Greek rice farmers are giving broken rice a new purpose, transforming what was once discarded or used as animal feed into eco-friendly confetti for weddings — and opening up a new source of income amid rising costs and drought.

In the rice-growing region of Chalastra, near Thessaloniki, a local cooperative has sold more than three tons of repackaged “wedding rice” since launching the initiative in May. The grains, damaged during harvesting or processing, are now sold in white sacks labelled for ceremonial use instead of ending up as waste.

Christos Gatzaras, 52, a farmer and president of the Chalastra Rice Producers Agricultural Cooperative, checks the harvested rice at the cooperative’s facility in Chalastra, Greece, October 24, 2025. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

“When there is malnutrition, it is unfair to throw it away,” said Christos Gatzaras, a 52-year-old farmer and head of the cooperative’s rice producers.

Turning waste into opportunity

Greece is the European Union’s third-largest rice producer, exporting most of its 250,000 tons of annual output. But farmers have struggled with drought and competition from cheaper South Asian imports, prompting them to find creative ways to sustain their livelihoods.

A rice ear stands at a field in Chalastra, Greece, October 24, 2025. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

“We face many difficulties, the costs have spiked, we are under a lot of pressure,” said Vasilis Matziounis, a 34-year-old farmer supporting the project.

A greener take on a beloved tradition

Throwing rice at newlyweds is a long-standing Greek tradition symbolizing prosperity and fertility. Yet farmers estimate that nearly 200 metric tons of edible rice are wasted this way every year. By redirecting broken rice — which makes up about 9% of Greece’s rice exports — the cooperative hopes to reduce food waste and environmental impact.

Flower girls collect rice from the ground that relatives and friends of Apostolos Gatidis, 28 and Apostolia Chatzivretta, 28, tossed during their wedding, in Thessaloniki, Greece, October 25, 2025. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

“Some people will keep tossing edible rice,” said Giannis Gogos, the cooperative’s head of sales. “But this way, we can reduce the waste.”

With tens of thousands of weddings held in Greece each year, from Thessaloniki to the islands of Santorini and Mykonos, the “wedding rice” initiative offers both symbolic and practical value — helping farmers stay afloat while making celebrations more sustainable.