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HomePosts Tagged "International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)"
Agribusiness, Agro Universities, Environment, India, R&D, Sustainability

The project explores using Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and rice straw removal from fields to achieve carbon neutrality without risking food security.

The rice sector is vital in achieving food security. Yet, it significantly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which harm the environment by trapping heat from the sun and worsening climate change. To address this, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has partnered with Kubota Corporation to explore effective strategies for managing rice crops while reducing GHG emissions.

Studies show that water and straw management practices in rice cultivation majorly contribute to GHG emissions.  Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) is a water management practice that allows irrigation water to recede until a specific water depth or soil moisture level is reached before irrigation occurs. This method can help reduce GHG emissions. Additionally, removing rice straw from fields can also contribute to a reduction in GHG emissions (Romasanta et al., 2017). A field experiment is underway through the IRRI-Kubota project. This aims to measure the reduction in GHG emissions when combining AWD and rice straw removal. The project will also evaluate the combined effects of these practices on rice growth, yield, and quality.

The project aligns with the “Development of Rice Cropping Systems Toward Carbon Neutrality and Food Security in ASEAN Countries project,” which is being implemented by IRRI and funded by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). “The MAFF Japan-IRRI Project contributes to the ASEAN – CGIAR Innovate for Food Regional Program activities for Intervention Package 2: Climate Neutrality and Circular Agriculture. Through this project, we hope to achieve our twin goals of food security and carbon neutrality by co-developing integrated low-carbon practices for rice in collaboration with partners like Kubota Corporation who can help scale these solutions. This approach will increase the chances of widespread adoption,” said Dr Kazuki Saito, IRRI Senior Scientist and Principal Investigator of the MAFF Japan-IRRI Project and Kubota-IRRI Project Management Lead. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Kubota Corporation. By combining our expertise, we can advance sustainable rice farming practices,” added Dr Kazuki Saito.

“Kubota is committed to mechanizing agriculture in alignment with food security goals. We envision carbon-neutral farming by developing technologies that can reduce GHG emissions. We believe in learning from our partners and collaborating to identify key challenges and find solutions,” said Yodo Kawase, Kubota Philippines President.

The project explores using Alternate Wetting and

Agribiotechnology, Agrotech, India, Seeds

 The event ‘National Symposium on Hybrid Technology for Enhanced Crop Productivity’ brought together about 300 stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, representatives of CGIAR centres, and private sector leaders.

Leading agricultural experts have called for accelerated adoption of hybrid technology to address India’s growing food security challenges, climate change effects, and sustainable development goals. Speaking at the Inaugural Session of National Symposium on Hybrid Technology for Enhanced Crop Productivity, held on January 8, 2025, at the National Agriculture Science Complex (NASC), Pusa Campus, New Delhi, they emphasised the transformative potential of hybrid breeding and seed innovations to boost productivity and resilience in Indian agriculture.

Organised by the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources (ISPGR), the symposium brought together  about 300 stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, representatives of CGIAR centres, and private sector leaders. The event was supported by the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (MAHYCO), Rasi Seeds, and Bayer Crop Science Limited.

 Dr P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, who inaugurated the symposium, highlighted the urgent need for hybrid technologies to ensure food and nutritional security for the country’s growing population. He highlighted that Hybrid technology has to play a role beyond just increasing yields. It should lead to equitable, inclusive and sustainable growth of economy. It should also lead to transformation of agriculture through increasing farmers’ incomes. Reducing poverty is very important and agriculture has an important role to play.

 He further mentioned that Hybrid research has to produce products that have higher productivity than OP Varieties. Example- Rice, Pulses and Oilseeds need high priority in hybrid research. We need to bring Hybrid Pigeon pea to market and scale it up. This will help in bridging availability gap in pulses. Similarly in oilseeds too we should increase productivity using hybrids. This is a priority for the country. Hybrids have to be affordable to smallholder farmers. If research can make farmers save hybrid seeds from one season to another season without losing heterosis, as they do with OP crops, it would be great scientific contribution to increasing farmers’ incomes.

Dr R.S. Paroda, Chairman, TAAS, stressed the importance of public-private partnerships to drive hybrid adoption. There is a greater importance and urgency for good hybrid technology. He emphasised that to have vertical improvement, hybrid crops do provide great opportunity, access to good quality seed is important, Green Revolution was innovation-led and focus needs to be given on innovations for breeding new hybrids. He stressed on need for a National Mission on Hybrid Development. Also, we need to have a clear policy on GM Crops, seed industry to be incentivised and the GST on sale of seed be exempted.

