A collection of studies from the front lines of the climate crisis reveals that tackling inequality is fundamental to transformative adaptation By Eleanor Fisher, Jon Hellin, and Mary Ng’endo It’s a phrase we hear so often that it has almost lost its power: those least responsible for climate change suffer the most from its consequences. But for many social scientists,
By Glenn Concepcion In a world grappling with a rising population, climate change, and a growing need for healthier food options, scientists are turning to an unlikely pairing: rice and seaweed. A scientific review published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition explores the vast, untapped potential of combining rice starch with biopolymers from seaweed to create transformative products
By Sharif Ahmed, Humnath Bhandari Rice covers 11% of the world’s arable land and is responsible for approximately 1.5% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and around 10-12% of total agricultural emissions. Bangladesh is one of the most rice-dependent countries (cultivates ~75% of its arable land) in the world. This creates a dual challenge of ensuring food security for
In western Odisha, farmer groups and women’s self-help groups are taking the lead in bringing a range of healthier rice varieties to local markets, improving nutrition for families while creating new income opportunities. By Dillip Kumar Rout, Sampad Nayak, Mosharaf Hossain, and Swati Nayak At the Pallishree Mela of 2025 in Balangir, a famous farmer fair that celebrates agriculture, community
Los Baños, Philippines (24 October 2025) — The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has announced the appointment of Ms. Xi Cao as the new Head of the Clearing House Facility on Scaling of Agricultural Innovations for Development. In this role, she will lead efforts to design, implement, and scale transformative agricultural innovations that improve livelihoods, enhance food security, and foster
by Melanie Connor, Alexis Ndayiragije, Joseph Bigirimana The Republic of Burundi lies in the center of East Africa and has emerged as a pivotal player in advancing regional food security through the strategic activities of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Since the establishment of the IRRI Regional Crop Improvement Hub in Bujumbura in 2013, it has become a center
Hyderabad, India (25 October 2025)—India is redefining how rice breeding responds to consumer and market demand. To move beyond yield as the sole measure of success, experts are aligning breeding pipelines with grain quality, market fit, and consumer preferences. To advance this shift, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), CGIAR, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) convened a
By Christian Dohrmann This year, Thailand and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have embarked on a journey toward improving its sustainable rice cultivation practices. The Thai Rice: Strengthening Climate-Smart Rice Farming and the Accelerating the Scaling of Low-Emissions Rice in Southeast Asia projects, among other initiatives, are gaining momentum in the country. As part of this journey, IRRI has