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International Research Institute January-March 2015, Vol. 14, No. 1

Rice in Latin America: past, present, and promising future

Where’s my GM rice? Trends in global rice trade Green revolutions 2.0 & 3.0: No farmer left behind

US$5.00 ISSN 1655-5422 Rice Today January-March 2015 1 contents Vol. 14, No. 1

EDITORIAL...... 4 URUGUAYAN RICE: THE SECRETS OF A SUCCESS GREEN REVOLUTIONS 2.0 & 3.0: NO FARMER LEFT Bühler. Going beyond rice kernels. STORY...... 18 BEHIND...... 32 NEWS...... 5 Competitiveness is the name of the game for Green Revolutions 2.0 and 3.0 will benefit the poorest Uruguayan rice farmers of the poor who did not reap rewards of the first Leading in optimised rice processing worldwide. MAKING RICE MORE COMPETITIVE IN LATIN one AMERICA...... 10 THE RISE OF RICE ON ’S SACRED GROUND...20 For 20 years, FLAR has been the primary force behind With its rising national rice production, Peru is now UNLEASHING THE RICE MARKET...... 36 the region’s rice development Latin America’s most important rice producer after The global rice market is driven by factors that may An integral part of the rice processing industry. Bühler’s comprehensive portfolio of rice processing machines Brazil radically change how rice is traded in the future A TALE OF TWO WOMEN LEADING RICE and optical sorting equipment combined with its reputation for technical superiority and global execution makes REVOLUTIONS IN LATIN AMERICA...... 12 BOUNCING BACK FROM TYPHOON HAIYAN...... 24 RICE FACTS...... 40 Bühler the partner of choice for rice processors who value excellence. From rice fortification to encouraging the Patricia Guzmán and Salomé Tupa deliver on the A family of farmers bounces back from a disaster by Trends in global rice trade promise of women’s hard-won leadership in a growing a high-yielding rice variety and adoption of energy-efficient rice processing and fully automated processing systems, we understand the significant traditionally male-dominated rice sector GRAIN OF TRUTH...... 43 rice processes and are developing innovative solutions that have been critical factors in convincing leading rice RICE FABLES...... 26 GRiSP: Partnerships for success A PASSION FOR GROWING RICE IN VENEZUELA...14 Korea: The good brothers processors that Bühler is the technology partner of choice for them. The country’s rice sector is working hard to regain its strength through its expanding culture of WHAT’S COOKING?...... 28 innovation Tah Chin saffron rice and chicken Discover our global capabilities: 4th International Rice Congress, Booth D3 A FOUR-DECADE QUEST TO IMPROVE RICE IN RICE TODAY AROUND THE WORLD...... 29 LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN...... 16 www.buhlergroup.com/rice, [email protected] For four decades, rice scientists at the International WHERE’S MY GM RICE?...... 30 Center for Tropical Agriculture have been It is not science that has held back the use of developing an ideal rice plant type for the region’s molecular genetics in rice breeding, it is politics changing needs

About the cover. Veteran Peruvian rice grower Marina Mejía plants a kiss on one of her grandchildren, a potential next-generation farmer in the country's Rioja Province. Read about her story and the rise of rice on Peru's sacred ground beginning on page 20. (Photo by Adriana Varón

NEIL PALMER/CIAT Molina)

Rice Today is published by the International Rice Research Institute Rice Today Editorial Board (IRRI) on behalf of the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP). IRRI is the world’s leading international rice research and training Bas Bouman, GRiSP center. Based in the Philippines and with offices located in major rice- Matthew Morell, IRRI growing countries, IRRI is an autonomous, nonprofit institution focused on Eduardo Graterol, Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers, particularly those with low incomes, while preserving Marco Wopereis, Africa Rice Center natural resources. It is one of the 15 nonprofit international research Mary Jacqueline Dionora, IRRI centers that are members of the CGIAR consortium (www.cgiar.org). Osamu Koyama, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences Responsibility for this publication rests with IRRI. Designations used Erna Maria Lokollo, Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Dev. in this publication should not be construed as expressing IRRI policy or Pradeep Kumar Sharma, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University opinion on the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area, or its Gonzalo Zorrilla, National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) authorities, or the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Rice Today welcomes comments and suggestions from readers. Rice editor-in-chief Gene Hettel Today assumes no responsibility for loss of or damage to unsolicited submissions, which should be accompanied by sufficient return postage. managing editor Lanie Reyes The opinions expressed by columnists in Rice Today do not necessarily associate editor Alaric Francis Santiaguel reflect the views of IRRI or GRiSP. Africa editor Savitri Mohapatra Latin America editor Nathan Russell International Rice Research Institute copy editor Bill Hardy DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines art director Juan Lazaro IV Web: www.irri.org/ricetoday designer and production supervisor Grant Leceta photo editor Isagani Serrano Rice Today editorial telephone: (+63-2) 580-5600 or (+63-2) 844-3351 to 53, ext 2725; circulation Antonette Abigail Caballero, Lourdes Columbres, Cynthia Quintos fax: (+63-2) 580-5699 or (+63-2) 845-0606; email: [email protected], Web masters Jerry Laviña, Lourdes Columbres [email protected] printer CGK formaprint