Dr. T. Mohapatra, Chairperson, PPVFRA, outlined the critical role of research and innovation in scaling hybrid technologies to mitigate climate challenges. Dr Stanford Blade, Director General, ICRISAT stressed on the need for accelerated improvement and public-private partnership in a consortium mode.

 Ajai Rana, Chairman, FSII, emphasized the necessity of enabling policies and collaborative frameworks to increase research for hybrid development and deployment of modern science and technology through effective research collaboration and partnership for access and benefit sharing.

 The event ‘National Symposium on Hybrid Technology

Agro Universities, Carbon Farming, Collaborations, Environment, Funding, Institutions, Soil Health, Sustainability

Aligned with Work Package 6 (WP6) of the CGIAR’s SeedEqual Initiative, IRRI is testing various capacity-building approaches and business models to develop decentralized seed systems

Decentralized, farmer-led seed systems are vital for improving smallholder farmers’ access to quality seeds. Recognizing this, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), under the CGIAR’s SeedEqual Initiative and ClimatePRO project, is promoting women-led Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to spearhead quality seed production.

Despite their critical role in rice systems, women face significant barriers, including limited access to resources, technology, land, and capital. By fostering women’s entrepreneurship in seed production, these challenges can be addressed, enabling women to transition from laborers to decision-makers and business owners.

Aligned with Work Package 6 (WP6) of the CGIAR’s SeedEqual Initiative, IRRI is testing various capacity-building approaches and business models to develop decentralized seed systems. Similarly, IRRI’s ClimatePRO project in Odisha focuses on improving farmers’ access to high-yielding, climate-resilient seed varieties, enhancing productivity and profitability.

On 1 December 2024, IRRI hosted a Reflection and Learning Workshop on “Strengthening Women-Led Seed Entrepreneurship.” The workshop aimed to share findings from a study involving six FPCs across Odisha, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, assessing pathways for successful women-led seed entrepreneurship; identify challenges faced by FPCs and develop actionable solutions; and facilitate the exchange of best practices to strengthen women-led seed enterprises. Participants included women seed producers, FPC Board members, NGO partners, and external experts.

Dr. Ranjitha Puskur, Principal Scientist for Gender and Livelihoods at IRRI and Lead of WP6 of the CGIAR SeedEqual Initiative, presented key findings. She noted, “This study highlights both the successes and challenges of women-led FPCs. Our goal is to learn from shared experiences and identify practical solutions to enhance their operations.”

Workshop sessions delved into challenges such as business and financial skills, packaging, branding, governance, and infrastructure. Participants collaboratively identified solutions to these obstacles, drawing from their experiences and expertise.

IRRI’s Director General, Dr. Yvonne Pinto, addressed the gathering, emphasizing the transformative potential of women entrepreneurs. She stated, “Women’s participation in the seed business is a powerful tool for economic empowerment. By owning and managing enterprises, women gain financial independence, decision-making authority, and influence over local economies. This can significantly enhance access to education, healthcare, and other essential services for their families and communities.”

Workshops like this provide invaluable opportunities for stakeholders—including women farmers, civil society organizations, and researchers—to collaborate, share insights, and design practical solutions. They amplify women farmers’ voices while granting access to expert knowledge and support.

Aligned with Work Package 6 (WP6) of

Agri Genomics, Agro Universities, Foodgrains, R&D

The study was conducted in collaboration with the University of California, Davis, the United States of America, the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Germany, and the Center of Plant Systems Biology in Bulgaria.

 A team of researchers at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has identified genes and markers responsible for low glycemic index (GI) and high protein content in rice, using genetics and artificial intelligence classification methods.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the University of California, Davis, the United States of America, the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Germany, and the Center of Plant Systems Biology in Bulgaria.

Their study, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), revealed a superior set of lines that exhibited ultra-low GI (below 45 per cent) with an unprecedented protein level (15.99), which is twice the content usually found in conventional milled rice. Rice varieties with higher protein content may contribute to slower digestion and absorption rates, potentially helping control blood glucose levels, further enhancing its ultra-low GI characteristics.

“Collectively, these findings underscore the stacked potential and benefits of low GI and high protein rice to offer a substantial source of protein and essential amino acids such as lysine for consumers, particularly in regions where rice is a dietary staple,” said Dr Nese Sreenivasulu, corresponding author of the paper and Principal Scientist at the IRRI Grain Quality and Nutrition Center. He adds that the lines included in the study also generated yields comparable to existing high-yielding rice varieties.

