Rice is Nice

# Stuff You Should Know - Rice Episode Summary

This episode is a deep dive into rice, exploring why this humble grain is literally feeding the world as a staple food for billions of people and accounting for nearly 20% of all calories consumed globally. Josh and Chuck walk through everything from the different varieties like basmati, jasmine, and sushi rice to the fascinating cultivation methods in flooded paddies, while also uncovering some surprising downsides like arsenic content and the environmental challenges of rice production including methane emissions. They discover innovative solutions like rice-fish farming that could help solve climate problems while boosting yields, and reveal some fun facts about which countries produce and consume the most rice, plus why that California sushi rice might be your safest bet.