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By APD writer Melo M. Acuña
MANILA, Nov. 7 (APD) – The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) received the endorsement of ASEAN Member States (AMS) and the support of Plus Three dialogue partners for the launch of the ASEAN Rice Net, a new regional network for sharing and evaluation of advanced IRRI-developed rice breeding lines.
The partnership is supported by the Rice Genetic Solutions for Climate Resilience and Value Addition program to boost farmers’ access to high-value varieties under climate change environmental conditions and drive long-term increases in rice productivity and incomes.
The endorsement capacitates IRRI to also work with the ASEAN Plus Three Dialogue Partners, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea for the development of both technical and financing support modalities for the network.
“IRRI will assist AMS to meet their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for food security and contribute to ensuring that ASEAN and ASEAN+3 nations have sufficient capacity to increase their rice productivity, which will be critical to meeting the food and nutrition security needs of consumers in the region,” said IRRI Director General Dr. Matthew Morell. He added the region will need to secure its rice production while addressing climate change challenges, declining availability of land for agriculture due to land degradation, continued population growth and rapid urbanization.
The ASEAN Rice Net will be launched in 2020 and is expected to generate economic benefits of at least US$0.5 billion from variety releases alone across the ASEAN region. With the sharing of IRRI-bred advanced lines carrying characteristics needed by farmers and rice value chain stakeholders, it is expected that farmers can continue to be productive under the variable climate change environmental conditions.
“IRRI wants to ensure that no country in ASEAN is left behind in terms of access to rice variety based technology and skills. We are grateful to all the AMS partners in the region for the continuous trust and support as their investments and collaboration drive IRRI’s strategy of increasing South-South and Triangular collaboration,” said Dr. Shoba Venkatanagappa, IRRI’s head of the ASEAN Rice Net Program.
According to the IRRI statement, in the long term, the network will enable partner countries to co-develop new, improved rice varieties, enhance technical skills of scientists through training, and increase the capacity of national rice breeding programs across AMS organizations.
(Cover: IRRI Director General Dr. Matthew Morell meets with H.E. Dato Ali Apong to acknowledge the Government of Brunei Darussalam's successful hosting of 41st AMAF and to discuss further collaboration. /IRRI Photo)
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
