SUSIBA2: Rice That Fights Global Warming
More than half the global population relies on rice as a regular part of their diet. But rice paddies have a downside for the planet too: They produce as much as 17 percent of the world’s total methane emissions. SUSIBA2 is a genetically modified rice plant that emits almost no methane. Instead of sending carbon to the roots to feed the bacteria that produce methane, the plant directs it toward the grain and leaves increasing the starch level and yield. “It’s a win-win”.
Honourable mention:
Robotic Hand by Open Bionics: This 3D-printed robotic hand that can be made faster and more cheaply than current alternatives was this year’s UK winner of the James Dyson Award.
Ref: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34044453?ocid=global_bbccom_email_25082015_technology
See the rest of the field at: http://www.popsci.com/100-greatest-innovations-2015