News Overview

The Philippines launched a pilot program combining satellite-based crop insurance and weather-informed agro-advisories to enhance climate resilience and risk management for Filipino rice farmers, with plans for nationwide scaling. Los Baños, Philippines (9 June 2025) – The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the International Rice Research

Stresses such as salinity and waterlogging makes the coastal region of southwest Bangladesh more vulnerable to climate change. These challenges further risk the rice farming systems and livelihoods of the smallholder farmers of the region. With the decrease in land productivity and effectiveness of traditional cropping patterns, there is an urgent need for collaborative action to scale and adopt climate-resilient

Dhaka, Bangladesh (30 April 2025) – The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) took center stage at the Gobeshona Global Conference 2025, hosted by the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) on 30th April 2025, with a dynamic virtual session titled “ Agri-Food System Innovations for Food Security. ” This webinar was arranged to connect local and international researchers,

Los Baños, Philippines (19 May 2025) — The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) officially launched a new initiative that aims to promote sustainable, low-carbon rice-farming in the ASEAN region. Called “Accelerating development and scaling of agricultural innovations for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in ASEAN Countries” project (AGRI Project),

Agricultural systems are changing quickly, and modern tools are essential to maximize productivity. To make informed decisions, farmers and researchers need the help of agricultural tools to provide them with accurate and precise input data.   Drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are one such tools.    Using drones for agricultural research requires careful planning and clear procedures to

NOAKHALI, Bangladesh (10 May 2025) — To accelerate the adoption of high-performing rice varieties, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) jointly organized a Crop Cafeteria Field Day at the BADC Subarnachar farm in Noakhali. The initiative aimed to provide a scientific yet participatory platform for varietal assessment. Since 2019, IRRI and BADC have

Can Tho City, Vietnam (April 9, 2025) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) held a conference to review the initial outcomes of the One-Million-Hectare High-Quality and Low-Emission Rice Program (1mHa Program). Early findings indicate lower production costs, higher yields, and increased farmer income, signaling a step forward for sustainable rice farming in the Mekong River Delta (MRD). According

HYDERABAD, India (01 May 2025) – To accelerate the adoption of newly released, high-performing rice varieties in India, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) convened a national-level gathering of the country’s key rice seed system stakeholders at the Seed Accelerator Meet 2025 in Hyderabad. The event aimed to strengthen India’s rice seed delivery ecosystem by enhancing coordination between research institutions