Rice-aquatic animal co-culture impacts on agroecological, environmental and socioeconomic sustainability

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) signi cantly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions and environmental nitrogen losses.Carbon dioxide emissions reach 36.8 billion tons annually, while methane emissions total 580 million tons per year, with 60% from human activities.Rice serves as a fundamental food source for 3 billion individuals.Innovative and sustainable management of rice elds is necessary to increase yields.This review explores the potential bene ts and limitations of rice-animal co-culture (CRA).It addresses key questions about the impact of co-culture on farm pro tability, water quality, and GHGs, highlighting its ecological, economic, and social advantages such as increased farm productivity, improved resource utilization, enhanced biodiversity, and reduced GHGs.However, barriers to adoption include a lack of extension programs and farmer's concerns about drought risks.Misuse of the system, such as unbalanced nutrient application can degrade water quality and reduce pro tability.Further research on the e ects of CRA under di erent climates and on-eld conditions is essential, and extension programs that require policy and technical support from public and private organizations are required to promote widespread adoption.