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Review

Advancing Innovative Climate-Resilient and Net-Zero Technologies to Enhance Rice Productivity and Sustainability Amidst Climate Change

by
Marenda Ishak Sonjaya Sule
1,*,
Shantosa Yudha Siswanto
1,
Abraham Suriadikusumah
1 and
Saon Banerjee
2
1
Department of Soil Science and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran, West Java, Bandung 45363, Indonesia
2
Institute Department of Agricultural Meteorology and Physics, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur 741252, West Bengal, India
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2025, 17(20), 9322; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209322
Submission received: 11 September 2025 / Revised: 11 October 2025 / Accepted: 12 October 2025 / Published: 21 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Topic Determinants and Methods of Quality Management in Agriculture and Food Processing)
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Abstract

Rice farming is a double-edged sword essential to humans as a staple food, yet it is also a source of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, a threat to human life. Adopting innovative technologies is one of the sustainable ways to maintain rice production and mitigate climate change. This review aims to comprehensively explore and analyze innovative climate-resilient technologies on productivity, environment, and economic sustainability to implement net-zero agriculture. We conducted a bibliometric analysis based on Scopus data using RStudio and VOSViewer and a systematic literature review using PRISMA guidelines with keywords such as rice, agriculture, technology, land, sustainable, economy, profitability, environment, and ecology. A total of 703 articles were obtained in the initial stage, and 27 articles were deemed eligible for further analysis. We found that precision agriculture, biofertilizers, climate-resilient rice varieties, irrigation technologies, carbon and methane mitigation strategies, and mechanization technologies can increase productivity and mitigate climate change. Adopting these innovative technologies also has a positive impact on environmental and economic sustainability, as well as farmers’ livelihoods. This review emphasizes the importance of collaboration among scientists, the private sector, farmers, and policymakers to achieve food security amidst climate change.

1. Introduction

Rice (Oryza sativa) is a staple food crop for most people worldwide [1]. Nevertheless, rice cultivation faces various challenges, including outbreaks of pests and declining soil fertility [2]. The declining soil fertility is indicated by low organic matter content (<2%) and cation exchange capacity of around 3–15 cmol kg−1 [3]. Farmers usually apply chemical fertilizers to increase soil fertility. The long-term use of chemical fertilizers causes soil degradation and the loss of beneficial organisms [4]. This condition is also exacerbated by climate change.
Climate change is characterized by increasing global temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns [5], and more frequent extreme weather events [6], which impact agricultural activities [7]. Rising global temperatures encourage the development of pathogenic strains in rice plants, thereby reducing crop productivity [8]. Climate change is expected to reduce rice production by over 10% [9]. However, rice farming also contributes to global climate change, as anaerobic rice paddy conditions produce methane (CH4) emissions [10]. It is necessary to implement sustainable and climate change-resistant agriculture [11] through regenerative technology that can increase production and protect the environment simultaneously [12]. Adaptation and emission reduction are a new dimension of quality management (QM), encompassing not only food safety and standards (traditional QM) but also environmental sustainability (modern QM).
Technological developments in agriculture have become an alternative to conventional rice farming practices. The innovative technologies include precision agriculture, automatic irrigation, robotics, and the Internet of Things [13]. This technology can reduce costs [14] and increase efficiency by up to 86.6% [15]. The use of biofertilizer inoculants [16] and biocontrol [8] can be combined with Azolla, manure, and biochar as soil conditioners [17]. The use of 2.5 t ha−1 biochar and 50% NPK fertilizer improves soil quality and reduces CH4 emissions in acidic soils by up to 123.63% [18]. Developing varieties resistant to stresses (drought and salinity) can also increase agricultural productivity. The Inpari 34 and Inpari 35 varieties resist salinity stress up to an electrical conductivity (EC) of 12 dS m−1 [19].
The use of innovative technology in rice farming by farmers, particularly in developing countries, remains uneven. This is due to high initial costs, limited support, knowledge, and infrastructure [20]. In addition, it is also influenced by new social factors and local farmer habits, which tend to lead them to reject new technologies [21]. Given these conditions, applying technology in sustainable agriculture is necessary to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) in 2030 through sustainable and climate-resilient practices [22]. Unlike previous reviews, this study comprehensively and systematically analyses case studies of rice farming challenges amidst climate change, how climate-resilient technologies can increase productivity and economic benefits, and the challenges and barriers to adoption among farmers. It also discusses how policy and research can support integrating climate-resilient technologies into rice farming systems.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Systematic Literature Review Using PRISMA

A systematic literature review was used to search the Scopus database (scopus.com) for relevant literature. We got articles from the SCOPUS database and only looked at those from the last ten years (2015–2025). The literature search strategy was executed utilizing a combination of keywords, as delineated in Table 1. We used a Systematic Literature Review (Figure 1) and the inclusion-exclusion criteria in Table 2 to analyze the data we got from Scopus systematically. We found and got relevant articles from the database in BibTeX format. Mendeley Reference Manager 2.107.0 was used to get rid of duplicates, and the files were then exported in BibTex format for bibliometric analysis. The documents selected for use were evaluated based on the title and abstract pertinent to the subject (technologies for sustainable rice farming) of this review article. Documents that were not related to the topic were marked as ineligible and not included in the content analysis.