International Rice Research Institute 2015 This magazine is copyrighted by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and is licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License (Unported). Unless otherwise noted, users are free to copy, duplicate, or reproduce, and distribute, display, or transmit any of the articles or portions of the articles, and to make translations, adaptations, or other derivative works under specific conditions.To view the full text of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/. Innovations for a better world. 2 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 3 News From the editor’s desk for weed control in rice to Expanding horizons lessen labor in Tanzania

workshop at the Sokoine University in rice of Agriculture in Morogoro. They learned some weed control and management practices and how s we usher in the year 2015, Rice Today continues rice industry now and what it will take to attain an open and to use AFROweeds, an online to survey the near and far horizons of the rice transparent rice trade in the future. interactive weed identification world and report the latest on sustainable We have all heard about the Green Revolution. tool, as well as how to make use of development, trade, and other issues that However, during his keynote address that opened the Weedsbook, an open-access online surroundA the favorite grain of half of humanity. So, what 4th International Rice Congress (IRC2014) in Bangkok last African weed science network to will the new year bring? We hope that it will bring more October, Robert Zeigler, IRRI director general, added a new enhance their networking capacities. breakthroughs from rice scientists. twist, suggesting that a three-phase Green Revolution series Blacksmiths drawn from all over the country took part in a training Rice Today will continue to examine the many issues actually exists, GR1.0, 2.0, and 3.0. He declared that GR2.0, activity to fabricate rotary weeders, a that affect the rice industry across its value chain—from the which already started by his reckoning in July 2008, will be machine to control weeds for lowland overall economic and international trading conditions of fruitful—and quicker than GR1.0—and that GR3.0, which will rice. It is hoped to make rotary rice and those that are alleviating poverty to resources and kick in around 2030, will stagger the imagination in what will weeders widely available to farmers technologies that farmers are turning to for help with their be achieved. Read about Dr. Zeigler’s intriguing presentation at competitive prices. rice growing. and his insights in No farmer left behind (pages 32-35). AFRICARICE RODENBURG, J. To increase awareness among In our first installment of 2015, we have a special set Bas Bouman, director of the Global Rice Science farmers, the project produced of six “ricetorical” pieces (pages 10-23) that chronicle the Partnership (GRiSP), shares concrete examples of GRiSP’s otary-hoe weeders reduce technologies and boost their two farmer-to-farmer videos on successes of breeding in Latin America and the Caribbean unprecedented successes worldwide in finding solutions to weeding labor by 60–65% production, AfricaRice launched a labor-saving weed management (LAC). We highlight the Latin American Fund for Irrigated the problems in rice production, storage, and distribution “Rwhile herbicides reduce project, Building local capacities in weed technologies such as the rotary-hoe Rice (FLAR) and its 20-year history of being the primary through sharing of resources, ideas, and technologies it by more than 80%,” said Jonne management for rice-based systems. To weeder and how to use herbicides force behind the region’s rice technology development. We among research development partners across the Rodenburg, a weed scientist at the achieve this goal, the project targets safely and efficiently. The videos will Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice). not only the farmers but also research be translated into four languages feature two women in LAC who have put wind in the sails continents. Check his Grain of Truth—GRiSP: Partnership for “However, farmers do not always use and development partners and the and distributed to at least 10,000 of the rice revolution in the region. Read about A passion success on page 43. the herbicides correctly and this can private sector, among those involved farmers and extension workers for growing rice in Venezuela, which is a testament to how As shown by the GRiSP model, breeders are combining negatively affect their health and the in rice production. from the rice-growing areas in sub- the country is working hard to regain its strength through forces to modernize programs for an efficient and environment.” Twenty-two R&D professionals Saharan Africa. expanding innovation in LAC. Read about A four-decade effective delivery of improved varieties and biotechnology To help farmers in Tanzania and 15 weed science students quest to improve rice in Latin America and the Caribbean by tools are being improved all the time in accuracy and learn how to use weed management were trained initially through a Source: http://africa-rising.net scientists at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture usability. However, some of these tools remain needlessly (CIAT) who have been developing an ideal rice plant type for controversial and are being held back by politics, according the region’s changing needs. Find out how a small country to Mark Lynas, a former anti-GM activist, who gave one such as Uruguay has become an exporter in less than 100 of the plenary presentations at IRC2014. He advocates New rice technologies to boost rice years. (Read Uruguayan rice: the secrets of a success story.) And bringing about a food-secure world this century by using finally, learn about the Rise of rice on Peru’s sacred ground as both conventional and transgenic techniques to contribute the country has become LAC’s most important producer meaningfully in helping marginalized sectors of society, production in Africa after Brazil. All these success stories would not have been particulary poor women and children. See pages 30-31 for possible without the region’s spirit of working together and his thoughts as he asks, Where’s my GM rice? aking innovations accessible identify areas of collaboration to help nutrient management. partnership. On lighter notes, check out a Korean rice fable, The to rice farmers could boost deliver technologies to benefit farmers “I am convinced that the Elsewhere in this issue, Sam Mohanty, senior economist good brothers (pages 26-27), which centers on helping one “Mrice production, reduce in rural populations. dissemination of the technology at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), looks another and fraternal love. And then try out our featured imports, and increase food security Eleven technologies were dis- and know-how on a large scale at the current trends in the global rice market (pages 40- What’s cooking recipe, Tah Chin saffron rice and chicken in Africa.” This was the recurring cussed during the workshop, includ- would certainly increase local rice 42). We also report on outcomes during the Global Rice (page 28)—a very tasty Iranian dish! message in a recently held workshop ing new rice varieties, a high-capacity production, ensure food security, Market and Trade Summit that took place in Bangkok, 28-29 Happy reading! organized by the Africa Rice Center. thresher for rice, a mobile application and improve the living standards of October 2014 (pages 36-39). Economists there discussed Attended by stakeholders in the rice called RiceAdvice that provides tips farmers,” said Daini Tsukahara, the driving forces such as government policies, climate change, production sector from Benin and on rice farming, mechanical weeders Japanese ambassador to Benin. increasing population, and migration of farmers to cities Lanie Reyes Togo, the workshop, Rice Innovation that could reduce labor in rice produc- Fair of Scalable Technologies, aimed to tion, and a localized farmer advice for Source: www.scidev.net among other factors that will most likely affect the global Rice Today managing editor

