Rice cultivation originated in China over 4,000 years ago and remains an important agricultural commodity in many Asian diets. In addition, its low cost and the high caloric value make rice a staple commodity for many poor and developing countries. Production occurs in over 50 countries throughout the world, although Asian countries produce well over two-thirds of the world crop of 430 million tons. U.S. production accounts for less than 2 percent of the world total; however, the United States is an important exporter due to the relatively small percentage of rice traded globally. In recent years, over 45 percent of U.S. production has been exported. January 2006 . . . Rice