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While seasonal outlooks have been operational for many years, until recently the extended-range timescale referred to as subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) has received little attention. S2S prediction fills the gap between short-range weather prediction and long-range seasonal outlooks. Decisions in a range of sectors are made in this extended-range lead time; therefore, there is a strong demand for this new generation of forecasts. International efforts are under way to identify key sources of predictability, improve forecast skill and operationalize aspects of S2S forecasts; however, challenges remain in advancing this new frontier. If S2S predictions are to be used effectively, it is important that, along with science advances, an effort is made to develop, communicate and apply these forecasts appropriately. In this study, the emerging operational S2S forecasts are presented to the wider weather and climate applications community by undertaking the first comprehensive review of sectoral applications of S2S predictions, including public health, disaster preparedness, water management, energy and agriculture. The value of applications-relevant S2S predictions is explored, and the opportunities and challenges facing their uptake are highlighted. It is shown how social sciences can be integrated with S2S development, from communication to decision-making and valuation of forecasts, to enhance the benefits of ‘climate services’ approaches for extended-range forecasting. While S2S forecasting is at a relatively early stage of development, it is concluded that it presents a significant new window of opportunity that can be explored for application-ready capabilities that could allow many sectors the opportunity to systematically plan on a new time horizon.

Rice is the world's most important staple food. Although mainly produced in Asia (91%), it is consumed on all continents and its global importance and consumption is increasing. The limited scope to expand production areas coupled with increasing resource constraints (mainly the lack of or competing demands for land and water) make it difficult to meet necessary production increases. Climate change in terms of increasing temperatures, more frequent droughts, anticipated loss of productive estuaries due to rising sea levels, more frequent and severe storms and rising CO2 levels further compounds these problems. This constitutes a huge challenge for science, policy and farmers. The provision of effective solutions is complex due to the spatialtemporal dimensions that must be integrated when setting research, policy and management priorities. These challenges have motivated us to form a Community of Practice (CoP) of concerned scientists. We formed this CoP around the central theme of simulation modelling as a technology that allows integration of discipline-based component science across space and time. We also use modelling as an engagement tool with stakeholders and to connect seemingly disparate scientific disciplines. Here we put our Research for Development (R4D) activities into context and report on some of the research efforts that our CoP is currently involved in. In our quest to design locally-adapted, profitable and sustainable, climate-robust rice-based cropping systems, we welcome input from the wider, global R4D community.