IRRI secures ASEAN Member States (AMS) endorsement for ASEAN Rice Net

(Photo caption: Dr. Morell met with H.E. Dato Ali Apong to compliment the Government of Brunei Darussalam on the successful hosting of the 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF), where IRRI secured the endorsement of ASEAN Member States (AMS) and +3 dialogue partners for ASEAN Rice Net)

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has successfully secured the endorsement of ASEAN Member States (AMS) and the support of Plus Three dialogue partners for the launch of ASEAN Rice Net, a new regional network for sharing and evaluating advanced IRRI-developed rice breeding lines.

The collaborative partnership is underpinned by the Rice Genetic Solutions for Climate Resilience and Value Addition program. The program will accelerate farmers’ access to high-value varieties under climate change environmental conditions and drive long-term increases in rice productivity and incomes.

The endorsement enables IRRI to also liaise closely with the ASEAN Plus Three Dialogue Partners, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea for the development of both technical and financing support modalities for the network.

“I commend the ASEAN member states for stepping forward together to ensure they have access to the rice genetics that will underpin future success in rice production in the region. This initiative will help ASEAN and ASEAN +3 nations to increase their rice productivity, meet their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) commitments for food security and help achieve food and nutrition security for consumers in the region,” said IRRI Director General, Dr. Matthew Morell. He added that the region will need to secure increased rice production in the face of climate change challenges, land degradation and declining availability and continued population growth and rapid urbanization.

Access to high value rice varieties and technologies to increase the nutrition of rice are also vital to reduce malnutrition…