A Stanford University study has found that severe flooding cut global rice production by about 4.3% — nearly 18 million tonnes annually — between 1980 and 2015, marking floods as a major emerging threat to food security. With climate extremes rising, India and other rice-dependent countries face heightened risk.

BulletsIn:

* Stanford study: floods cut global rice output by 4.3% (≈18M tonnes/yr)

* Period analysed: 1980–2015

* Flooding is now a major threat, not just drought

* Billions relying on rice face increasing food-security risks

* India is among the highest-risk due to its large rice-growing regions

* Heat stress could cut yields by another 15–20%

* Experts urge agroecology, climate-resilient farming methods

* Need for flood-tolerant rice varieties and diversified crops

* Climate volatility is making seasonal floods a year-round threat

* Study stresses: resilience essential in warming world