We Often Joke About Growing Rice In The UK. But The Joke Might Be On Us In The Next Decades, As Rice Growing Experiments Are Taking Place In England.
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So before you ask How to Grow Rice in the UK, here is my research and thoughts on the topic.
Research into rice cultivation in the United Kingdom has transitioned from theoretical modelling to active field trials within the last year (2025). It is driven by climate change and the need for sustainable peatland management.
Historically, rice was considered unviable in the British climate due to insufficient heat units and a lack of cold-tolerant varieties. However, several high-profile academic and commercial projects are currently active as noted below. And the heat unit issue could be changed by breeding over the next few years.
Here are details of some of the current UK rice growing projects.
The AgZero+ Project (Cambridgeshire Fens)
This is currently the most significant academic trial in the UK, led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) in partnership with local farmers Craig and Sarah-Jane Taylor.
Location: Near Ely, Cambridgeshire.
Objective: To determine if rice can be grown on rewetted peat soils (paludiculture). Draining peatlands for traditional crops like wheat releases massive amounts of carbon; rewetting them protects the peat while potentially allowing for new “wet” crops. So this could be a rice and carbon win win project.
Varieties: Researchers trialled nine different varieties, including types suitable for risotto, basmati, and sushi. The seeds were sourced via the USDA Agricultural Research Service and propagated in Oxfordshire before transplanting.
Status: The first successful harvest occurred in October 2025, aided by the UK record-breaking summer temperatures. And hot summers like last years could speed the growing of rice in more areas if it persists.
Genetic Research at Norwich Research Park
Commercial and academic collaboration at the John Innes Centre has focused on gene-edited rice varieties designed for extreme conditions.
The Alora Trial: The ocean agriculture company Alora, based in Norwich, completed successful glasshouse trials in late 2025.
Results: Their gene-edited variants showed yield increases of 53% to 273% over control crops under high-temperature conditions (above 40°C), which the company intends to transition into large-scale UK field trials.
Focus: Their research aims to create “heat-tolerant” and “salt-tolerant” traits, which could allow rice to be grown in salinated coastal waters or during increasingly frequent UK heatwaves. I’m not convinced ed that we need heat tolerant varieties in the UK. But salt-tolerant varieties make sense to me. I managed a farm in East Anglia and can see how this could work.
UK Rice Research Consortium (UKRRC)
The UKRRC serves as a focal point for UK-based institutions (including the Universities of Sheffield, Cambridge, and Nottingham) to coordinate rice research.
While the UK is not a traditional producer, it is a global leader in rice genomics.
Research has shifted from using rice merely as a “model organism” for plant biology to applying genetic research to improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) and drought resistance.
Historical and Archaeological Context
Academic work at University College London (UCL) and the University of Manchester (the Early Rice Project) has used archaeobotanical methods to study how rice adapted to different climates in antiquity. This research provides “modern analogues” to help UK scientists understand how tropical plants might adapt to the shifting temperate zones of Northern Europe.
Factor
Findings
Climate
Viability has increased due to rising average temperatures and hotter summers (e.g., 2025).
Soil
Peatlands are the primary target for cultivation to mitigate CO2 emissions from drainage.
Market
The UK rice market is valued at over £1 billion, importing ~700,000 tonnes annually.
Risk
Professor Richard Pywell (UKCEH) warns that while successful, commercial production is a “distant prospect” due to the volatility of British weather (e.g., wet/cold years like 2024).
