The C4 pathway has an extra pumping mechanism to concentrate CO2 around Rubisco, so photorespiration—that wasteful side reaction—is nearly shut down. C3 plants lack this, so in our Telangana heat, their rice loses precious fixed carbon. Yet, I disagree that C4 is the simple answer for us. My field trials show traditional C3 rice varieties, under careful water management, can have a resilience and grain quality that our farmers' lives depend on, something a raw efficiency metric misses. I think of my sister's future with every plot I measure—we need yield, yes, but also what sustains a home.
#food
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