IRRI, Tao Corporation sign pact for the commercialization and distribution of elite hybrid rice varieties across the Philippines

Partnership seen to give local rice farmers better access to seeds of high-yielding and climate-resilient hybrid rice varieties that, in the long run, will help make rice production more sustainable and profitable for rice producers and more affordable for rice consumers.

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• IRRI-Tao Corporation partnership agreement will give local farmers better access to seeds of elite rice hybrids and help increase their yields and income by up to 20%.
• Hybrid rice technology has significant potential to improve rice productivity and contribute to a rice self-sufficient Philippines.

IRRI Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, 30 July 2019 – The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Tao Commodity Trader, Inc. (TCTI) – a subsidiary of Tao Corporation ( http://www.taocommunity.com/home ), one of the Philippines’ Top 500 diversified business groups – have signed a seven-year Limited Exclusivity Commercial License Agreement to promote the commercialization and nationwide distribution of seeds of three IRRI-developed elite rice hybrids: Mestiso 71, Mestiso 77, and Mestiso 89. The agreement was formally signed by Dr Peter Brothers, IRRI Chief of Staff and representing IRRI’s Director-General, and Mr Julio Sy,Jr., TCTI Chief Executive Officer, on July 30 at IRRI’s Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna.

The selected hybrid rice varieties are bred for higher yield, superior grain quality, improved pest and disease resistance, resilience to climate change-induced stresses, and higher seed production, traits that could help farmers increase their yields and incomes by up to 20%. Hybrid rice technology has significant potential to improve rice productivity and contribute to a rice self-sufficient Philippines. “As IRRI strives to achieve food and nutrition security, we always emphasize the importance of building strong partnerships with different organizations to achieve our mission. We cannot do it alone. Today is a…