Rice Today January-March 2015 5 Hybrid rice promoted for food New partnership for rice development in sufficiency in the Philippines Africa formed ith the Philippines being part of the Food Basket WPillar of the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, he Program for Rice Development Malaysia, Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area in Africa, a partnership initiative, (BIMP-EAGA), the planting of hybrid rice is currently Thas been recently created to being promoted on the islands of Palawan and tackle the problem of inadequate Mindanao in a bid to attain food sufficiency, not only in rice production in Africa. Also with the Philippines but also for the ASEAN subregion. an aim to benefit governments and rice farmers across the continent, the According to the DA Agri-Pinoy Rice Program, Program will start in 23 countries in for the first quarter of 2014, the total area of hybrid sub-Saharan Africa and will work rice plantations in the P-EAGA region was at 11,798 closely with key rice development hectares. institutions and organizations in the region such as the Africa Rice Center. Source: www.sunstar.com.ph WILLIAM STA. CLARA, IRRI WILLIAM STA. “We expect this initiative to

contribute to reducing high food R RAMAN, AFRICARICE import bills and to have an impact on small producers,” said Bukar Tijani, and comparative advantages, as promote food security and rice self- U.S. rice industry welcomes trade with Japan’s largest FAO Africa regional representative. well as lessons and experiences sufficiency in Africa. Mr. Tijani added that the of key national and international he U.S. Treasury's Office of as Cuba is one of the closest supermarket chain program will support synergies institutions, and initiatives to Source: www.scidev.net TForeign Assets Control (OFAC) export destinations to the U.S. and has published the new trade norms imports about 50% of its annual adds rice paddies to with Cuba in the Federal Register. rice consumption needs. Farmers This follows U.S. President Barack in the U.S. rice-producing states farming ventures Obama’s announcement to relax trade of Arkansas and Louisiana would Vietnam, IRRI to craft restrictions on food items that were in benefit most from the revised policy. eon Co. plans to add rice fields JEC NARCISO, IRRI NARCISO, JEC place as part of the 50-year embargo Up until now, U.S. government to its farming portfolio, possibly with Cuba. This would allow Cuban restrictions have limited the ability A making it the nation’s biggest strategy to boost importers to make payment even of the U.S. rice industry to compete corporate grower of the grain. while goods are in transit. in Cuba. Starting with 11 hectares of rice The regulatory changes were country’s rice industry paddies leased from local farmers, welcomed by the U.S. rice industry Source: www.ricepluss.com its Aeon Agri Create Co. farming subsidiary will start producing the ietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural grain north of Tokyo in 2015, said Development (MARD) supported a national strategy Aeon spokesman Norihito Ikkai. designed to make rice production an even larger Preparing Nepal’s farmers for climate change V Chiba-based Aeon aims to lease engine of inclusive economic growth. Agriculture 100 hectares—almost 50 times the Minister Cao Duc Phat (at right in photo with IRRI he Nepal government has launched Tarai, and river basin areas. Among average farmer’s plot—by 2020. That Director General Robert Zeigler) and Vice Minister Le three new improved varieties these three rice varieties, Sukhha T would make it the biggest rice- Quoc Doanh convened a multistakeholder effort to refine of paddy seeds—Sukhha dhan 4, dhan 6 has the ability to re-grow even producing company in the country, key elements of the strategy, which includes developing Sukhha dhan 5, and Sukhha dhan 6— two weeks after submergence. It has according to Arihiro Muroya, chief rice varieties with high export value, adopting advanced that are tolerant of extreme climatic an average yield of 4–4.5 tons per economist at Norinchukin Research crop management techniques, and more intensive use of changes. These varieties of paddy hectare and, under good Institute. Larger areas are farmed by machines and other technologies in rice farming. seeds, which can survive under stress conditions, the output can go up cooperatives. Together with the top leadership of the International and retain desirable grain quality, to 5.5 tons per hectare on average. “We want to supply rice and vege- Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and other public and are likely to be released to farmers by The plant stands 125 cm tall and tables to consumers at more affordable private sector partners, MARD seeks rapid and sustained June 2015. the maturity period is 120–125 days. prices and in a stable way,” Ikkai said. growth of the agricultural sector, especially the rice These new varieties, also known Swarna-Sub1 and Sambha Mahnsuri- “As Japanese farmers are aging and subsector in which Vietnam is already a global leader. as climate-ready rice, can tolerate Sub1 rice varieties that are flood- retiring, we can take over production The rice industry serves as the foundation of Vietnam’s for up to one and a half tolerant have already been made through our farming subsidiary.” inclusive development success story. months and can grow under water- available to farmers. deficiency stresses. They have been Source: www.bloomberg.com Source: http://irri.org recommended for the Tarai, inner Source: www.ekantipur.com

