Did you know?

That in many Asian languages the word for rice is the same as that for food?

This is an indication of the great importance the plant has for Asian diets. This does not come as a surprise, as the cultivation of rice with its more than 7,000-year-long history is deeply rooted in Southeast Asia. Nowadays, rice is not only popular in Asia but all around the globe, and is cultivated in more than 100 countries. 500 million tonnes of rice are processed every year.