2.2. Data Retrieval for Bibliometric Analysis

We used literature from the Scopus database that we got in the first step (2.1 Systematic Literature Review using PRISMA) to do a bibliometric analysis. We used RStudio version 2024.12.0+467 and VOSviewer version 1.6.19 to look at the literature data in BibTex format. We used RStudio version 2024.12.0+467 to look at the Geographic Distribution and Distribution of Key Sources variables and VOSviewer version 1.6.19 to look at research themes and trends from the past ten years.

3. Results

3.1. Bibliometric Analysis by RStudio

3.1.1. Geographic Distribution of Scientific Contributions

Figure 2 shows the results of the analysis of the geographical distribution of literature based on publication data from Scopus for the last ten years (2015–2025). The figure shows that Asian countries publish the most articles about new technologies for sustainable rice farming. China, Indonesia, India, and Japan are the four countries that have published the most. This means that Asian countries have been working on food security and modernizing farming for the last ten years. These activities also require cooperation between countries. This is clear from the fact that each country has many publications from multiple countries, and the US is fifth with a balanced number of publications from both single-country and multiple-country sources.

3.1.2. Distribution of Key Sources

The distribution data of the most published article sources on innovative technology for sustainable rice farming is shown in Figure 3. Ecological Indicators is the primary source, having published 56 articles. Following these are Agronomy, Agriculture (Switzerland), Water (Switzerland), and Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, which have published 31, 29, 26, and 21 documents, respectively, in the last 10 years.

3.1.3. Bibliometric Analysis by VOSviewers

A bibliometric analysis conducted with VOSviewer illustrates emerging research themes and trends from the past decade (Figure 4). The figure shows a keyword co-occurrence map created using a binary counting method with overlay visualization. These key terms provide a clear picture of the current direction of technology research for sustainable rice farming. Keywords in red indicate areas of research that have been extensively studied. These studies aim to improve rice cultivation by analyzing factors such as ecosystems, climate, land-use change, policy, and society, all from an ecological balance perspective. Much ongoing research focuses on farmers’ livelihoods and the use of technology, particularly related to increasing income through the use of superior seeds and varieties. Finally, less extensive research is shown in blue. This research group examines technologies that can help agricultural businesses increase income, productivity, and efficiency. Research on greenhouse gas emissions from rice fields has attracted interest from researchers, who are exploring the use of innovative technologies to mitigate agricultural emissions.
Based on the results of a bibliometric analysis conducted using VoSViewer, research on sustainable rice farming technology is divided into three clusters (Table 3). Each topic within a cluster is interrelated. Figure 5 shows that research on sustainable development is a relatively new field. Research on technology and its relationship with insight, Indonesia, smallholders, profitability, efficiency, nitrogen, and emissions became more important toward the end of 2021 (yellow). Reports from 2022 to 2025 are not shown in Figure 3 because they are not very common. This means that there were fewer publications in 2022–2025 than in 2020–2021.

3.2. Systematic Literature Review

The results of the literature search, based on Scopus data, yielded 703 documents, which were then selected to identify 27 research articles. The 27 articles were then analyzed and compiled in Table 4. The table shows that in the last 10 years, research on innovative sustainable rice farming technology has been grouped into several types of technology. The types of technological innovation include precision agriculture and digital farming; biofertilizers, microbial inoculants and soil amendment; climate-resistant varieties; sustainable water and irrigation technology; carbon and methane mitigation; and mechanization technology. Each of these technologies has an impact on productivity, environmental sustainability, and economic feasibility.

4. Discussion

4.1. Case Study of Agricultural Problems in Rice Production Centers

China, India, and Indonesia are some of the places where rice is grown the most. Climate change threatens activities in these areas by lowering productivity. Recent studies indicate that climate change is projected to elevate temperatures in Northeast China by 2.03–2.48 °C. The main factors influencing changes in crop yields include average daily temperature, summer duration index, and average solar radiation [45]. A recent case study in India shows that this hurts food insecurity in farming communities. This occurs because changes in rainfall variability increase disease intensity, reduce soil fertility, and reduce crop productivity. Furthermore, monsoon variations also increase drought in India, reducing India’s gross domestic product (GDP) by around 2–5% [46]. In addition, Indonesia is the centre of rice production and is affected by global climate change.
Rice production in Indonesia is primarily concentrated on the island of Java. Based on the distribution data of rice production from 2020 to 2022, the provinces of West Java, Central Java, and East Java produce 53% of Indonesia’s national rice production. This condition is significantly different from that of provinces outside Java, which contribute around 3–9% of national rice production. The high rice production on the island of Java is attributed to the effective irrigation system, the use of superior seeds, and the application of better fertilisers compared to rice farming outside Java [47]. Additionally, low rice production outside Java can also be influenced by climate events such as El Niño and La Niña, which cause drought and crop failures in eastern Indonesia [48]. If Indonesia relies solely on national rice production from the island of Java, this condition will be very dangerous, considering climate change. This is because around 29% of rice fields on the island of Java are within a 10 km radius of the coast. Currently, there has been a decrease in land production during the dry season, which is exacerbated by seawater intrusion. This condition can reduce rice production by up to 0.65 t ha−1 [6].