6 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 7 Books

Government Vietnam eyes water-saving technology for When rice shakes the world: The importance of the to 70% of the water resources of China. The crop’s 200 million first grain to world economic and political stability farms feed 3 billion people. Yet, it is grown on an area the size extends support its rice farms of France. by Milo Hamilton Rice is the social cement of Asia and the rice farms for rice farmers in ietnam, along with Bangladesh and says Björn Ole Sander, collaborative of Asia may crack that ancient cement. This VColombia, recently partnered with research scientist at the International Published by Advantage Media Group, 165 pages. book explains the ancient yet northern Ghana the Climate and Clean Air Coalition Rice Research Institute, who is curiously modern story of rice that (CCAC) to introduce large-scale coordinating the effort. or millennia, rice has sealed the fate of dynasties binds feudal farms to the new super he Northern Rural Growth application of alternate wetting and But AWD is not without contro- Fand kingdoms in Asia but has remained only a cities across China. Programme (NRGP) is advancing T drying (AWD) technology (photos versy. Adopting the irrigation method cultural curiosity to Western financial markets. At the center of this story is the toward making rice a major export below), in which farmers periodically will increase nitrous oxide emissions. Today, the food and agricultural markets rice farmer, whose backbreaking labor commodity in northern Ghana. drain rice paddies rather than keeping Still, given that paddy rice does not of India and China are in motion. The history feeds millions. In the next 15 years, Management of the NRGP is thereby them perpetually flooded. Aside from produce much nitrous oxide to begin of agricultural change is littered with hunger, millions of farmers must transition from encouraging smallholder farmers to economic savings through lower water with, the decrease in methane, which poverty, and failure. Will that curse pass itself on landless serfs into modern business adopt best farming techniques as a consumption and pumping costs, the crop produces in heaps, will more to this Asian generation? Or, is there a brighter people skilled in all the technologies and means of increasing the quality and there is evidence that AWD can help than offset any increase in nitrous future ahead of us? versed in market risk. The rice world lies on production of rice. The program’s crops perform better and improve oxide, says Dr. Sander. China is rapidly becoming the the dark side of this digital earth. But, that national coordinator, Roy Ayariga, soil conditions so that machines can wealthiest country in the world. China’s world is turning rapidly toward the light. said that the government was operate more efficiently in the fields, Source: www.scidev.net water shortages and its rice market are Note: The book is available in bulk committed to rebranding northern fault lines that finger their way beneath the quantities and in customized versions at Ghana as the country’s rice city. surface of the world economy. These fault lines are special discounts for corporate, institutional, This, according to him, will attract sending out tremors that could shake the entire world in the and educational purposes. To learn more, please multinationals to invest in rice next few years. contact the Special Sales team at 1 866 775 1696, production in the three regions in Rice is a little grain but a big deal in Asia. The Great Wall [email protected]. Read about the author and buy the northern Ghana. EDNA REYES, IRRI (2) of China is cemented together with sticky rice. Rice uses up book at http://advantagefamily.com/milo-hamilton-bio/. n

Source: www.citifmonline.com Small-scale farmers deserve big share of climate funds: IFAD s important food producers, small- Ascale farmers in the developing world should have a significant share of funds raised to help poorer countries adapt to climate change Find and download IRRI books at impacts and curb emissions, http://books.irri.org agriculture officials said at U.N. climate negotiations in Peru. Investment in easy-to-access TR AINING COURSES AT IRRI weather information, extension ser- Course title Date Venue vices, improved disaster preparedness, Scientific Writing Workshop 2-6 March IRRI, Philippines and other cost-effective and efficient JICA partners with Nigeria on rice IRRI, Philippines new technology could help small-scale Rice Production and Research Course (by invitation only) 9-20 March farmers keep feeding themselves and he Japan International Cooperation JICA Alumni Association of Nigeria Rice Breeding Course 16-27 March IRRI, Philippines their families, they said. TAgency (JICA) is partnering with in Abuja. He explained that JICA Research Data Management 17-19 March IRRI, Philippines Farmers “are more than victims Nigeria in developing the agricultural specifically targeted the rice subsector Basics of Rice Production (1st offering) 6-8 April IRRI, Philippines of climate change impacts,” said sector in rice production with more as a result of the comparative ORYZA Training Program for Beginners 13-17 April IRRI, Philippines Gernot Laganda, head of the than 3,500 Nigerians benefiting from advantage that Japan has developed IRRI, Philippines Environment and Climate Change its training program abroad. in rice production and processing Rice: Postproduction to Market (1st offering) 13-24 April Division of the International Fund for The chief representative of JICA, over decades. Effective Presentation Skills Workshop 28 April IRRI, Philippines Agricultural Development (IFAD). Mr. Seki Tetsuo, disclosed this at a For inquiries, contact [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]. Phone: (63-2) 580-5600 ext 2538 or +639178639317; fax: (63-2) 580-5699, 891-1292, or one-day seminar titled “Agribusiness 845-0606; mailing address: The IRRI Training Center, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines (Attention: TC Course Coordinator); Web site: www.training.irri.org. Source: http://uk.reuters.com and Investment” organized by the Source: http://allafrica.com Note: Fees and schedules are subject to change without prior notice.

