The Institute, in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), signed a memorandum of agreement, which focuses on the development of an area-based yield index insurance for rice from satellite data.
Signed during the 6th International Rice Congress (IRC) held at the Philippine International Convention Center on Oct. 16-19, the agreement aims to enhance Filipino farmers’ resilience to climatic risks.
“This partnership marks a significant stride toward providing Filipino farmers with insurance protection. This comes at a critical time when we are grappling with severe weather challenges such as droughts and floods, which are exacerbated by climate change. We welcome this collaboration as it aligns with our mission to enhance the well-being of rice-farming communities in the country,” Executive Director John de Leon said.
Following IRRI’s groundbreaking revelation of genes responsible for low and ultra-low glycemic index (GI) in rice, DA Undersecretary Leo Sebastian said,”We are keen on supporting the continued research for this milestone discovery. We are already discussing ways on how PhilRice can use this breakthrough on low GI rice toward incorporating this in Philippine varieties.”
This development enables the transformation of common rice varieties into healthier, low GI, and ultra-low GI white rice through traditional breeding methods, without compromising quality and yield. This holds promise in addressing the growing rate of diabetes.
With 68-member delegation, the Institute presented 19 oral and poster presentations under the congress, “Accelerating Transformation of Rice-Based Food Systems: From Gene to Globe.”
Additionally, thrusts on identifying genes for climate-resilient rice, aiding farmers with climate-smart data, using robotics for precision agriculture, and scaling direct-seeded rice technology were laid down.