The healthier rice lines were developed by intercrossing an inbred variety from Samba Mahsuri and the amylose extender of IR36. The results could help address the growing incidence of diabetes and the need for adequate protein intake for hundreds of millions of people at risk.

Globally, about 537 million adults suffer from diabetes, and the number is expected to grow to 783 million by 2045. Low- and middle-income countries account for more than three-quarters of diabetes incidences, with Asia accounting for 60 percent of the global diabetic population. High-protein rice may help boost the diets and health of half a billion protein-deficient consumers, many of whom live in South Asia and Central Africa.

“Considering that rice is a staple food for a substantial portion of the global population, it is crucial to deploy high-yielding rice cultivars with milled rice samples possessing high-quality protein and ultra-low glycemic index to address the triple burden of nutritional challenges among low- and middle-income communities,” said Dr. Gurdev S. Khush of the University of California, Davis, and co-corresponding author of the paper.

Dr. Sreenivasulu’s team and partners now seek to incorporate these genes into future breeding programs and popular varieties grown across Asia and Africa.

“With its remarkably low GI and protein content surpassing traditional rice varieties, these high-yielding nutritious rice varieties will pave the way to addressing critical food and nutritional security targets,” said IRRI Director General Dr. Yvonne Pinto.

The study was conducted in collaboration with

Agro Universities, Foodgrains, R&D, Sustainability

It focusses on ensuring the long-term viability of advancements in rice production and value chains across the region.

With the APART’s closure approaching, IRRI and partners are starting to discuss a comprehensive exit strategy that will ensure the continuation and sustainability of the technologies and practices introduced by the project for the rice value chain in Assam.

The Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART) will conclude in 2024. To ensure the continuity of its impact, the Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services (ARIAS) Society and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) are collaborating on a transition plan that focuses on ensuring the long-term viability of advancements in rice production and value chains across the region.

APART, funded by the World Bank, has been instrumental in promoting climate-resilient agriculture and enhancing regional rice productivity. Key to its success has been the introduction of stress-tolerant rice varieties (STRVs) that benefited more than 400,000 farmers in Assam. These varieties, engineered to withstand floods, droughts, and other stressors, provided agricultural resilience, promoted mechanized farming practices, and improved labor productivity and efficiency.

Through APART, over 4,500 training programs were conducted for nearly 160,000 farmers, 32 per cent of whom were women. These programs empowered the learners to adopt modern agricultural technologies, such as mechanized direct seeding of rice, mechanical transplanting, harvesting through reapers and combine harvesters, and using axial flow and open drum threshers for threshing, which encouraged the project’s sustainability.

Through the project, IRRI also developed a Web-GIS Portal and the Rice-based Cropping System Knowledge Bank, offering valuable resources for informed decision-making and knowledge sharing.

Strategies to ensure the continuation of these achievements were discussed in a meeting co-organized by the ARIAS Society and IRRI. Senior officials from various government departments participated.

In her address, Aruna Rajoria, Agriculture Production Commissioner to the Government of Assam, highlighted the need for integrating government schemes to support the project’s long-term sustainability. She said, “Collaboration between the state government, Assam Agricultural University (AAU), other state agencies, and IRRI is critical to maintain the momentum of technology adoption and ensure the sustainability of activities initiated as part of this project.”

As ARIAS Society and IRRI work towards the transition, the emphasis remains on advancing agricultural transformation within Assam’s rice-based agri-food systems, highlighting the role of innovative technologies and collaborative efforts in fostering progress and development.

It focusses on ensuring the long-term viability

Agro Universities, R&D, Seeds

This collaboration aims to develop and commercialise high-yielding, high-quality rice varieties that are resistant to pests and adaptable to the changing climate.

To boost Vietnam’s rice production and quality, Vietnam Seed Corporation (Vinaseed), the country’s leading seed corporation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). This collaboration aims to develop and commercialize high-yielding, high-quality rice varieties that are resistant to pests and adaptable to the changing climate.

IRRI Director General Yvonne Pinto and Vinaseed CEO Nguyen Quang Truong signed the agreement during a workshop on developing a circular economy in rice production and processing on (DATE) in Can Tho City.

The MoU outlines several key areas of collaboration, including:

Knowledge sharing: Training and technology transfer in gene technology, rice breeding, and AI for rice characteristic assessment.

