The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) and the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) sealed an agreement to work together in joint projects in agriculture and sustainable use of natural resources, Nov. 11. MATE is one of the largest agricultural-focused, multi-disciplinary higher education institutions in Europe. The cooperation includes plant breeding and associated technologies, biotechnology, sustainable nature development, food safety and quality, training and educational programs, […]

Rice stakeholders need to collaborate to develop game-changing strategies for the rice sector in the new normal. Dr. Mercedita A. Sombilla, undersecretary for regional development of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), stressed this in her speech during the Ugnay Palay: 33rd National Rice R4D e-conference, hosted by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), Nov. 4-5. “As the government continues to develop strategies in the rice industry […]

DA-PhilRice celebrates its 36th year of serving the Filipino rice farmers across the nation on Nov. 3-5. “Through the years, DA-PhilRice continuously strives to make rice production not only more efficient, but also dependable and sustainable in meeting the growing demands of millions of Filipino rice consumers,” Dr. John C. de Leon, executive director, said. He added that through the Institute’s research for development (R4D) efforts, it continues to implement […]

This year’s observance of National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) in November iterates the importance of eating healthy and nutritious rice. “The kind of rice we consume is crucial to our health. This is especially true to us because rice is the staple food of Filipinos,” Dr. Marissa V. Romero, food scientist and co-lead of the Healthier Rice Project of DA-PhilRice, said. Attuned to the NRAM theme “Be RICEponsibly healthy”, the […]

With the increasing reports of brown planthopper (BPH) cases, an expert from the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) urges farmers to check first the insect population before implementing control measures. BPH is a small brown insect found mainly on the base of rice plants above the water level. Adults and nymphs suck the plant sap from leaf sheaths, causing yellowing of lower and then upper leaves. Whole areas […]

A mutation gene that may help rice plants survive despite adverse conditions has been identified by a balik scientist fellow hosted by DA-PhilRice. Dr. Nonawin Lucob-Agustin, together with other researchers from Nagoya University in Japan, discovered the wavy root elongation growth 1 (weg1) gene, which may help rice cope with drought especially in rainfed lowlands where water is scarce. The scientist explained that the gene was identified from mutants of […]

Darkness starts to engulf the remaining light of the day but the rustles have not slowed down a bit inside the Pinagbuklod na Adhika Multipurpose Cooperative (PNAMC) facility in Macarse, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija. The last sack of palay was poured into the brown rice milling machine. Several women can be seen filling plastic bags labeled “Macarse Brown Rice”. In a transformed food system that is gender-responsive, opportunities are given to […]

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) and Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Maramag, Bukidnon recently agreed to continue collaborating for better rice research for development (R4D) programs. Working together since 2001, the parties recently renewed their partnership on developing and promoting rice and rice-based technologies until 2033.  Under the new 13-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), DA-PhilRice and CMU will continue collaborating on producing high-quality rice seeds and implementing […]

Intercropping Azolla with rice can help lessen farmers’ fertilizer expenses in rice production in irrigated areas, a research by the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) showed. Azolla, a fern that thrives in freshwater, maintains a symbiotic relationship with the blue-green algae, Anabaena azollae. The algae provide nitrogen (N) to the fern and the fern provides a habitat for the algae. This symbiosis allows the conversion of nitrogen into ammonia, which can […]

More Filipino consumers are becoming aware of the health benefits of low-glycemic index (GI) rice according to a study by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) on consumers’ awareness, behavior, and knowledge of rice and rice-based products. “Results of our study showed that majority of our respondents from all 17 regions in the country had high level of awareness on GI,” Riza G. Abilgos-Ramos, supervising science research specialist […]