4.2. Innovative Technologies in Sustainable Rice Farming

4.2.1. Precision Agriculture and Digital Farming

Precision farming in rice cultivation can be performed by utilizing technology to replace conventional farming methods. Technology optimizes input, thereby increasing productivity. One technology that can be utilized is the weather forecast-based consulting service (WFBAS). Farmers use this technology to make informed decisions based on field conditions. Table 4 shows that WFBAS can increase yields and fertilizer efficiency and reduce water use by 7%, 16%, and 23%, respectively [25]. Additionally, precision farming systems can also use an alternative wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation system based on the Internet of Things (IoT). Sensors in the AWD irrigation system can save 13–20% more water compared to manual techniques and reduce irrigation energy costs by up to 25%. Additionally, it can increase moderate yield quality by approximately 2–11% [44]. Technology-based precision agriculture can also be carried out in rice plant weed management activities.
Weed management in rice farming by smallholder farmers is typically performed manually or chemically, requiring significant labour and hurting the environment. In Japan, farmers can use AIGAMO robots for weed management activities in rice fields. This robot functions to stir the soil in rice fields and block sunlight, thereby inhibiting weed growth [23]. AIGAMO operates using solar energy and is equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) [49]. The use of this robot can increase crop yields by up to 10% and reduce weeding time by up to 58% [23]. Weed control can also be performed with the YOLOv5 robot. This robot requires fewer computing resources [14]. The use of this advanced technology can reduce the use of traditional agricultural machinery and herbicides [50], thereby increasing the efficiency of quality management in rice farming [51]. In addition, it can be combined with the cost reduction operational principle (CROP) model, such as that in Thailand. This model has been proven to reduce the use of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides by up to 60%, 50%, and 28%, respectively [26]. In the future, investigations are needed into the potential of combining various advanced technologies, thereby increasing the scalability of the system in various environmental conditions [14].

4.2.2. Biofertilizers, Microbial Inoculants, and Soil Amendment

Biofertilizers and microbial inoculants can increase nutrient availability and stimulate plant growth. Microbial groups that can be utilized include nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate solubilizers, potassium solubilizers, and phytohormone producers, which can reduce the need for inorganic fertilizers [52]. This can indirectly reduce chemical fertilizer contamination in the soil. This microbial group can also stimulate rice plant growth by increasing nutrient absorption through gene regulation, promoting root development, regulating photosynthesis, influencing tillering and panicle formation, and reducing nitrogen oxide emissions (N2O). The microbial biostimulants can increase yields by up to 39% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the form of CH4 [28]. The bacteria can also be used as bioremediation to degrade pesticide contamination in water and soil in rice fields [53]. In addition, biofertilizer development can also be achieved by utilizing growth-stimulating fungi, such as Trichoderma spp. and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF).
Table 4 shows that the use of Trichoderma spp. in SRI and organic farming systems can increase yields by up to 31% [30]. The use of AMF (Glomus and Acaulospora) also significantly increased rice yields [27]. This is in line with Rhizophagus irregularis inoculation, which increased protein content and yields by 74% and 28.2%, respectively [54]. This increase in yield is because AMF can increase nutrient and water absorption, regulate phytohormones, and reduce sodium toxicity [55]. The presence of spores in soil contributes to the formation of soil microecosystems [56].
Biochar can be used as a soil conditioner to enhance soil fertility. The use of biochar with inorganic fertilizers can increase the efficiency of N (75%), P (84%), and K (167%) [34]. Biochar can also reduce CO2 emissions, especially the labile carbon fraction on the surface of the biochar [57]. In addition, biochar can function as a soil conditioner by reducing soil acidity, increasing cation exchange capacity (CEC), and encouraging microbial activity [58]. Other amendments that can be used are Azolla and manure. The application of Azolla (6800 kg ha−1) and nitrogen fertilizer (166.41 kg ha−1) can increase rice yields by around 10–20.5% [31]. The application of manure and rice husks can significantly improve soil quality and plant performance [36]. Although research on biofertilizers, microbial inoculations, and soil amendments has shown significant results, most of this research remains limited to experimental scales. Comprehensive research is needed to examine their potential for increasing productivity, economic viability, and overall social impact so that farmers can reap tangible benefits [35].

