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Why is rice so popular? - Carolyn Beans

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4,530 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Rice contributes over 20% of the calories consumed by humans each year. Korean bibimbap, Nigerian jollof, Indian biryani, Spanish paella, and countless other culinary masterpieces all begin with rice. So how did this humble grain end up in so many cuisines? Carolyn Beans investigates the global expansion of this beloved crop and the unintended consequences of its popularity.

What fraction of human-caused methane emissions is contributed by rice cultivation each year?

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Carolyn Beans
  • Director Na Na Na Studio
  • Narrator Christina Greer
  • Animator Léon Moh-Cah, Andi Concha
  • Music Cem Misirlioglu, Jesse Barnes
  • Sound Designer Cem Misirlioglu
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Produced by Sazia Afrin
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Shannon Odell
  • Expert Consultant Michele Reba

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