Course Description
Over recent years, greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation has become a central objective of global climate policy. In major rice-producing regions of Southeast and South Asia, rice cultivation represents a significant source of agricultural GHG emissions, particularly methane (CH₄), which accounts for more than 50% of total methane emissions in many of these countries. Accurate measurement of GHG emissions from rice systems is therefore critical for guiding national mitigation strategies, supporting net-zero commitments, and ensuring robust monitoring and reporting.
This training course aims to build technical capacity in laboratory-based analysis of GHG samples from rice systems, with a strong emphasis on gas chromatography (GC) as a core analytical tool. The course is designed to equip participants with the practical and analytical skills required to generate precise, accurate, and defensible GHG emission data that can be used for emission estimation, research, and inventory reporting.
This course is subsidized and in collaboration by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) that aims to build capacity in GHG monitoring in rice systems. It comprises a combination of lectures, field demonstrations, and hands-on. It will cover the principles of gas chromatography, operation of GC systems commonly used for rice GHG measurements (e.g., CH₄, N₂O, CO₂), and the end-to-end workflow from sample analysis to emission calculation. Particular attention will be given to ensuring data quality, correct interpretation of results, and proper integration of auxiliary field data (e.g., chamber dimensions, sampling time, environmental variables) required for emission estimation.
Course Objectives
The proposed training program will comprise a balanced combination of lectures on GHG measurement principles and analytical concepts, hands-on laboratory sessions on GC operation and sample analysis, guided exercises on data processing, quality control, and emission calculation, practical discussions on common analytical challenges and troubleshooting. Participants will gain exposure to standard laboratory practices relevant to GHG measurements in rice systems and to the requirements of different GHG inventory and research standards.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the role of gas chromatography in measuring GHG emissions from rice systems
- Operate GC instruments for CH₄, N₂O, and CO₂ analysis following standard protocols
- Analyze gas samples accurately and apply appropriate calibration and quality-control procedures
- Integrate GC results with auxiliary field data to compute GHG fluxes and emissions
- Generate reliable datasets suitable for research, reporting, and inventory applications
Target Audience and Eligibility
This course is intended for current laboratory staff involved in GHG analysis and environmental measurements, prospective laboratory personnel who will operate GC systems for agricultural GHG studies, and researchers and technical staff supporting rice-based GHG monitoring and mitigation research.
Limited slots are available. Participants may avail of discounted training fees, made possible through the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan.
Key Modules:
- Reporting principles in climate mitigation initiatives
- Mechanisms of greenhouse gas emission in rice system
- Mitigation practices in the rice system, climate action initiative, and AWD
- GHG Measurement Technologies with Emphasis on Gas Chromatography
- Field Sampling Design and Sample Integrity for GC Analysis
- Gas Chromatography Principles for GHG Analysis
- GC Operation, Calibration, and Quality Control
- Gas Quantification and Data Processing
- GHG Flux Calculation and Uncertainty Considerations
- Hands-on Analytical Exercises and Case Studies
- Course Synthesis, Evaluation, and Feedback
Learning Modality
The course will be delivered face-to-face through activities involving lectures, hands-on training, lab analysis, and field visits.