8 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 9 materials as parental lines in its own Looking forward crosses. From its inception, FLAR has been Making rice more competitive in Rice breeding, however, is just an integral part of CIAT, and CIAT part of FLAR’s portfolio. Partners in has always been a Fund member. The 12 countries work with the Fund to rice research of the two organizations adopt the best agronomic practices is complementary and more closely for their agroecosystems. This work aligned than ever with the needs of has had a direct impact on more the end users of the technologies that than 500,000 hectares, with average are delivered. rice yields increasing by 1.5 tons But it pays to be cautious: Latin America per hectare and production costs FLAR’s past successes with its by Eduardo Graterol declining by 20–30%. partners provide no guarantee of Mario Torres of Cindearroz, future success. In the face of climate a consortium of 13 organizations change, low yields, pest problems, For 20 years, FLAR has been the primary force behind the region’s rice technology development working on rice research and land degradation, high production development in Mexico, believes costs, inadequate infrastructure, and it is looking forward to future challenges that new long-grained varieties, and adverse policies, LAC’s rice introduced by FLAR and released sector needs more investment, more by the country’s National Institute partnerships, and more innovation. wenty years is for Research on Forests, Agriculture, This is crucial for making rice nothing,” say the and (INIFAP)—together production more competitive. THROUGH FLAR, 54 rice varieties have been lyrics of a 1930s’ released in 14 countries, a strong testimony of with FLAR-supported work on rice Competitiveness is the central song. But, in 2015, FLAR’s success in rice breeding. agronomy—will make farmers more theme of the XII International “Tas the Latin American Fund for competitive. “Our goal is to reduce Rice Conference for Latin America Irrigated Rice (FLAR) celebrates its rice imports by 30% over the next 4 and the Caribbean, being held 20th anniversary, many of the Fund’s meet the needs of its members. A years,” says Mr. Torres. in February 2015 at Porto Alegre, members might not agree. For them, unique feature of the Fund is its With partners in Mexico and Brazil. Organized by IRGA, CIAT, FLAR’s 20 years have been filled with ability to reconcile diverse interests Nicaragua, FLAR has undertaken GRiSP, and FLAR, this is the region’s achievement, and they’re looking around the common pillar of projects on water harvesting, biggest rice science meeting and also forward to more. technology development. which aim to switch from rainfed the occasion on which the Fund is From the 1960s to 1980s, to irrigated rice production. This celebrating its 20th anniversary. international rice breeding in the Testimony to success work has helped smallholder rice The organizers couldn’t have Latin America and the Caribbean Every year, FLAR delivers elite farmers to diversify their systems chosen a more appropriate theme: (LAC) region carried the brand of rice germplasm to a network of with , , livestock, and “horizons for competitiveness.” The the International Center for Tropical 23 breeding programs, operated other options, thus boosting rural message is that we look forward to Agriculture (CIAT). But, by the by about 150 rice breeders and income and employment, among seizing new opportunities, no matter mid-1990s, funding for CIAT’s Rice technicians at more than 100 other benefits. Norman Oviedo, how difficult the current situation Program had declined, and there experimental stations. The 54 manager of SENUMISA, a private may seem. FLAR will be there to was a lot of uncertainty about rice varieties released so far in 14 seed company in Costa Rica, help bring these opportunities the future. This had many people countries give a strong testimony suggests that “more should be done within the reach of all of its worried, and for a good reason, to the success of FLAR’s breeding on water harvesting in my country members. because CIAT had contributed to effort. and others in the region, where most CIAT (3) CIAT the development of about 60% of the FLAR BRINGS together farmers’ associations, national agricultural research institutes, government Juana Viruez, a rice breeder at rice-growing areas are rainfed, even more than 400 improved varieties ministries, seed companies, and the rice milling industry, together with CIAT to ensure that research and the Center for Research on Tropical though there’s huge potential to Dr. Graterol is the executive director of technology transfer meet the needs of its members. The two photos were taken when members of FLAR released in LAC. gathered during its first technical meeting in 1995. Agriculture in Bolivia, says that capture runoff water from the FLAR. FLAR’s germplasm has been for irrigation.” Pioneering vision fundamentally important for her Uncertainty and concern plus the Research Institute (INIA), Venezuela’s in LAC and about 80% of the 27.8 country. Of the 30 rice varieties pioneering vision of a few key people Western Plains Association of million tons produced. released by the center, six were provided the necessary inputs for the Certified Seed Producers (Aproscello), Through FLAR, diverse actors selected from FLAR nurseries, groundbreaking creation of FLAR. and the Rice Institute of Rio Grande in the rice value chain—including including MAC-18, the country’s Time has proven that they had the Do Sul (IRGA) in Brazil. The Fund farmers’ associations, national most widely grown variety. Roberto right idea. has since evolved into a strong and agricultural research institutes, Celi of Ecuador’s National Institute CIAT took the initiative to create fully regional organization, which government ministries, seed for Agricultural and Livestock FLAR and soon won support for encompasses 36 public and private companies, and the rice milling Research (INIAP), explains how it from Colombia’s National Rice sector partners in 17 countries, and industry, together with CIAT—all receiving advanced lines from FLAR Growers’ Federation (Fedearroz), it influences two-thirds of the 5.7 invest in a shared agenda to ensure saves time and resources in field Uruguay’s National Agricultural million hectares sown to paddy rice that research and technology transfer evaluations. INIAP also uses FLAR