4.2.3. Stress-Tolerant and Climate-Resilient Rice Varieties

The current changes will increase the presence of environmental stress, such as drought, acidity, or salinity. One of the areas most affected by salinity stress is the coastal region of Indonesia. A significant increase in salinity will cause a decrease in plant productivity [6]. One approach taken is the development of saline soil varieties such as Inpari 34 and Inpari 35. These varieties have a tolerance to salinity up to 12 dS m−1 [19]. The results of recent studies indicate that combining the use of salinity-tolerant varieties with gypsum and organic amendments can increase farmer income by up to 93% and production stability compared to conventional farming practices [6]. This increase is not only due to the genetics of the variety but also the influence of soil conditioners that can improve soil structure and nutrient availability [59].

4.2.4. Sustainable Water and Irrigation Technologies

The occurrence of global climate change will affect the availability of water and changes in rainfall patterns, which will hurt rice farming. This is because rice requires between 432 and 746 mm of water per year, but with climate change, adequate rainfall only meets 27–35% of rice needs [60]. Given these conditions, one technology that can be used is biodegradable mulch. This mulch is made from fermented rice straw, so it has a porous structure that can increase soil water retention, reduce evapotranspiration, and support water absorption by roots, thus improving the quality of rice plants [61]. Additionally, this mulch can enhance the soil microclimate by maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels, stimulating microbial activity, and releasing nutrients upon decomposition [62]. The results of recent studies show that biodegradable mulch technology can increase yields by around 20.2–36.6% [41]. Another technological alternative is an IoT-based irrigation system equipped with sensors to automatically monitor soil moisture, temperature, humidity, and weather conditions [7]. In Taiwan, this system can help farmers reduce their water, energy, and labour consumption [63].

4.2.5. Carbon and Methane Mitigation Strategies

Rice cultivation is one of the sectors that produces around 10% of agricultural emissions and 12% of global CH4 emissions [64]. These emissions are produced from anaerobic decomposition in flooded rice fields [65]. An agricultural system that can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is the rice–crab co-culture (RC) system. In this system, the presence of crabs plays a role in controlling weeds and pests, and their residues and faeces function as a source of slowly released organic nitrogen. The results of recent studies, as shown in Table 4, indicate that this RC system can increase rice yields by 0.4% and reduce CH4 emissions by 13.3% compared to monoculture systems [38]. Additionally, it can be achieved through an organic farming system, which can increase soil carbon storage, maintain balance, and support long-term soil health [3].

4.2.6. Mechanization Technologies

The results of the agricultural technology analysis (Table 4) show that one potential rice farming mechanization system is mechanical wet direct planting (mDRS). In the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, the practice of this system can reduce seed rates and yield variability compared to Broadcast Seeding (bDSR). In addition, the mDSR system can increase N productivity by around 21–36%, increase net income by around 145–248 USD, and reduce carbon footprints by around 12–25% compared to bDSR [40]. This can occur due to increased labor efficiency through agricultural mechanization [66]. Despite its many benefits, the implementation remains limited due to the lack of availability of machines and service providers [40].

4.3. Assessing the Impacts of Innovative Technologies

4.3.1. Productivity Outcomes

The results of the analysis in Table 4 indicate that the application of informative technology in rice farming holds real potential for increasing agricultural yields under various conditions. The adoption of stress-tolerant rice varieties by farmers in Nepal can enhance agricultural modernisation and improve household productivity [67]. The use of biodegradable mulch can also increase crop yields through the ability of mulch to enhance leaf area index, stimulate root development, and improve photosynthesis efficiency, thereby increasing biomass and yield [42]. Increasing rice cultivation productivity is also related to integrated soil health management. The results of various studies presented in Table 4 indicate that a combination of organic fertilisers, bio fertilisers, and soil conditioners, such as biochar, can enhance the efficiency of nutrient use and plant growth [37]. Additionally, the use of intelligent irrigation systems and mDSR systems also plays a role in increasing yield stability through the optimisation of water use and agricultural inputs.

4.3.2. Environmental Impact Analysis

The integration of various innovative technologies (Table 4) into the rice farming system has great potential for reducing the environmental impact of traditional agriculture. The adoption of biodegradable mulch is also an environmentally friendly alternative compared to the use of conventional plastic mulch. Mulch developed based on rice waste can improve soil quality after being completely decomposed by soil microbes [42]. In addition, the development of waste-based soil conditioners can also realize the concept of a circular economy and reduce the burden on final landfills. By developing this concept, it can indirectly reduce the presence of organic waste in society [68]. Organic farming systems and the use of biofertilizers are highly beneficial for the environment, as they increase biodiversity, improve soil structure, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance energy efficiency [3].