Genetic resources: Sharing genetic materials for testing and breeding rice varieties suitable for Vietnamese conditions.

Developing super rice: Joint research to create high-yielding, high-quality rice varieties that are pest-resistant and adaptable to climate challenges.

IRRI brings extensive experience in rice research to the table. It also manages the International Rice Genebank with over 127,000 unique rice gene sources. For Vinaseed, this vast genetic library will be a valuable resource for developing new rice varieties.

The company already has access to nearly 500 promising new rice lines that show resistance to various diseases and adaptability to conditions like drought, submergence, and salinity when it joined IRRI’s Network for Accelerated Rice Varieties for Impact in 2021.

The partnership between Vinaseed and IRRI holds significant promise for the future of Vietnam’s rice sector. By combining IRRI’s research prowess with Vinaseed’s market reach, Vietnam can develop and deliver high-quality, climate-smart rice varieties, ensuring food security and propelling the country’s rice industry further.

This collaboration aims to develop and commercialise

Agro Universities, Foodgrains, R&D, Sustainability

This model explicitly aims to transform agricultural byproducts, like rice straw, into products like organic fertilizer, animal feed, or even mushrooms.

Can Tho City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), held a launching ceremony for the circular agricultural economic model from straw and visited the pilot model field of the “Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High Quality and Low-Emission Rice Associated with Green Growth in the Mekong River Delta By 2030”.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Yvonne Pinto emphasized that Vietnam is the third largest rice-exporting country in the world but is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Therefore, IRRI is committed to collaborating and sharing technology solutions to help farmers reduce costs, increase production profits, and aim for low-emission agriculture and green growth.

After the New Green Farm, IRRI successfully replicated the rice straw-based circular economy model at the Tien Thuan Agricultural and Service Cooperative in Thanh An commune. Accordingly, IRRI signed and handed over a self-propelled organic fertilizer mixer to the cooperative to help farmers process rice straw into organic fertilizer. IRRI also provided training on production techniques for cooperative members to develop a business model of organic fertilizer from straw.

 Nguyen Cao Khai, Director of Tien Thuan Cooperative, excitedly shared that he believes that this model will change people’s old farming habits and contribute to improving their income. At the same time, through training sessions and demonstrations, the farmers will receive answers from experts and clarify the benefits of producing organic fertilizer from rice straw, helping people confidently apply this model.

 Tran Thai Nghiem, Deputy Director of Can Tho DARD, stressed that the locality will continue to promote the development and replication of the circular agricultural economic model, especially the management and use of rice production byproducts. At the same time, the locality will create conditions for farmers in districts in Can Tho City to grasp information and access technologies, equipment, and mechanical machinery for collecting and processing straws. Farmers can produce organic fertilizer and serve production to increase income and reduce emissions.

After the launching program, the participants visited the model farm under the 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice program. IRRI Scientist Dr. Nguyen Van Hung showcased mechanized direct seeding with fertilizer deep placement as a core feature of the One-Million-Ha program, highlighting its benefits for reducing seed rate, fertilizer use, and postharvest losses while increasing rice yield.

This model explicitly aims to transform agricultural

Agro Universities, Foodgrains, R&D, Seeds

The partnership extension will advance research initiatives that aim to develop improved rice varieties with multiple tolerances for biotic and abiotic stresses.

Bioseed and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) recently agreed to an amendment of their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will extend their ongoing partnership for a further five years, advancing research initiatives that aim to develop improved rice varieties with multiple tolerances for biotic and abiotic stresses. The amendment will extend the partnership for a further five (5) years, from May 2022 to April 2027.

A seed and biotechnology company, Bioseed is a wholly owned subsidiary of DCM Shriram Limited, one of India’s largest agricultural conglomerates. Bioseed’s partnership with IRRI is through IRRI’s Bio-Innovation Center (BIC), a membership-based program that enables public and private sector partners to leverage the institute’s world-class research infrastructure, expertise, and resources for the development or scaling up of their own products or research solutions. Bioseed has been a BIC member since August 2020.

Bioseed and IRRI have several collaborative projects currently ongoing. These include:  Evaluation of transgenic maize events for resistance to fall armyworm; Evaluation of transgenic events of rice for drought and salinity tolerance and introgression of selected events in the elite parental lines of Bioseed Research Philippines Inc. rice hybrids; Gene editing rice for improved grain yield, drought tolerance, and leaf blight and blast resistance; Development, characterization, and evaluation of transgenic lines of rice for drought and salt tolerance and enhanced nitrogen assimilation; and Transgenic rice events evaluation for drought tolerance, nutrient utilization, and yield improvement.