10 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 11 alomé Tupa took a sip was to combat disease problems A tale of two women of hot , hoping it through research and technology would help her cope with transfer. Later, she took up the the suffocating heat, as challenge of managing a business, sheS listened intently to her colleague Central de Granos de Coclé (Coclé leading rice revolutions Patricia Guzmán, who was delivering Grain Central), in Panama. But, like 2 MOLINA, CIAT ADRIANA VARÓN the welcome remarks at an event for “the good child” of a traditional rice researchers. It was the opening Colombian saying, Patricia eventually session of the technical committee came home, returning to Fedearroz in Latin America meeting and rice selection workshop in January 2011 as technical manager, for the tropics, held by the Latin the first woman to occupy this post in SALOMÉ TUPA selecting elite rice lines PATRICIA GUZMAN with CIAT researcher by Adriana Varón Molina American Fund for Irrigated Rice the organization’s 70-year history. at the Santa Rosa experiment station Sylvain Delerce examining rice disease (FLAR) with representatives of its Ms. Guzmán readily admits in Villavicencio, Colombia. symptoms at Monteria, Colombia. member organizations, at Colombia’s that these have been tough times. Patricia Guzmán (left) and Salomé Tupa deliver on the promise of National Rice Growers’ Federation Over the past 5 years, Colombia’s women’s hard-won leadership in a traditionally male-dominated (Fedearroz) in Villavicencio. Along average rice yield has dropped by 1 Accompanied by her colleague “The rice sector had to either with Ms. Tupa and Ms. Guzmán, ton per hectare, from 6.2 to 5.3 tons James Cabrera, Ms. Tupa made the transform itself or die,” says Ms. rice sector plant breeders and researchers from (although 2014 saw a slight increase rounds of the experimental plots. Her Tupa, who was born in the city of all over Latin America came in search in productivity). Part of the problem mission: to identify rice varieties that Potosí but grew up in Santa Cruz of the best rice varieties for further is the rice sector’s vulnerability to the might give good results on Bolivian de la Sierra, where she earned a testing in their home countries. effects of climate change. soil. Like Ms. Guzmán, she went about bachelor’s degree in agriculture at In the face of this challenge, this task with the assurance gained the Bolivian Evangelical University. The making of a Colombian Ms. Guzmán has shown leadership, from 25 years of working in the rice “We couldn’t keep on making the comeback visiting other rice-producing sector and also with the responsibility same mistakes. We had to learn more Addressing an audience of more countries, building alliances that comes with leading Bolivia’s most about new technology for precision than 50 scientists, Ms. Guzmán with international and national important rice growers’ organization, crop management, about options for emphasized the importance of organizations, and working closely the National Association of Rice helping farmers obtain credit, and improved production technologies, with the Colombian government to Cooperatives (Fenca). about working as a team to move easier access to credit for farmers, and find ways of lowering production costs Before taking up her current post, ahead.” more training for technicians. She and raising yields on around 438,000 and while still working in support of Ms. Tupa inherited her commit- spoke with the confidence that her 25 hectares sown to rice in this country. Fenca’s technical management, Ms. ment to rice production from her years of work in the rice sector have “Our goal is to first achieve Tupa was invited to visit South Korea. parents; farming is in her blood. given her and with the responsibility national self-sufficiency in rice and During her 21-day trip, she had a That’s why, in addition to leading that comes with being the technical then within 8 years be ready to close-up look at the extraordinary Fenca, she also finds time to tend to manager for Colombia’s principal rice penetrate international markets,” experience of Korean rice growers. her own 50-hectare farm, which she growers’ association. said Ms. Guzmán. To this end, she’ll This encouraged her to accept the sows to upland rice. Her husband and Ms. Guzmán’s words were keep working with Colombia’s rice offer of a new leadership role in her two small children claim their share clear and convincing. After the growers in their fields, because “that’s own country’s struggling rice sector. of her time as well. But she’ll keep session, she retired to a provisional where the problems are and also the The immediate challenge was working to regain credibility and office; her permanent workplace solutions.” getting the nearly extinct association confidence among the cooperatives is in Bogotá, 115 kilometers from back on its feet. The year 2012 was that have said goodbye to Fenca. Villavicencio. She answered emails, Breathing new life into a Bolivian the most difficult in Fenca’s 50-year accepted invitations to give more rice growers’ association history. Of the 60 cooperatives that Delivering on the promise of presentations, arranged a meeting The technical discussions in Villa- originally made up the association, women’s leadership with her boss, and organized visits vicencio lasted 2 days giving rice only 10 remained. In a race against These are the challenges and to various Fedearroz experiment researchers a good overview of recent time, Ms. Tupa began to organize achievements of Patricia Guzmán stations and farmers’ fields for follow- advances in genetic improvement for events; to build strategic alliances and Salomé Tupa. While living and up on her organization’s new flagship Latin America. Over the next 3 days with public and private sector working on distant lands, they are initiative—Amtec—the Spanish theory gave way to practice as the organizations, both locally and abroad; united by a shared commitment: acronym for a name that means Santa Rosa experiment station, where and to show Fenca members, both to deliver on the promise of “massive technology adoption.” the workshop was held, became an former ones and those remaining, women’s hard-won leadership in Ms. Guzmán studied agronomy epicenter for the selection of elite rice that the association was by no means Latin America’s traditionally male- at the University of Tolima and lines. a lost cause. One of her main projects, dominated rice sector. earned her master’s degree in That’s when Ms. Tupa came to as the first woman to lead Fenca, is to agricultural science, with emphasis life. She didn’t care anymore about train member cooperatives in the six

NATHAN RUSSELL, CIAT RUSSELL, NATHAN on plant pathology, from the National the 30-degree heat; as the sky cleared, steps that make up FLAR’s initiative Ms. Varón Molina is communications University. Her work with Fedearroz she immersed herself in the rice fields on improved crop management for coordinator for Latin America and the started in 1989. For 15 years, her job and began feeling right at home. higher yields. Caribbean at CIAT.

