Could ancient rice seeds help fight climate change?

How farmers and scientists in eastern India are using ancient rice seeds to fight the growing impact of flooding, soil salinity and drought. The BBC’s William Kremer tells Graihagh Jackson about his visit to the Sundarbans in West Bengal, where cyclones and rising sea levels have devastated crops. William meets the rice growers drawing on the skills of their forefathers to feed their families. Graihagh also gets a global overview from Dr Rafal Gutaker, rice expert at Kew Gardens, London. This programme was first broadcast in 2025. Reporter in India: William Kremer Production Team: Diane Richardson, Graihagh Jackson, Octavia Woodward Sound Mix: Neil Churchill and Tom Brignell Editor: Simon Watts If you have a question for the team, email: TheClimateQuestion@BBC.com or WhatsApp: +44 8000 321 721 Image credit: Reuters

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Could ancient rice seeds help fight climate change? is an episode from The Climate Question by BBC.

This episode is 22:58 long.

This episode was published on Jan 18, 2026.

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