Thai agriculture minister visits IRRI to discuss joint work

H.E. Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya, Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), and party visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Headquarters to further strengthen its partnership with the Institute on 13 February. MOAC promotes agricultural research and development, and develops technology based on sustainable and environment-friendly use of agricultural resources.

The delegation received an overview of IRRI’s overall research projects from Director General Robert Zeigler. They also discussed on-going and proposed collaborative projects with IRRI scientists as well as capacity-building initiatives to improve rice research and extension in the country.

Thailand and IRRI began its collaboration in 1960 when Prince Chakrabandhu became a founding member of the IRRI Board of Trustees.  The Institute and the country have been working together to improve rice production and enhance capacities of Thai rice researchers. In October 2014, the 4th International Rice Congress (IRC2014) – the largest regular conference and exhibition of the global rice scientific research community and industry – was held in Bangkok under the patronage of the Royal Government of Thailand through MOAC . IRC, attended by around 1,500 participants from 69 countries, highlighted the latest in rice research from around the world.


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