A newly refined machine designed for dry-seeded fields is offering farmers a faster and more affordable way to plant rice and other crops. The Hand Tractor-Mounted Multi-Purpose Seeder (MP Seeder), developed by DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), attaches to a regular hand tractor and can plant rice, corn, and mungbean without the need for costly new equipment. Commercialized in 2018, the seeder, nominated by the Institute’s Rice Engineering and Mechanization […]

The Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) highlighted four decades of science-driven rice innovations and partnerships as it convened more than 600 scientists, farmers, youth leaders, policymakers, and development partners during the 37th Ugnay Palay National Rice Research for Development (R4D) Conference in Nueva Ecija. Held under the theme “40 Years of Rice Innovations: Sowing Progress, Harvesting Prosperity,” the conference served as a platform to review PhilRice’s contributions to […]

The Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) is marking its 40th founding anniversary with a strong record in intellectual property (IP) generation, ranking among government institutions with the highest number of granted IP applications. As of 2025, PhilRice holds more than 400 IP assets, including 50 patents, 53 utility models, 12 industrial designs, 10 trademarks, and 284 copyrights, representing four decades of research outputs translated into technologies for farmers, […]

After a week of field and classroom sessions, 26 participants from the National Irrigation Administration Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems II (NIA UPRIIS-II) and Irrigators Association (IAs) officers completed their basic rice production training at DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. The training deepened their understanding of rice production through hands-on activities and discussions based on the PalayCheck System—a package of technologies that […]

In a promising development for rice farmers, researchers from the Department of Agriculture–Crop Biotechnology Center (DA-CBC) have successfully used a floral dip-based gene editing technique to boost tungro resistance in NSIC Rc 402, a widely cultivated Indica rice variety. Tungro, a viral disease transmitted by leafhoppers, causes up to 30% crop loss annually—equivalent to 456,000 tons of rough rice—posing a major threat to the country’s rice production and food security. […]

DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has launched RiceLytics Mobile View Version, a mobile view of the Rice Data Analytics website that transforms how rice data is accessed and utilized across the Philippines. This innovative tool marks a significant leap toward a future where rice governance is guided by timely, accurate, and actionable information. Developed by the PhilRice Data Analytics Center, RiceLytics Mobile offers researchers, policymakers, local governments, and industry stakeholders […]

As farmers deal with rising production costs and volatile prices, organized cooperatives from across the country have formed a national network to improve income while giving consumers greater confidence in the rice they buy.  Organized by Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), the RiceBIS Magsasaka Network (RMN) composed of 50 cooperatives was launched during the recent 37th Ugnay Palay National Rice Research for Development (R4D) Conference, creating a unified […]

The Department of Agriculture–Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) has launched the country’s first artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem for agricultural information—a multilingual integrated platform that makes science-based rice farming information accessible to farmers and agricultural workers 24/7. Unveiled during the 37th Ugnay Palay National Rice R4D Conference on Nov. 25, the rollout begins with the beta version of Palai, a chatbot available across all PhilRice-managed Facebook pages. Through Messenger, Palai provides […]

The first national assembly organized by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) through its Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Program Management Office fostered closer coordination and unified actions among Provincial Agriculture Offices (PAOs).  Attended by more than 50 provincial agriculturists nationwide, the assembly aimed to shore up collaboration for a more seamless exchange of information through shared systems and updates on services offered to farmers, implementation guidelines, and coordinated efforts […]

A rice variety developed by Filipino breeders has earned international recognition after winning silver at the World’s Best Rice 2025 Awards held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, affirming the country’s growing reputation in producing premium-quality rice. NSIC Rc 218 SR (Mabango 3), bred by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice), was cited among the world’s finest for its soft texture, aromatic quality, and exceptional grain characteristics during the Global […]