Human activities are causing rapid changes in the atmosphere and climate that alter many elements of the future crop production environment. Foremost among these changes is the increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (\[CO2\]), which averaged about 270 μmol/mol prior to the industrial revolution, have now surpassed 381 μmol/mol, and will exceed 550 μmol/mol by 2050. Free\|air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiments currently provide the most realistic measure of the future impact of elevated \[CO2\] on yield and growth crops. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is unarguably the most important food source in the world. It has been 10 years (1998—2008) since the first FACE project was set up to investigate the response and adaptation of rice to elevated \[CO2\]. The present review summarizes the evidence from 10\|year FACE experiments on the growth and development of rice, mainly focuses on the effects of FACE treatment (elevated \[CO2\] anticipated for the middle of this century) on the photosynthesis, phenology, aboveground growth, underground growth, dry matter allocation, grain filling, yield components and lodging traits of main tested cultivars (the planting area of each plot was no less than 4 m2), compares the similarities and differences in research results obtained from FACE and non\|FACE experiments and obtained at two experimental sites (i.e., Japan and China; only two large\|scale rice FACE experiments in the world). Based on the current state of knowledge and technological advances, three priority areas for future FACE research on rice are presented as follows: (1) Biological mechanisms for higher\|than\|expected productivity stimulation of hybrid rice cultivars with FACE; (2) Interactions between elevated \[CO2\] and main crop technologies on rice under fully open air conditions; (3) Interactions between elevated \[CO2\] and ozone (a major air pollutant) concentration on rice under fully open\|air conditions. Mechanistic understanding of these responses could help in reducing uncertainties in projections of future global food security, and develop more effective adaptation strategies under the anticipated global changes.