Friday, May 13, 2016

Field test on for 3 more GM crops

The Daily Star | 12 May 2016

Along with two other rice varieties (IR-64, a variety developed by the International Rice Research Institute, and RC-28, a Filipino variety), BRRI Dhan-29, one of Bangladesh's most productive rice varieties, has been genetically engineered to have greater expressions of a corn gene responsible for producing beta carotene (also known as pro-vitamin A). Read more

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Spring paddy acreage to be expanded by 200k hectares

Kathmandu Post | 12 May 2016

The International Rice Research Institute has expanded the distribution of the improved paddy seeds to 21 districts that are considered to be food insecure. Read more

Friday, May 6, 2016

Food security now: New norm or false dawn? – Analysis

Eurasia Review | 6 May 2016

The International Rice Research institute (IRRI) in an early 2016 report showed that while global rice commodity prices have declined in consecutive years since 2013, the huge stocks of yesteryears have also declined sharply, especially in the top exporting countries of Thailand, Vietnam and India. Read more

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

El Niño-caused rice shortage could happen this year, lead to higher prices

SF Gate | 4 May 2016

Add on yet another global effect of El Niño: A global rice shortage could become a reality this year, due to the weather system. Read more

Friday, April 15, 2016

IRRI hikes capacity to store seeds, conserve rice genetic diversity

Malaya | 15 April 2015
Paul Icamina

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has opened a new seed processing facility that enhances the capacity of the world’s repository of rice genetic resources. Read more


Wednesday, April 13, 2016

A long hot summer ahead of us

Philippine Star | 13 April 2016

It appears as though our hot spell is really only just beginning. In a previous column I wrote that we were glad that El Niño was beginning to wane and that it was a really good thing because some parts of the country are in desperate need of respite. Read more

Global food crisis looms anew

Philippine Daily Inquirer | 13 April 2016

The world is facing the threat of another food crisis similar to what happened in 2007-2008 when prices of commodities like rice spiked, according to the International Rice Research Institute. Read more