12 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 13 “We started rotating rice are still some small-scale farmers in Daniel Brito, a Fundarroz with other crops such as maize, this area who are reluctant to change, agronomist and extension officer, is in , and , and we’ve but there are also a lot more crazy charge of the program for technology A PASSION for also adopted direct seeding and now neighbors like me.” transfer in the state of Portuguesa. plant in straight lines rather than in Every week, he visits farmers in the contour lines,” says Mr. Cicconetti, Racing to close yield gaps region who are following the six who boosted his average rice yield In Venezuela’s race to raise rice steps as well as those who haven’t yet from 5 tons per hectare to 9–11 tons. productivity and close yield gaps, decided to take the technological leap. “We’ve gone from three rice various organizations deserve “The idea is to increase the number of GROWING RICE annually to two or just one, and we’re recognition for their efforts in support rice growers to learn about successful using newer machinery.” of this work. FLAR, the International experiences and to adopt innovative Mr. Terán is following Mr. Center for Tropical Agriculture practices on their farms,” says Mr. Cicconetti’s footsteps. Four years ago, (CIAT), and several national Brito. he began rotating crops on his farm, organizations—including Fundarroz, According to Fuaz Kassen, the in Venezuela La Celinera: irrigated rice in the dry the Western Plains Association of president of Fevearroz, Venezuela’s season and rainfed maize in the rainy Certified Seed Producers (Aproscello), rice growers can satisfy local demand by Adriana Varón Molina season. Mr. Terán now harvests 8 the Venezuelan Federation of Rice and cater to Central America and tons of rice and 5 tons of maize per Producers’ Associations (Fevearroz), the Caribbean markets. “The future hectare. But still, he has set his sights the Danac Foundation, and other of rice in Venezuela lies outside on the goal of raising the yield of both public and private sector actors—have the country,” he says. “We need The country’s rice sector is working hard to regain its crops by 2 tons per hectare. joined forces, using their respective more capital investment to expand strength by expanding culture of innovation “Before, people called me experiences with innovation in production into new areas and the the ‘crazy neighbor.’ They were technology development, genetic adoption of new technologies with convinced that the new technologies improvement, and marketing to state support.” would fail,” says Mr. Terán, who has restore the country’s self-sufficiency Apart from giving Venezuela OSCAR ALVAREZ is improving his rice yields on rented land in Portuguesa State through improved management. been farming for 25 years. “There in rice. plenty of “black gold,” nature has provided it with other riches as well, ADRIANA VARÓN MOLINA, CIAT (2) MOLINA, CIAT ADRIANA VARÓN including fertile land, abundant water, and an ideal climate. These, inding a way to increase rice as seed, , and replacement and managing water adequately together with new technologies, production in the country with parts for agricultural machinery, and are the practices that have made the should suffice to allow innovative the largest petroleum reserves have met with logistical obstacles in difference for Mr. Urdaneta. rice growers to regain control of in the world—and thus ample transporting harvested grain. Against “The key is using exactly the the nation’s food security, win meansF to pay for imports—has posed this background, a resurgence of right amount of inputs and planting back former clients, and open new a colossal challenge for Venezuela’s rice in Venezuela has just one thing at the optimum time to realize the pathways toward rice exports. farmers over the last 4 decades. going for it: an expanding culture of full genetic potential of the improved Today, they produce about 1 million innovation. varieties,” says Mr. Urdaneta, a Ms. Varón Molina is communications tons of paddy rice annually—down beneficiary of the Guárico River coordinator for Latin America and the 300,000 tons from 8 years ago. But the Six steps to success Irrigation System. He cites two other Caribbean at CIAT. country’s rice sector is working hard Farmer Rafael Urdaneta, though factors that also help account for to regain its strength of an earlier originally from the city of San the unprecedented rice productivity 20-year period, when it not only met Cristóbal, began growing rice 23 in his fields: direct seeding and his local demand but also exported its years ago near Calabozo in the state passion for what he does. surplus to its neighboring countries. of Guárico, one of Venezuela’s main For now, though, Venezuelan rice-growing areas. He has decided to Crazy neighbors growers can supply only 65% of give new crop management practices About 500 kilometers away, near the rice consumed domestically— a try on his 600 hectares, following Majaguas in the state of Portuguesa, about 1.2 million tons. According to the letter the six key steps that other passionate farmers are following to Pedro Luis Cordero, president Fundarroz and the Latin American the six points to success as well, in of the National Rice Foundation Fund for Irrigated Rice (FLAR) are addition to using direct seeding in (Fundarroz), the breaking point for promoting to boost productivity. their rice fields. Eubencio Terán, Óscar the country’s rice growers came in His reward is rice yields of 8–11 tons Álvarez, Venturino Cicconetti, and 2006, when the government changed per hectare, well above the national Nicola Campo have all exchanged the rules of the game, pushing average of 4.27 tons. conventional production practices for production in both the public and Adjusting the planting date and the new approach. After several years SOME VENEZUELAN farmers, such as Venturino private sector to the edge of the abyss. density, using treated seed to ward of trial and error, they now serve as Cicconetti, rotate their rice crops with maize Since then, growers have been off disease pathogens, ensuring models for other farmers who visit for making silage. hard pressed to obtain inputs, such proper weed control and fertilization, their fields to see their secret formula.

14 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 15 Outwitting rice diseases Tons per hectare 11 CIAT’s Rice Program has devoted Rice breeding contribution to yield potential at A four-decade quest to improve rice considerable effort to combating pest 10 CIAT is 3.4 tons/ha in 32 years. and disease threats, especially rice 3.4 tons per hectare hoja blanca virus and rice blast (caused 9 in Latin America and the Caribbean by the fungus Pyricularia oryzae). 8 Genes conferring resistance to hoja blanca were found in tropical 7 by Edgar Torres japonica varieties such as Takao Iku 6 18 and its offspring, Colombia I, as well as in African lines, such as IRAT 5 120. Just as critical were the methods