4.3.3. Economic Viability and Farmer Livelihoods

The level of adoption of innovative technologies, as shown in Table 4, by farmers is influenced by the potential of each technology to improve the farmer’s economic situation. Welding robots in organic farming systems can reduce labour costs and increase yields [69]. This will impact the level of absorption and adoption of technology due to its economic profitability [70]. In addition, farmers’ belief in the long-term value of the technology can also reduce farmers’ sensitivity to initial investment costs [23]. When farmers recognise that innovative technology is profitable, their willingness to adopt it will increase significantly [70]. This is in line with research in Japan, which found that the effectiveness of technology and the certainty of rice cultivation results were the main factors in the adoption of technology by farmers [23].
A case study in China showed that the crab–rice co-culture model can increase net ecosystem economic benefits by more than 1265.7% compared to traditional methods [38]. In Thailand, using the CROP system and biofertilizer increased farmers’ net income over three seasons by up to 370.6 USD ha−1 compared to the conventional system (207.5 USD ha−1) [26]. This potential can also be enhanced through integrated practices between technologies, such as IoT-based precision agriculture [44], and the distribution of stress-tolerant varieties [6]. The existence of a widely used technology package can reduce input costs for smallholder farmers and increase the sustainability of rice production [26]. Recent research shows that the WFBAS system in Bangladesh can reduce production costs by an average of 13%. This occurs due to the timely and optimal use of inputs (fertilizer, irrigation, and pesticides) [25].

4.4. Challenges and Barriers to Adoption

Although innovative technologies, as listed in Table 4, have great potential, their current application is still limited. The high initial investment costs associated with the application of technologies, such as IoT-based irrigation systems [71], and the limited availability of equipment still hinder adoption by farmers [40]. IoT-based irrigation systems require additional infrastructure, such as Internet connectivity and electricity [44]. Although some farmers perceive long-term economic benefits and are willing to invest [23], the risk of water scarcity and drought due to climate change, as well as economic uncertainty, can deter farmers from adopting technology [72]. The lack of technology adoption by farmers can also occur due to limited knowledge of the technology among farmers [23]. The adoption of technology, such as agricultural mechanization, is also influenced by agroecological zones. The existence of fragmentation in mountainous areas, characterized by small plots, poses a challenge for large-scale adoption [73]. Case studies in Japan show that farmers who plan to adopt organic farming are concerned about non-compliance with social norms from their neighbors who still farm conventionally [74]. This condition is also found in Nepal, where social status, such as caste classification, influences the adoption of soil conservation technology by farmers [75]. In Indonesia, conventional farmers are less interested in switching to organic farming due to limited market conditions and the additional costs required [3].

4.5. Future Prospects and Policy Recommendations

4.5.1. Integrating Multiple Technologies for Holistic Sustainability

The combination of various technologies is used to maintain rice production in line with climate change [60]. In the future, the focus of research and technology development will be on digital agriculture, agroecology, and smart systems. Precision agriculture that uses artificial intelligence, such as weed detection systems using YOLOv8 or YOLO-NAS [14], is combined with nano-encapsulated herbicides, thereby reducing herbicide use [24]. We also need to conduct long-term research to determine how well technology performs in various climate conditions, assessing its resilience and impact on agriculture [76]. Furthermore, extensive research is needed to integrate proven technologies and thoroughly evaluate their advantages. Agricultural practices that integrate diverse technologies can improve the sustainability of rice cultivation. The use of the CROP system in Thailand includes a series of best management practices, laser land levelling, mechanical drum seeders, and biofertilizers, which can help farmers earn more money (79%), reduce fertilizer use (57%), and reduce pesticide use (28%) [26].

4.5.2. Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Promoting Sustainable Practices

The implementation and adoption of innovative, climate-resilient, and net-zero technologies, as described in Table 4, requires strong collaboration between farmers, researchers, the private sector, agricultural extension workers, and the government [25]. Researchers need to conduct further comprehensive research on the integration of various technologies, such as biofertilizers, nanoencapsulated herbicides, and soil amendments, with precision agriculture. This approach is used to ensure their effectiveness and applicability across various environments and agricultural systems. In addition, environmental, regulatory, biosafety, and economic feasibility analyses are needed [24]. This will help ensure that farmers’ investments are productive and efficient [67].
The private sector must improve the effectiveness, durability, and ease of operation of technologies such as the AIGAMO robot. Furthermore, producers need to offer technical support and consulting services to increase adoption. Technical support and system development from the government, through the agricultural service, are needed to reduce the latent risks of agricultural technology transitions. This action can increase rice farmers’ knowledge in using new technologies [23]. This support can take the form of technical demonstration activities in the field, thereby increasing the exchange of information and technology promotion among rice farmers in villages [77]. The government can also provide subsidies to farmers to assist with technology conversion and increase the scale of application of land technology [23]. In addition, the government needs to provide price certainty and market absorption for products produced by farmers.
The existence of these innovative technologies serves as a key driver for global rice farming quality management. Farmers’ adoption of innovative climate-resilient and net-zero technologies can not only increase productivity but also ensure yield stability (process quality) amidst climate change. Furthermore, they can reduce chemical residues (product safety) and achieve environmental sustainability (modern QM standards).

