Feet in the water and hands on the keyboard: A critical retrospective of crop modelling at AfricaRice

Rice is cultivated throughout Africa in a vast array of environments. Crop growth modelling at AfricaRice seeks to develop an understanding genotype, management and environment interactions inform research development. This paper reviews progress made over thirty years modelling, as well the knowledge gaps remaining. Major advances were phenology heat- cold-induced sterility. crucially took into account crop-generated microclimate via transpirational cooling irrigated rice. On this basis, RIDEV model its successors provided effective support applied breeding, genetics, agronomy cropping systems research. As major learning, rice very effectively avoids heat stress if it can transpire water abundantly. For water-limited systems, ORYZA2000 based yield gap, climate-change impact drought mapping projects gave direction AfricaRice’s agenda. But large remain capabilities underlying knowledge, particularly regarding biotic stresses, inland valley hydrology, rice-based sequences, e.g. including vegetable crops. In terms physiology, more needed accurately spikelet number, thermal acclimation, photosynthesis response extreme temperatures, variation rooting depth. will require enhanced collaboration between advanced centers resolve scientific technical bottlenecks crop modelling.