziness?

If that's the case, this rice might actually do more harm than good.

[JJ]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('anador', 'J')ust one more way to feed raw food to your cat I see