5. Conclusions

The demand for rice around the world will increase significantly. The increased demand will make food security less secure as the climate changes. Rice farming contributes to global climate change in two ways: it exacerbates the problem and serves as a contributing factor. This systematic literature and bibliometric analysis identified 27 innovative climate-resilient and net-zero technologies, including precision agriculture, biofertilizers, climate-resilient rice varieties, irrigation technologies, carbon and methane mitigation strategies, and mechanization technologies. These technologies make farmers more productive, help the environment, and boost the economy. In the future, farmers, scientists, the private sector, and the government need to work together. The extensive investigations by researchers must use multiple technologies to ensure their efficacy and relevance in various environments. The private sector needs to make tech products that smallholder farmers can afford. The government can utilize campaigns, training, grants, capital assistance, and expanded subsidies to ensure that agricultural products are effectively used in promoting the adoption of technology. This job is performed by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Services. This method will not only boost agricultural productivity, but it will also help achieve SDGs 2 and 13 directly.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, M.I.S.S. and S.Y.S.; methodology, M.I.S.S. and S.Y.S.; software, M.I.S.S. and S.Y.S.; validation, M.I.S.S. and S.Y.S.; formal analysis, M.I.S.S. and S.Y.S.; investigation, M.I.S.S. and S.Y.S.; resources, M.I.S.S. and S.Y.S.; data curation, M.I.S.S., S.B. and A.S.; writing—original draft preparation, M.I.S.S., S.Y.S., S.B. and A.S.; writing—review and editing, M.I.S.S., S.Y.S., S.B. and A.S.; visualization, M.I.S.S. and S.Y.S.; supervision, S.B. and A.S.; project administration, M.I.S.S. and S.Y.S.; funding acquisition, M.I.S.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by Universitas Padjadjaran, Review Article Grant, 5488/UN6.E/PT.00/2025, and the APC was funded by Universitas Padjadjaran.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not Applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author(s).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Figure 1. PRISMA flowchart depicting the systematic review process to identify and select literature on innovative technologies in sustainable rice farming. A total of 703 documents were identified from the SCOPUS database, with 27 studies meeting the inclusion criteria after screening and eligibility assessment.
Figure 1. PRISMA flowchart depicting the systematic review process to identify and select literature on innovative technologies in sustainable rice farming. A total of 703 documents were identified from the SCOPUS database, with 27 studies meeting the inclusion criteria after screening and eligibility assessment.
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Figure 2. Distribution of scientific publications on sustainable rice farming technologies, categorised by type of collaboration during 2015–2025. The blue bars represent Single Country Publication (SCP), where the authors are from the same country. The orange bars indicate Multi-Country Publication (MCP), where the authors collaborate across countries. China is the country with the most publications, followed by Indonesia, India, Japan, and the USA.
Figure 2. Distribution of scientific publications on sustainable rice farming technologies, categorised by type of collaboration during 2015–2025. The blue bars represent Single Country Publication (SCP), where the authors are from the same country. The orange bars indicate Multi-Country Publication (MCP), where the authors collaborate across countries. China is the country with the most publications, followed by Indonesia, India, Japan, and the USA.
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Figure 3. Top 10 scientific sources publishing research on sustainable rice farming technologies based on the number of documents indexed during 2015–2025. These journals publish research on sustainability, water management, and technological innovation in rice systems.
Figure 3. Top 10 scientific sources publishing research on sustainable rice farming technologies based on the number of documents indexed during 2015–2025. These journals publish research on sustainability, water management, and technological innovation in rice systems.
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Figure 4. Keyword co-occurrence network related to sustainable rice farming research. The node colours group topics by cluster: blue (technology and productivity), green (farmer livelihoods and adoption), and red (environment and climate change). The size of each node reflects keyword frequency, while the lines indicate the strength of co-occurrence between keywords.
Figure 4. Keyword co-occurrence network related to sustainable rice farming research. The node colours group topics by cluster: blue (technology and productivity), green (farmer livelihoods and adoption), and red (environment and climate change). The size of each node reflects keyword frequency, while the lines indicate the strength of co-occurrence between keywords.
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Figure 5. Overlay visualisation of keyword co-occurrence in sustainable rice farming research based on average publication year. Node colour indicates temporal evolution, transitioning from purple (older topics) to yellow (emerging topics). This trend shows a shift from productivity-focused research toward climate mitigation and low-emission strategies.
