Empowering research technicians in seed sampling

4-5 July 2024 (Los Banos, Laguna)—The Seed Health and Logistics Unit (SHU) and the Breeding Operations Unit - Cross Cutting Operations (CCO), in partnership with HR - Learning and Development (HRL&D), conducted two transformative training sessions on the Sampling of Seedlots and Consignments for Seed Health Testing. This initiative aimed to empower Research Technicians (RTs) by enhancing their proficiency in performing seed sampling according to the established protocols of SHU and CCO.

JAIF and IRRI collaborate to transform practices on food safety and processing for Southeast Asian representatives

7-17 October 2024 (Los Baños, Laguna)—Five (5) government technical staff from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar united for a 10-day training program at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Hosted by the Institute of Food Science and Technology, this program offered participants a valuable opportunity to advance their knowledge of food safety, sensory evaluation, and innovative food processing techniques.

Advancing Resilience: The 2024 IRRI-NARES Late Maturity Salinity Trials Focus on Developing Salt-Tolerant Rice for Bangladesh

IRRI and NARES report promising breakthroughs in salinity-tolerant rice, aiming to enhance resilience for Bangladesh’s farmers.

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The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES) are making significant strides in breeding salt-tolerant rice varieties essential for Bangladesh’s saline-prone agricultural regions. These developments come in response to increasing soil salinity, which affects nearly 30% of Bangladesh’s coastal areas and poses serious challenges for rice cultivation—a vital crop for the nation’s food security and economic stability. Through the 2024 IRRI-NARES Late Maturity Salinity Trials, scientists are developing resilient, high-yielding rice genotypes to better withstand harsh environmental conditions.

Developing Short-Duration Cold-Tolerant Rice Varieties Could Boost Food Security in Bangladesh’s Haor Region

The workshop emphasized continued efforts in developing cold-tolerant, high-yield rice varieties to enhance food security and resilience in Haor areas.

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Gazipur, Bangladesh (5 November 2024) – The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), and the Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF) came together to review and plan on advancing cold-tolerant, short-duration rice varieties for the Haor region to enhance resilience to cold stress and improve food security in the region. This collaboration aims to tackle climate-related challenges in rice production by developing varieties that can thrive under the Haor region’s climatic conditions.

AFACI-reviewed project on target and two types of training on EBS and Bioflow for data analysis success in Vietnam

The 2024 AFACI (Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative) assessed the progress of the project, "Stress-tolerant, high-yielding rice (SHR) varieties suitable for AFACI member countries and Germplasm Utilization for Value Added (GUVA)" during their Project Evaluation Workshop from August 27 to 28, 2024. The reviewed initiative aims to develop rice varieties resilient to biotic and abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, and flooding while enhancing yield potential.

IRRI, CIAT assess the cost-effectiveness of digital climate advisory services in Myanmar through the AMD Initiative

The CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega Deltas (AMD) will examine the cost-effectiveness and outcomes of digital climate advisory services (DCAS+) for farmers in Myanmar. DCAS+ provides timely weather advisories and farming recommendations through various channels, helping farmers reduce production losses from climate risks. Findings from this study will improve the design, delivery, and sustainability of DCAS+ to maximize its reach and impact. If proven effective, it will help generate more investments in initiatives that can scale its benefits among farmers and fisherfolk in climate-risk areas. DCAS+ is led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in partnership with other CGIAR centers, governments, and private sector partners.