 Signatories of the amendment were Dr Ajay Kohli, Interim Director General of IRRI, and Dr Paresh Verma, Chief Executive and Research Director of Bioseed SE Asia. Witnessing the signing were Dr. Gururaj Kulkarni, IRRI Bio-Innovation Center Director, and Devadatta Sirdeshpande, Executive President and General Manager of Bioseed Research Philippines.

The partnership extension will advance research initiatives

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Digital Technologies

An integrated public online platform designed to promote and strengthen data-driven decision-making on the country’s rice-based agri-food systems.

The Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) launched an online platform that consolidates active digital agriculture tools and services (DATS) and their distribution in the Philippines’ agri-food value chain. The development of the D4AgPH platform was funded by DA-BAR.

An integrated public online platform designed to promote and strengthen data-driven decision-making on the country’s rice-based agri-food systems, D4AgPH came as a result of an IRRI-led national assessment and inventory of existing DATS. The assessment aimed to understand the country’s digital agriculture landscape and use collected data and insights to help support the DA’s digital transformation strategy, as outlined in the 2023-2028 MASAGANA Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP). 

“MRIDP highlights digital transformation as a cornerstone towards the upliftment of the sector. Despite advancements, there remains a gap in the distribution and availability of digital tools. D4AgPH is a crucial strategy for attaining sustainable agricultural development and likewise ensures that our farmers are equipped with appropriate tools,” DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development, Engr. Christopher Morales stated.

The online platform features an intuitive, user-friendly and responsive interface providing users with 1) a searchable facility to view the list of DATS and detailed information, 2) an interactive analytics facility to generate insights on the distribution of DATS in the agri-food value chain, and 3) data entry facility to allow innovators/developers to share their DATS, making the platform a hub of innovation and dissemination. Currently, the database hosts 67 DATS grouped according to several use cases. Mapping the distribution of the DATS across the agri-food value chain shows 61 per cent are specifically tailored to address challenges and opportunities related to crop production and more than 30 per cent, focused on production and inputs, were developed and maintained by government agencies such as PhilRice, Bureau of Plant Industry, and other DA agencies.

In terms of maturity level, 50 per cent are ready for further expansion, 19 per cent are in the pilot stage, and 29 per cent are ripe for commercialization. Mobile applications also emerged as the predominant distribution channel through which users access the DATS.

“Many new digital tools are coming online these days which poses so many opportunities. This D4AgPH is a great start; it provides us with a mechanism that will help us to prioritize and identify effective tools as well as partners that we can collaborate with,” said IRRI Senior Scientist for Digital Agriculture and Precision Farming, Engr. Stephen Klassen.

IRRI likewise scanned and mapped out the DATS against several scaling “ingredients” across 10 fields, to identify strong and weak spots that can inform developers and project implementers on changes or updates needed for successful scaling. The scaling scan shows that most of the DATS were strong in terms of their technology, user awareness and demand, finance mechanisms, and knowledge and skills. Some identified gaps include the need for more effective monitoring and evaluation processes and evidence generation, more effective links that bridge supply and demand, and strategic collaboration within and beyond the sector to scale the innovations.

DA-BAR hopes that the platform can help key decision-makers, local agriculture officers, and farmers leverage collected data among DATS to strengthen the country’s digital agriculture community.

“D4AgPH opens new avenues for dialogue and knowledge exchange and likewise lays the foundation for a more resilient and inclusive agricultural sector. This reaffirms a shared commitment to strengthening the country’s digital technologies and evidence-based policymaking to build a more sustainable future for our farmers and communities,” said DA-BAR Director Junel Soriano.

An integrated public online platform designed to

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Drones

The Drones4Rice Project will craft standardised protocols for drone applications of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides for rice production in the Philippines.

Aimed at leveraging the power of drone technology to boost farmers’ productivity and sustainability, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) have launched the Drones4Rice Project during the Inception Workshop held at the IRRI Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna on 16-17 April 2024.

The Drones4Rice Project will craft standardized protocols for drone applications of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides for rice production in the Philippines. Implementing optimized protocols and streamlined regulations will enable the private sector to scale affordable drone services to farmers. The initiative holds significant potential for elevating farmers’ productivity, income, and resilience by advocating precision agriculture and sustainable rice farming practices.

