News Overview

On 29 May 2025, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Thailand held a follow-up meeting with representatives from Thailand’s Rice Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives on the next phase of the country’s work plan that was jointly elaborated previously in February 2025. Led by Mr. Sommai Lertna, Acting Rice Production Technology Specialist, and Dr. Orathai Jaituy, Director

LAGUNA, Philippines (20 June 2025) —Regional cooperation and country-focused policy solutions for global rice market challenges were at the center of discussion in the plenary session of IRRI’s 65th celebrations on “Navigating Uncertainty: Global Rice Markets amid Trade Policy Shifts and Changing Climate” on June 10, 2025. “Climate change and trade policy shocks are amplifying the volatility of global rice

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines (2 June 2025) – Faster and smarter crop breeding depends on better digital tools, and making sure these tools can work together is critical. To support this, developers, data scientists, and breeders from the BrAPI Community gathered at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for a weeklong hackathon focused on improving digital systems used in breeding programs.

Los Baños, Philippines (9 June 2025) – The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) today unveiled its 2025–2030 Strategy , a bold vision to transform global rice-based food systems through inclusive science, deep partnerships, and coordinated action across public and private sectors. Building on its 65-year research innovations, IRRI’s new strategy recognizes rice as a powerful lever for achieving climate

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines (9 June 2025) – The Long-Term Continuous Cropping Experiment (LTCCE) at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) sets the global record of cropping seasons with the planting of its 183rd crop in April. With this, the LTCCE surpassed the world-renowned Broadbalk experiment at Rothamsted in the United Kingdom (est. 1843) in terms of cropping seasons — thanks

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines (9 June 2025) – Countries in the Asia Pacific region are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change such as erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events that threaten agricultural production and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Staple crops like rice, wheat, and maize are highly exposed to these challenges and are expected to

LOS BAÑOS, PHILIPPINES (9 June 2025) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and CGIAR, with support from the Gates Foundation, today launched a new initiative to boost investments in sustainable and low-carbon rice production with the aim of improving the lives of millions of vulnerable smallholder farmers across Asia and the Pacific. Rice is the lifeblood of the region.

Juergen Voegele & Yvonne Pinto “Have you had your rice today?” In Viet Nam, this everyday greeting reflects just how central rice is to life—so essential that the day doesn’t truly begin until people have eaten a few mouthfuls. Half of humanity eats rice. But behind the ubiquitous staple lies a mounting crisis. The global rice industry is experiencing