Transforming rice production constraints into opportunities: Coordinated innovation for sustainable agrosystems in Asia

Abstract

Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) production remains central to global food security, particularly across Asia, where both wetland and upland cultivation systems dominate. These agroecosystems face distinct ecological and agronomic constraints that threaten sustainable intensification. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of key site‐specific challenges: wetland rice systems are adversely affected by flooding, prolonged waterlogging, and increasing soil salinity, while upland rice systems are limited by drought stress, inadequate moisture retention, and suboptimal seed placement. Both wetland and upland cultivation systems share cross‐cutting vulnerabilities, including progressive soil degradation, acute water scarcity, climate variability, and recurrent pest and disease pressures. To address these multifaceted constraints, we highlight emerging agronomic and ecological interventions such as integrated soil and water management, deployment of stress‐resilient cultivars, precision irrigation technologies, and conservation tillage practices. These strategies offer tangible promise in enhancing system resilience and crop productivity under changing environmental conditions. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to evaluate the global research landscape on rice production challenges and innovations. Our findings underscore a pressing need for coordinated research agendas, inclusive policy reforms, and farmer‐centered innovation platforms to sustainably enhance rice productivity and reinforce regional food security.