The project also plans to set up a drone-based system to monitor crops, and map weeds and nutrient levels in rice fields to develop a new method for adjusting nutrient and weed management during the growing season, as well as scaling up sustainable drone-based precision farming technologies and finding ways to adopt them widely at the farm cluster level.

Drones serve various agricultural purposes, including irrigation planning, crop health monitoring, damage assessment, soil health analysis, and fertilizer and pesticide application. Equipped with advanced sensors, they can provide real-time data to detect moisture levels, assess crop health, and optimize resource management, helping enhance productivity and reduce labor costs.

Across Asia, drones are employed in agricultural regions of China and Japan and are increasingly gaining traction in neighboring nations like Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. In the Philippines, use of drones in agriculture is at its early stages and this multi-stakeholder partnership aims to accelerate access to this technology by smallholder farmers.

One of the reasons cited for the large difference in rice production cost between the Philippines and major rice exporting countries is labor cost – accounting for about a third of the total rice production costs. Mechanization and a shift toward precision agriculture can significantly drive the rice production cost to go down.

“Precision agriculture, including the use of drone technology, can optimize input usage like seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, leading to higher yields and cost efficiency,” said IRRI Senior Scientist Stephen Klassen, one of the project leads.

“Drones4Rice emphasizes the rice industry’s need to adapt to emerging trends and technologies, with digital transformation being a key strategy of the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program. It is crucial for our industry to stay current,” Engr. Christopher V. Morales, DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development, said during the event.

The Drones4Rice Project will craft standardised protocols

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Foodgrains

The DA-IRRI SERVE 2 project aims to continually strengthen and sustain the gains in capacity development and partnership in rice science between IRRI and DA.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the formal turnover of the Digital Training Module on Rice: Research to Production (RR2P) from IRRI to the DA-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI).

The ceremonial turnover marks the official transitioning of the Rice: Research to Production (RR2P) Online Training Program developed under the DA-IRRI “Strengthening the capability of national research for development and Extension partners for Research and development and Extension of information and technologies to improve productivity, competitiveness, and resilience of rice-based farming communities in the Philippines (DA-IRRI SERVE 2)” Project which ended last October 2023.

The DA-IRRI SERVE 2 project aims to continually strengthen and sustain the gains in capacity development and partnership in rice science between IRRI and DA through work packages that build on the successes and unify the capacity development initiatives of its predecessor projects, SERVE 1 and Enhancing the Research and Development Capacities (Skills, Competencies and Capabilities) and Formulation of the R&D Capacity Development Program of the Regional Rice and Rice-based Research and Development Network (ER4D). The SERVE 2 Project generally aims to provide a platform and enabling mechanisms to the national agricultural research and extension partners (NAREP) from the different DA Regional Field Offices and Attached Agencies, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and Local Government Units (LGUs).

Following its development in 2018, the project team implemented the RR2P Online Training Program in 2019 to educate and help build national capacity towards Agriculture 4.0. The program was adapted from the annual 3-week face-to-face RR2P course offered by IRRI’s capacity development arm, IRRI Education. The pilot implementation had a total of 115 completers, where 82 are from SUCs, 32 are from DA Regional Field Offices (DA-RFOs) and Attached Agencies, and 1 from a Local Government Unit (LGU). This was done to ensure that the online learning modules are appropriate for its future target users and gather feedback to further enhance the content and its delivery.

After the pilot run, an improved version of the course utilizing a blended learning approach where participants will have both synchronous and asynchronous 5 to 9-week online training sessions and a 1-week face-to-face session was developed. The face-to-face session served as an integration platform and avenue to readily apply the skills acquired by the training participants and validate the knowledge gained through practical hands-on sessions, field exercises, problem-solving, and formulation of recommendations.

From 2021 to 2023, the DA-IRRI SERVE 2 Project Team was able to implement six (6) online rollouts and two (2) face-to-face RR2P Training. This resulted in 279 online completers where 159 are from DA-RFOs and Attached Agencies, 76 are from SUCs, and 44 are from LGUs. On the other hand, the two face-to-face programs had a total of 114 participants where 72 are from DA-RFOs and attached agencies, 32 are from SUCs, and 10 are from LGUs.

As the capacity builder, knowledge bank, and catalyst of the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries extension system, the DA-ATI will finalize plans and preparations for the pilot implementation of the course outside of the project to ensure that the program will remain widely used by trained experts and sustained for implementation across the country.

