IRRI

23/04/2026

On April 21, the IRRI Bangladesh team, led by Dr. Humnath Bhandari, held a pivotal meeting with the new Honorable Minister of Agriculture Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid to reinforce collaboration in advancing rice-based agri-food systems.

Discussions covered opportunities through the IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) and ongoing collaboration in developing high-yielding, nutritious, and climate-resilient rice varieties, climate-smart and low-carbon rice systems such as AWD and DSR, sustainable natural resource management, crop diversification, seed systems, mechanization, digital agriculture, rice value chains, and capacity building.

The Minister commended IRRI’s vital role in helping Bangladesh achieve rice self-sufficiency and emphasized the need for continued collaboration to address emerging challenges, particularly in nutritious rice, stress-tolerant varieties, water-saving technologies, soil health, pesticide reduction, heavy metal concerns in rice, and sustainable farming practices.

23/04/2026

In the media: Women are at the heart of global rice farming, yet they continue to face unequal challenges in agriculture.

In this BBC podcast episode of The Conversation, Datshiane Navanayagam speaks with IRRI experts on how women are strengthening rice resilience amid climate change.

Featuring Ranjitha Puskur and Pauline Chivenge of the International Rice Research Institute, the discussion highlights the vital role of women in food systems and why equitable innovation in agriculture matters more than ever.

Listen to the full podcast episode here: bit.ly/4tZb2XDhttps://bbc.in/41JE0ii

23/04/2026

The ASEAN-CGIAR Innovate for Food and Nutrition Security Regional Program is moving from pilots to scale, advancing climate-resilient, regenerative, and sustainable food systems across Southeast Asia. Partners of the program recently convened for a closing workshop and open forum session, marking a key milestone and transition point in the program’s first phase.

Since 2023, the program has developed 39 innovations across agriculture, food systems, and climate resilience, delivering measurable results of higher rice yields, increased fish production, stronger farmer incomes, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and climate-smart financing for smallholder farmers.

As the partners convene to close the program, the discussion focus is clear--stronger investment, policy alignment, and scaling solutions that work for farmers, food systems, and the planet.

Read more: bit.ly/4czhlKs

22/04/2026

Rice Today: Is your rice brown? New research shows that pigmented rice isn’t always lower in glycemic index, but it still offers valuable nutrients.

A study of nearly 400 whole-grain rice varieties found that grain color alone, whether brown, red, purple, or white, is not a reliable predictor of how quickly rice raises blood sugar.

While pigmented rice remains rich in fiber, antioxidants, and other nutrients, managing glycemic response may depend on more than color alone.

Read more: bit.ly/4u2rkPC

22/04/2026

This International Mother Earth Day, we are reminded that feeding the world and caring for the planet can go hand in hand through strong partnerships and science-based, location-specific solutions.

Hear from Dr. Nuning Argo Subekti of the Indonesian Center for Food Crops Agricultural Development and Modernization (BRMP), one of IRRI's partners in Indonesia, on how the Rice Crop Manager, locally known as Layanan Konsultasi Padi (LKP), gains ground in empowering farmers with site-specific recommendations tailored to their fields. By guiding farmers to use the right amount of inputs, LKP helps reduce environmental impact while improving yields and livelihoods.

Farmer using LKP reported additional yield of 0.6 tons per hectare and increased income by 140 USD per hectare. These results demonstrate how a practical digital innovation can support more environmentally sustainable food systems.

Learn more about the LKP here: https://lkp.irri.org/
Pusat Perakitan dan Modernisasi Pertanian Tanaman Pangan

21/04/2026

Rice Today: Low-emission rice practices like AWD and direct-seeded rice can reduce methane while maintaining yields, but scaling them requires more than pilot projects.

Without strong Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems, emission reductions in rice fields cannot be measured, valued, or linked to carbon markets and national climate targets. A new IRRI report explores how smarter, more affordable MRV systems can reduce costs, improve transparency, and make climate-smart rice practices more attractive to investors and farmers alike.

Read more: bit.ly/3OvhRRS

21/04/2026

The “Fertilize Right” pilot under Vietnam’s 1mHa Program continues to show strong results with nearly 0.9 t/ha more yield and 24% higher farmer incomes. This major milestone was reported during a workshop led by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) together with the Sub-Department of Plant Production and Protection under the Can Tho Department of Agriculture and Environment.

By combining certified seeds, mechanized direct row seeding, fertilizer deep placement, 4R nutrient stewardship, and AWD irrigation, farmers achieved higher productivity, lower input use, and stronger resilience against heavy rainfall and lodging.

Read more: bit.ly/48y9nAj

21/04/2026

In the Philippines: Experts from Philippine government agencies, research institutions, and IRRI are pushing for stronger and more sustainable groundwater monitoring systems.

Through recent online and in-person multi-stakeholder dialogues, participants discussed strategies to advance the country’s digital groundwater monitoring systems, improve data sharing, and identify priority actions to address critical gaps in groundwater data and governance.

Groundwater remains a key resource for households, farming, and industry in the country, but growing demand, climate variability, and fragmented monitoring systems are raising concerns over its long-term sustainability. Without reliable data, groundwater management often becomes reactive, responding only after wells run dry, energy costs rise, or ecosystems are damaged.

The dialogue brought together representatives from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), UP Diliman (UPD), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), and IRRI.

The teams will continue to coordinate next steps towards establishing a technical working group for a more unified national groundwater monitoring and governance system.

20/04/2026

Strengthening the alignment between project-based and national GHG reporting is essential for credible, actionable climate policy, particularly in Thailand’s rice sector.

IRRI met with Thailand’s Department of Climate Change and Environment to harmonize methodologies, share GHG mitigation and MRV tools, and explore a transition toward more advanced emissions reporting.

The discussion opens the door to sustained technical collaboration, supporting a stronger national rice GHG inventory and advancing innovation toward Thailand’s climate goals.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4vB2Yy5

17/04/2026

17/04/2026

Honoring the legacy of Dr. Eugene Terry, a pioneering leader in global rice research and agricultural development

The International Rice Research Institute joins the agri-food community in mourning the passing of Dr. Terry, the first Director General of AfricaRice, whose visionary leadership and scientific excellence helped lay the foundation for transformative rice research, and strengthened international collaboration, particularly in Africa.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and all those inspired by his lifelong commitment to advancing food security and farmer livelihoods worldwide.

17/04/2026

As IRRI turns 66, we celebrate 60 years of rice breeding, from IR8’s “miracle” to decades of steady, incremental gains that continue to feed millions today.

A new study highlights the critical role of the decades of consistent yield growth and the urgent need to sustain public research to meet future food demands.

As Nobel Laureate and Green Revolution pioneer Norman Borlaug reminded us, "there are no miracles in agriculture," only the continuous, gradual, and vital progression of science.

Read the study here: bit.ly/4vanLZd