Figure 5. Overlay visualisation of keyword co-occurrence in sustainable rice farming research based on average publication year. Node colour indicates temporal evolution, transitioning from purple (older topics) to yellow (emerging topics). This trend shows a shift from productivity-focused research toward climate mitigation and low-emission strategies.
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Table 1. Approach used to gather applicable research articles.
Table 1. Approach used to gather applicable research articles.
Search StrategyScopus
new AND rice AND field AND development AND technology17
technological AND innovation AND rice AND farming4
farming AND paddy AND fields194
environmental AND sustainability AND rice AND farming54
ecological AND effects AND agricultural AND land AND development201
sustainable AND land AND use AND rice AND farming66
yield AND improvement AND rice AND paddy AND development12
technology AND productivity AND rice AND agriculture59
farmer AND livelihoods AND rice AND field35
economic AND benefits AND rice AND farming61
Table 2. Criteria for inclusion and exclusion applied in this study.
Table 2. Criteria for inclusion and exclusion applied in this study.
CriteriaInclusionExclusion
Relevance topicsJournal with a focus on technologies for sustainable rice farmingJournal without a core focus on technologies for sustainable rice farming
Date of publication 2015–2025Years before 2015
Type of publicationResearch articleBook chapters, Encyclopedia, News, and Conference abstracts
Language of publicationEnglishAll other languages
AccessOpen accessNo open access
DatabasesScopus Articles that are not indexed by Scopus
Table 3. Thematic classification of keywords related to sustainable rice farming.
Table 3. Thematic classification of keywords related to sustainable rice farming.
Environmental ChangeFarmers’ Livelihoods and AdoptionTechnology and Productivity
Agricultural land, change, characteristic, China, climate, community, development, diversity, ecosystem, farmland, forest, importance, index, influence, insight, land, land use change, landscape, policy, scenario, sustainable development, understandingAccess, adoption, Bangladesh, farm, farmer, fish, government, household, income, Indonesia, knowledge, lack, livelihood, perception, rice productivity, rice variety, seed, smallholder farmer, transition, variety, villageCost, efficiency, emission, fertilizer, greenhouse gas emission, growth, India, input, irrigation, nitrogen, organic farming, paddy field, productivity, profitability, rice, soil, technology, yield
Table 4. Summary of innovative technologies in sustainable rice farming based on 2015–2025 publications in the Scopus database.
Table 4. Summary of innovative technologies in sustainable rice farming based on 2015–2025 publications in the Scopus database.
NoType of TechnologySpecificationsMain FindingsContribution to SustainabilitySuggestionsReferences
1Precision Agriculture and Digital FarmingSmart Robotic System + YOLOv5Reduced herbicide use, increased yield, and high efficiency in weed controlIncrease input efficiency, reduce the ecological impact of chemicalsIncreasing stakeholder engagement and testing across agro-climatic conditions[14]
2Precision Agriculture and Digital FarmingRobot AIGAMOReducing weeds in organic farming and improving yield qualityPromotion of organic farming, labor efficiencyLong-term impact studies on organic agroecosystems[23]
3Precision Agriculture and Digital FarmingNanoencapsulated herbicide (ethyl pyrazosulfuron)Effectively controls weeds and increases rice yieldReduces herbicide toxicity and improves agroecotoxicityExplore large-scale field validation and environmental impact[24]
4Precision Agriculture and Digital FarmingWeather forecast-based advisory service (WFBAS)7% yield increase and 16% fertilizer and 23% water reductionOptimizes input use and improves decision-makingIntegrate remote sensing, machine learning, long-term adaptability[25]
5Precision Agriculture and Digital FarmingCROP + Biofertilizer + Laser Land LevelingNet profit increase of 79% and reduced inputs and costsReduces chemical inputs and improves economic returnsScalability across diverse agroecosystems[26]
6BiofertilizerArbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) + Green manureIncrease crop yields, grain quality, and soil healthBiological improvement of soil fertility and increased productivitySpecific identification of AMF strains for tropical agro-climatic conditions[27]
7BiofertilizerMethane-based microbial biostimulantsIncrease yield up to 39% and reduce CH4 up to 60% and N2O up to 50%Mitigation of GHG emissions, increasing N efficiency and plant photosynthesisScalability and effectiveness studies in various agroecosystems[28]
8BiofertilizerEndofit halotolerantIncreasing chlorophyll, dry weight, and N uptake of rice plants in saline soilAdaptation to salinity, N fertilization efficiencyLong-term effects test of salt accumulation and microbial 9 interactions in saline soil[29]
9BiofertilizerTrichoderma + System of Rice Intensification (SRI)Increase crop yields by up to 31% and strengthen biotic and abiotic toleranceHigh productivity, reduced environmental stress, sustainable intensive farming systemEvaluation of Trichoderma interactions with different varieties and cultivation methods[30]
10BiofertilizerAzollaIncrease soil N, P, K and increase productivity by 10–20%Environmentally friendly fertilizer alternatives, increasing soil fertilityAzolla combination test with a water-saving planting system[31]