Similar to the course implementation conducted by IRRI Education, the RR2P Course will have asynchronous and synchronous sessions for the online program with a five-day face-to-face component. The tentative implementation date for the online course is May 2024.

The DA-IRRI SERVE 2 project aims to

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Company News, Europe, Foodgrains, R&D, Sustainability

BASF and IRRI to study multiple options to enhance climate smart farming and improve carbon intensity in rice systems.

BASF and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have entered into a scientific collaboration to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from rice production. Running by the name “OPTIMA Rice” (Optimizing Management for Reduction of GHG in Rice), the collaboration with IRRI supports BASF’s commitment to enable the reduction of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions by 30 percent per ton of crop produced by 2030. The joint effort is planned for multiple rice seasons in the Philippines and will take place in Laguna, where both organizations maintain research centers for rice.

Rice is one of the five most widely produced cereal crops globally and is consumed by about three billion people every day. Although it is grown all over the world, Asia accounts for the largest share of its production. However, because of its geographic expansion and typical manner of wetland cultivation, worldwide paddy rice production contributes about 10 percent of total GHG emissions from the agricultural sector, mainly coming from continuously flooded wetland rice fields. Due to this large carbon footprint, it is estimated that rice production has the greatest potential within agricultural crop production to reduce GHG emissions.

BASF and IRRI therefore plan to explore multiple topics related to climate smart farming in rice. These include direct-seeded rice varieties, nitrogen stabilizers, nutrient and residue management, novel chemistry tailor-made for rice farmers, and water-saving technologies such as alternate wetting and drying management (AWD). In addition, IRRI has begun further improvements to its ecophysiological model ORYZA, to include new computation algorithms for estimating GHG emissions, for application to the project. BASF will use its AgBalance™ tool to estimate the GHG emission intensity and will work with IRRI on field tests of their products to obtain high-quality agronomic and GHG data. Both BASF and IRRI aim to further develop and apply models for improving scientific understanding on climate mitigation and adaptation options for rice in the Philippines and other rice growing areas in Asia. Ultimately, both BASF and IRRI aim to support farmers growing rice in de-carbonizing their production systems.

BASF and IRRI to study multiple options

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Foodgrains, India, R&D

Speed breeding protocol can develop new high-yielding and climate-resilient rice varieties in a much shorter duration.

Scientists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) successfully developed a robust, first-of-its-kind speed breeding protocol that reduces the generation times required in a year for growing indica and japonica rice.

The current rate of genetic gain attained in rice crops through breeding is inadequate to meet the increasing future rice demand of a growing population. The development of new varieties is further hindered by longer generation times and seasonal constraints.

Through the SpeedFlower protocol, these factors will no longer impact the acceleration of varietal development, by reducing generation times by almost half which allows growing four to five generations of indica and japonica rice in a year.

“We can now develop new high-yielding, climate-resilient, and nutritionally superior rice varieties in a much shorter duration. This is a major scientific step toward significantly boosting genetic gain in rice, ultimately contributing to global food security,” said program lead Drs Vikas Kumar Singh, Uma Maheshwar Singh and Pallavi Sinha.

The Speed Breeding technique

The Speed Breeding (SB) technique has been introduced to effectively manage environmental factors and is suitable for short- and long-day crops, allowing it to be utilized throughout the year. As a result, SB has gained popularity as a method for advancing multiple generations per year.

Using SB in glasshouses and controlled chambers has the potential to enhance breeding outputs for both short- and long-day crops. This is achieved by providing more controlled growth conditions, which work more uniformly for diverse germplasm and breeding materials compared to field conditions.

The success of SB in various crops has led to the establishment of a state-of-the-art SpeedBreed facility at the ISARC in Varanasi, India. To achieve SB in rice, the facility has been customized with controlled growth parameters using fully enclosed walk-in growth chambers designed to optimize the SB protocol for all types of rice varieties without the need for tedious embryo rescue techniques and tiller removal.

“SpeedFlower demonstrates a remarkable impact of SB on crop research. With this protocol, we can expedite crossing and inbreeding activities, completing them within 1.5–2 years instead of the usual 6–7 years required in the field,” said ISARC Director, Dr Sudhanshu Singh.

A significant leap in rice breeding

The SpeedFlower protocol significantly expedites the development of mapping populations, enabling rapid mapping of crucial traits. It revolutionises breeding programs, allowing completion of breeding cycle in about 1.5 years.

