IRRI and TaiwanICDF launches project on sustainable and low-carbon rice straw management in Southeast Asia

Can Tho City, Vietnam (October 9th, 2024)—The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Vietnam Office launched a new project called Capacity Building for Sustainable and Low-Carbon Rice Innovations in Southeast Asia (CABIN). The CABIN project, supported by the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) and implemented by IRRI, aims to promote sustainable rice straw management in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, and the Philippines from 2024 to 2028.

Dr. Nguyen Van Hung, IRRI scientist and CABIN project leader, introduced the project. He explained that the project aims to support sustainable agriculture and the transition to a circular economy by building capacity and promoting low-carbon rice practices. This will be achieved through developing annual plans and strategies, creating training materials (e.g., manuals, e-learning modules, and videos), and enhancing knowledge and adoption through training, field demonstrations, and technology transfers. The project's initial phase (2024-2028) focuses solely on sustainable and low-carbon rice straw management.

Each target country presented sustainable and low-carbon rice production focusing on rice residue management, current status and technology, strategic approaches, and capacity-building priorities in straw management. Annually, these countries produce millions of tons of rice and generate a total straw output of nearly 150 million tons, accounting for approximately 20% of global straw output. Due to limited knowledge of straw management and a lack of suitable technology, straw burning has become a prevalent problem.

Mr. Ming-Hong Yen, Director of the Technical Cooperation Department of TaiwanICDF, presented TaiwanICDF's strategies for supporting sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region. He highlighted its regional focus areas, such as climate-smart agriculture, nutrition enhancement, climate risk mitigation, and human capital development. Prof. Deng Wen-Ling, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam, shared a presentation on converting agricultural waste biomass into a resource, focusing on rice straw technologies for large-scale commercialization.

A demonstration of the e-Extension platform for sustainable rice and rice straw management was also done, showcasing its features like free courses, real-time water level updates, and a chatbot.

The workshop participants included partners from the five countries, key leaders from the Department of Crop Production of Vietnam, the Vietnam Rice Sector Association, and the local government of Can Tho, representatives from TaiwanICDF, the CABIN team from IRRI, and other relevant stakeholders.

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