11BiofertilizerAzolla Enhances soil pH, NPK availability, and organic carbon and increases productivity by 10–20.5%Environmentally friendly nitrogen source, increasing soil and plant productivityStudy integration with other sustainable practices[4]
12BiopesticidesCow urine extract + neem, nochi, adhatodaEffective against brown plant hopper and green leaf hopper (up to 72.48%), environmentally friendlyAlternative to chemical pesticides, suitable for organic farmingEcological sustainability assessment and interactions with natural enemies[32]
13Organic AgricultureOrganic rice farming systemsHigher land quality index and soil fertilityImproves soil health and organic matter contentCompare productivity under varied organic practices[3]
14Soil amendmentBiochar + water-saving irrigationIncreases root growth, N uptake, crop yield, and N efficiencyWaste utilization, increasing nutrient and water efficiencyLong-term evaluation of the impact of biochar on soil microbes[33]
15Soil amendmentBiochar on acidic suboptimal soilsIncrease NPK efficiency up to 166% and increase rice yieldReduction of inorganic fertilization, increase of agronomic efficiencyStudy of biochar effectiveness on acidic tropical soils and high rainfall[34]
16Soil amendmentRice husk biochar + lime on acidic soilIncrease soil pH, organic C content, and reduce CO2 emissionsAcid soil remediation, carbon emission mitigationSynergy test with water management technology and soil microbes[35]
17Soil AmendmentManure + rice huskIncrease soil fertility and improve soil structure and biological functionEnhances soil carbon and reduces dependency on chemical fertilizersLong-term studies and integration with local food crop rotations[36]
18Soil AmendmentCombined organic and chemical fertilizersIncreases soil fertility and microbial diversityRestores bacterial community and improves yieldMicrobial interaction studies and long-term soil health[37]
19Carbon and Methane MitigationRice–crab co-culture systemImproves yield by 0.4% and reduces CH4 emissions by 13.3%Enhances ecological benefits with optimized nitrogenSynergistic N-application models, long-term soil impact studies[38]
20Climate-Resilient VarietiesInpari 34 dan Inpari 35Increase farmer income by up to 93% compared to conventional farming practicesAdaptation to salinity, increasing yields and incomeExploration of yield gaps and adoption strategies for climate-resilient varieties[6]
21Integrated Farming SystemsRice-crayfish farming16.3% higher rice yield vs. monocultureImproves nitrogen use efficiency and income diversificationLong-term productivity and ecological assessment[39]
22MechanizationMechanized direct seedingReduce seed rate and costs, increase N productivity and incomeIncrease production efficiency and reduce carbon footprintCross-seasonal and agroecosystem testing.[40]
23Sustainable Water and Irrigation TechnologiesPaper Film MulchingSuppresses weeds, increases yield by 20.2%, and maintains soil moistureSupporting high crop yields with reduced chemical and water inputsFurther exploration of optimal thickness and energy efficiency[41]
24Sustainable Water and Irrigation TechnologiesMulch BiodegradableIncreases water productivity by 30–60% and increases leaf area and water efficiency.Reduce pollution, increase water efficiency.Long-term studies and spatiotemporal effects of decomposition[42]
25Sustainable Water and Irrigation TechnologiesIntelligent irrigation systemWater savings up to 19.3% with no yield compromiseEfficient water use and resource managementAI integration, real-time field data utilization[7]
26Sustainable Water and Irrigation TechnologiesAlternate partial root-zone drying irrigationReduces methane emissions by 78.7%Minimizes GHG emissions while maintaining yieldCultivar-specific responses, long-term water stress effects[43]
27Sustainable Water and Irrigation TechnologiesSensor-based alternate wetting and drying irrigation systemSave 13–20% water, reduce irrigation costs by 25%, and increase yields by up to 11%Data-driven high resource efficiency and productivityAdoption challenges and cost–benefit analysis[44]
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MDPI and ACS Style

Sule, M.I.S.; Siswanto, S.Y.; Suriadikusumah, A.; Banerjee, S. Advancing Innovative Climate-Resilient and Net-Zero Technologies to Enhance Rice Productivity and Sustainability Amidst Climate Change. Sustainability 2025, 17, 9322. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209322

AMA Style

Sule MIS, Siswanto SY, Suriadikusumah A, Banerjee S. Advancing Innovative Climate-Resilient and Net-Zero Technologies to Enhance Rice Productivity and Sustainability Amidst Climate Change. Sustainability. 2025; 17(20):9322. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209322

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sule, Marenda Ishak Sonjaya, Shantosa Yudha Siswanto, Abraham Suriadikusumah, and Saon Banerjee. 2025. "Advancing Innovative Climate-Resilient and Net-Zero Technologies to Enhance Rice Productivity and Sustainability Amidst Climate Change" Sustainability 17, no. 20: 9322. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209322

APA Style

Sule, M. I. S., Siswanto, S. Y., Suriadikusumah, A., & Banerjee, S. (2025). Advancing Innovative Climate-Resilient and Net-Zero Technologies to Enhance Rice Productivity and Sustainability Amidst Climate Change. Sustainability, 17(20), 9322. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209322

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