The protocol focuses on optimizing light spectrum, intensity, photoperiod, temperature, humidity, nutrient levels and hormonal regulation to expedite growth, flowering and maturity in rice. It has demonstrated flowering within just 60 days for tested rice varieties and achieved a 50 per cent reduction in seed maturity time, irrespective of their natural flowering durations.

The SpeedBreed Facility and the innovative SpeedFlower protocol mark a significant leap in rice breeding, addressing generation time and seasonal constraints. The optimized protocol works for all the maturity durations (early, medium and late) of indica and japonica rice and enables synchronous flowering.

“The SB technique is still in its early stages, and there are both advantages and disadvantages associated with its implementation that require further research. That said, this protocol has the potential to make a significant impact on global food security by rapidly developing improved rice varieties,” said Dr. Hans Bhardwaj, IRRI Rice Breeding Innovations Director.

Partnerships for SpeedBreed and SpeedFlower

Considered as a model facility for speed breeding in rice, IRRI plans to establish a consortium to offer support services to National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES) and private companies on establishing and operating speed breeding facilities.

The protocol will be further refined for enhanced output and comprehensive testing will be done to a broader range of rice genotypes. The program proponents aim to further collaborate with NARES, including other centers under the CGIAR, to leverage shared knowledge and expertise toward optimizing the protocol for other crops.

“We continue to push research boundaries to develop innovations that are urgently needed in light of a growing food and climate crises. This breakthrough sets the new standard toward accelerating genetic gains for global food security,” said IRRI Interim Director General, Dr Ajay Kohli.

The study behind the protocol was led by Drs. Vikas Kumar Singh, Uma Maheshwar Singh, and Pallavi Sinha and was developed with funding support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India. The research has been conducted as part of the collaborative research project with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Speed breeding protocol can develop new high-yielding

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Finance

The IRRI-PhilRice-PCIC tripartite partnership will bring innovative crop insurance products to improve the resilience of Filipino farmers to climatic risks.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) are collaborating on the development of an area-based yield index insurance for rice based on satellite data. This will help improve Filipino farmers’ resilience to climatic risks.

The memorandum of agreement was signed during the 6th International Rice Congress on 19 October 2023 at the Philippine International Convention Centre (PICC), Pasay City, Philippines.

This partnership builds upon an earlier collaboration between IRRI and PhilRice that developed and operationalized a satellite-based rice mapping and monitoring system called PRISM (Philippine Rice Information System). Operational since 2018, PRISM uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite images and a smart detection system to map rice planting areas and planting dates. Using crop growth simulation modelling, it provides timely yield forecasts and end-of-season rice yields.

PRISM data will be used in designing and testing an Area-Based Yield (ARBY) index insurance for rice. ARBY is a type of crop insurance that provides coverage based on historical average yield of a specific geographic area, rather than individual farmer’s yields, to determine payouts in the event of crop losses.

“The fusion of satellite technology and advanced modelling is revolutionizing how we can insure rice crops. With timely insights into yield forecasts and end-of-season yields, satellite-based ARBY index insurance for rice can help simplify the much-needed coverage for smallholder farmers, paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable future for agriculture,” said Dr Ajay Kohli, Interim Director-General of IRRI.

The agreement seeks to help make crop insurance products available to some 2.4 million rice farmers in the Philippines who constantly have to face the risks of losing their yields due to calamities such as tropical cyclones, droughts, and floods. On average, the country experiences around 20 cyclones every year, with at least eight making landfalls. Climate change also poses a significant threat as it makes the impact of calamities like floods and droughts more severe.

“This partnership is a step toward making insurance protection available to Filipino farmers at a crucial time when we are facing severe weather challenges such as droughts and floods, intensified by climate change. We welcome this collaboration as it aligns with our mission to improve the well-being of rice-farming communities in the country,” said Dr John de Leon, Executive Director of PhilRice.

“At PCIC, we appreciate these innovative solutions that can bring about greater efficiencies in our operations compared to the traditional indemnity-based crop insurance model which involves manual visits and verifications for each claim. By leveraging modern technologies, we can provide better insurance products and services to farmers,” said Atty. Jovy Bernabe, President of PCIC.

This collaboration is supported by the CGIAR initiative on Climate Resilience (ClimBeR) which aims to transform the climate adaptation capacity and increase the resilience of smallholder production systems to withstand severe climate change effects in six countries including the Philippines.

The IRRI-PhilRice-PCIC tripartite partnership will bring innovative