Thursday, March 17, 2016

Uganda: New rice seed promises high yields, income

AllAfrica | 16 March 2016

New rice varieties that will enable growing of the crop with less pesticides, less fertilizers and less water have showed yields of 20-30 times more than traditional ones under trials on farmers' fields. Read more

Scientists help Vietnam’s rice farmers adapt to climate change, amid major drought

IRIN News | 16 March 2016

In line with its work in other Asian countries, the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute has been breeding high quality “climate-smart rice varieties” that mature quickly, can tolerate salt, and are designed specifically for Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, Reiner Wassmann, the project leader, told IRIN. Read more

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Untapped greens

Republica | 15 March 2016

Nepal is blessed with the land, people and climate to potentially grow most of the cereals, fruits, crops, and vegetables we need. Yet the country today is food-insecure and out-migration of youth is leaving our vast resources fallow. Read more

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Noted agriculture scientist MV Rao passes away

Hindu Business Line | 9 March 2016

A former Vice-President of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (2000–2003), Rao played an important role on several committees, especially chairing the Committee on the New National Seed Policy. He has served as a member of the board of directors of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and as member of the Wheat Advisory Committee of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). Read more

What it's like inside the doomsday vault that stores every known crop on the planet

Providence Journal | 9 March 2016

On a remote island situated between mainland Norway and the North Pole, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is designed to come to our rescue if that happens. It stores valuable seeds from crops all over the world, and recently, because of the Syrian civil war, it came to humanity's aid for the first time. Read more

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Cutting-edge research revealed at Lincolnshire farming conference

Horncastle News | 8 March 2016

Jim Godfrey OBE, DSc, chair on the Board of Trustees of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), was among the high quality speakers who revealed how future research on genomes could be used to improve crops in the face of a rapidly changing climate. Read more

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Good advice from WB

Tempo | 6 March 2016

IRRI developed high-yielding rice varieties and the planting and harvesting techniques that are now in wide use in those two countries. In contrast, many Philippine farmers cling to their traditional practices, producing little more than their own needs. Read more