# Southeast Asia must breed smarter rice to outlast El Niño – and the next one

> An opinion piece from the Lowy Institute argues that Southeast Asia needs gene-edited, higher-yielding rice to withstand El Niño and future climate shocks. It notes that regional rice yields are about half their estimated potential and that governments in Thailand and the Philippines are preparing for hotter, drier conditions.

- Date: 2026-11-13 · published 2026-11-13T03:12:59.395Z
- Category: weather · region Southeast Asia · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/97081-southeast-asia-must-breed-smarter-rice-to-outlast-el-nino-and-the-next-one
- Commodities: [Rough Rice](https://feedsoft.ai/c/RICE.md)

## Why it matters

Expected El Niño-driven yield losses in major rice exporting countries could tighten Asian export supply and support rice prices, though this piece is a policy commentary rather than a new supply event.

## Read by commodity

- RICE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RICE | 2023-05-15 | [Rice markets in South and Southeast Asia face stresses from El Niño, export restrictions \| IFPRI](https://feedsoft.ai/events/35867-rice-markets-in-south-and-southeast-asia-face-stresses-from-el-nino-export.md) | -6.6% | +7.6% |
| RICE | 2024-01-05 | [El Niño exit leaves a lasting impact on Southeast Asia's agricultural systems, stressing the need for preventive measures](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32045-el-nino-exit-leaves-a-lasting-impact-on-southeast-asia-s-agricultural-systems.md) | +1.4% | +8.9% |
| RICE | 2023-07-11 | [Rice Soars to Two-Year High in Asia on El Niño Drought Risks - Bloomberg](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5208-rice-soars-to-two-year-high-in-asia-on-el-nino-drought-risks-bloomberg.md) | -19.6% | -16.6% |
| RICE | 2023-07-12 | [2023/53 “Rice Production and Food Security in Southeast Asia under Threat from El Niño” by Elyssa Ludher and Paul Teng – ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5209-2023-53-rice-production-and-food-security-in-southeast-asia-under-threat-from.md) | -18.7% | -17.1% |
| RICE | 2026-05-29 | [Sugar cane, rice, coffee and cocoa to feel effects of El Niño \| Baking Business](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19190-sugar-cane-rice-coffee-and-cocoa-to-feel-effects-of-el-nino-baking-business.md) | -4.1% | +1.3% |

## Sources

- lowyinstitute.org: https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/southeast-asia-must-breed-smarter-rice-to-outlast-el-nino-and-the-next-one

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.