Breeders and soil scientists join training fellowship on sustainable rice production systems in the midst of climate change

By JCBarradas and MAMaghuyop

IRRI Training Center, in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), conducted a Regional group fellowship on phenotyping and integrated plant mutation breeding with best fit soil and water management practices for climate change adaptation from 01 to 25 July at IRRI Headquarters. The knowledge gained from the fellowship can help rice workers in creating sustainable rice production systems to ensure food security in the midst of climate change.

IAEA engaged Mr. Qing-Yao Shu of Zhejiang University, Mr. Roland Rallos of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, and Ms. Thelma Padolina and Dr. Jasper Tallada of Philippine Rice Research Institute as resource persons. Experts from CESD and PBGB also served as resource persons.

Participants included 21 fellows from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The fellows were updated with modern nuclear techniques used in mutation breeding, crop improvement and resource management. Other topics include how abiotic stresses affect rice production and the best water, soil, nutrient, and crop management practices in less favorable environments. In addition, they also had hands-on laboratory exercises for assessing plant responses to weather and soil problems for proper management. Lastly, the fellows were taught ICT tools to help increase the levels of communication and collaboration among participating agricultural institutions.

 The training fellowship was coordinated by Dr. Abdelbagi Ismail with Ms. Angie Maghuyop as the course facilitator.

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