IR 8 (1968) developed to check rice for resistance IR 22 (1969) IR 64 (1985) CICA 8 (1978) Mocari (2008) CT 19021 (2010)CT 21375 (2010) to both the virus and its insect vector ORYZICA 1 (1982) ORYZICA 3 (1987) BLUEBONNETBLUEBBELLE (1950) (1965) under controlled conditions. FEDEARROZFEDEARROZ 50 (1998) 60 (2006) ORYZICAYACU 9 (1994) FEDEARROZFEDEARROZ 174 (2006) 733 (2007) Dealing with rice blast required PIONERO 2010 FL (2010) Variety and year of release an innovative approach designed by For four decades, rice scientists at the International Center for Tropical Dr. Jennings, which involved combin- Average yield of commercial varieties evaluated at Palmira, Colombia, in the 2012 cropping seasons. Agriculture (CIAT) have been developing an ideal rice plant type for the ing desirable traits, known as gene pyramiding, through multiple crosses Dr. César Martínez and Dr. Surapong the development of blast-resistant region’s changing needs between diverse sources of resistance Sarkarung devised an approach for varieties. Economist Luis Sanint from plants from different locations. selecting rice in uplands with acid conceived and played a critical role The idea was to combine different soils. Dr. Martínez also developed in creating the Latin American Fund genes that had evolved with the superior lines using wild rice for Irrigated Rice (FLAR), which pathogen separately, making the relatives, such as Oryza rufipogon. Dr. works with rice organizations across CIAT (2) CIAT pathogen unable to accumulate James Gibbons contributed excellent the region through plant breeding all of the virulence genes needed varieties and crosses, including and other activities in an integrated he past 40 years have seen genetic improvement (or genetic gain) falling over), and responds efficiently to overcome disease resistance. CT8008, which gave rise to more than approach designed to make the sector major advances in rice programs designed by the author and to fertilizer. In addition, rice plants will be 12 varieties in Latin America. more competitive. improvement for the unique Camila Rebolledo, a rice physiologist, In 2002, Dr. Jennings and other re- selected for resistance under a wide Dr. Elcio Guimarães, CIAT’s Tangible results of CIAT’s and and diverse growing conditions at CIAT in Palmira, Colombia. searchers proposed to develop another fungus diversity at the Santa Rosa regional research director for LAC, FLAR’s ongoing collaboration with ofT Latin America and the Caribbean The idea was to evaluate 17 rice plant type based on results obtained experiment station in Villavicencio, and Dr. Marc Chatel undertook rice Colombia’s National Rice Growers (LAC). The Rice Program of CIAT varieties (see Figure) grown under by CIAT’s Rice Program through Colombia—a “hotspot” site with improvement through recurrent Federation (Fedearroz), which focuses has contributed greatly, working in the same conditions and agronomic selection under direct seeding. This exceedingly high levels of rice selection, using methods developed on improving yields, grain quality, collaboration with its many national management for two seasons. plant type has an adequate number of blast—that has optimal conditions for by the Brazilian Agricultural and disease resistance, while stabiliz- partners. The experiment showed genetic panicles containing more full grains, disease development. Research Corporation (Embrapa) ing production, include varieties such gains in yield (an annual average while staying green longer, thus Segregated populations were and French Center for Agricultural as Fedearroz 50, Fedearroz 2000, Fed- In search of an ideal grain of 106 kilograms per hectare) as increasing its productive period, and moved between CIAT headquarters Research for Development (CIRAD). earroz 60, and Fedearroz 174. Edgar Each new rice variety is an expression well as changes in other traits it has greater height. This experiment in Palmira—where rice is Manuel Rosero, Federico Corredor, Pompilio Gutiérrez, James of the ideal plant type that the breeder that characterize the plant types showed that combining several traits transplanted, complete irrigation Cuevas, and Luis Eduardo Berrío Gibbons, and Luis Berrío all contrib- has in mind. This is one of the insights developed over four decades. The can effectively raise yield potential is used, and conditions are very disseminated thousands of improved uted importantly to this work. that guided the work of renowned resulting rice plants produced more in rice—a key aim of CGIAR’s IRRI- favorable for high yield—and Santa lines through the IRRI International Recent years have placed new rice scientist Peter Jennings, who led total biomass, are higher yielding, led Global Rice Science Partnership Rosa—where direct seeding is used Network for Genetic Evaluation demands on rice research, including CIAT’s research on the crop in its and are more efficient because they (GRiSP). and rice is grown under rainfed of Rice (INGER), leading to the greater resilience in the face of the early years. During a four-decade waste less energy on unproductive conditions with more stresses, in development of important commercial impacts of climate change, higher quest to boost yield potential, CIAT tillers. Instead, these plants produce general, to enable the plants to adapt varieties; Mr. Cuevas and Mr. Berrío yield potential, superb grain quality, breeders and their partners developed stems that mostly develop large and to wider environments. The results also devised a method for delayed and more competitive rice sectors hundreds of rice varieties—some of fertile panicles with more grains. were excellent. under controlled conditions to overall. A new generation of rice which demonstrate the steady genetic The plant type that has guided select for high milling yield. researchers has arisen to confront gains in yield amounting to 3.4 tons much of the work of CIAT’s Rice Innovators in abundance Plant pathologist Robert Zeigler, these challenges, benefiting from per hectare—and accruing over 32 Program since its beginnings was Breeding rice for resistance to now IRRI director general, improved new tools and more abundant years between the release of CICA 8 in developed at the International Rice rice blast under direct seeding in selection methods for rice blast information. Even so, they still look to 1978 and the development of the elite Research Institute (IRRI) in the early favorable upland environments led and rice hoja blanca virus. Several the past for inspiration in confronting line CT21375 in 2010. 1960s and reached CIAT through the to many useful innovations. One innovative concepts, such as lineage future challenges. This finding comes from an variety IR8 (see Breeding history on was a system for detecting rice blast, exclusion, were introduced by Purdue experiment for measuring the page 34-38, Vol 5, No. 4 of Rice Today). developed and improved by Dr. University Professor Morris Levi amount of increase in performance The design of this plant type allows FERTILE SPIKELETS are a Carlos Bruzzone, Dr. Edward Pulver, and Fernando Correa, currently Edgar Torres is leader of the Rice that is achieved through artificial more sunlight and less lodging (or prerequisite of fertility. Dr. Jennings, and other researchers. with RiceTec Solutions, to facilitate Program at CIAT.

16 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 17 URUGUAYAN RICE: Thousand hectares Tons per hectare 220 9 200 180 8 160 the secrets of a success story 7 140 by Gonzalo Zorrilla 120 6 100 80 5 60 40 4 Competitiveness is the name of the game for Uruguayan rice farmers 20 0 3 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 1933 1938 1943 1948 1953 1958 1963 1968 1973 1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003 2008 2013 Year Year Fig. 1. Rice area in Uruguay. Fig. 2. Average rice yields in Uruguay.

channeling private funds to Estación farming. This low-intensity rotation on (Uruguay’s local market is only Experimental del Este started the system improves sustainability 5% of the rice it produces per year), A PLANE sprays fungicide over rice fields research investment of farmers and because it reduces pest and disease and depending on highly volatile in eastern Uruguay. millers in Uruguay. pressure and maintains good soil international markets (95% of the rice Estación Experimental del Este conditions. This crop technology is exported). NEIL PALMER, CIAT (2) CIAT NEIL PALMER, became INIA Treinta y Tres, with the package is carefully followed by Competitiveness is the name of creation of the National Institute most farmers. The national average the game for Uruguayan rice farmers for Agricultural Research (Instituto yield reached 8 tons per hectare in and the race is never over. Now, they ruguay is a small country in Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, the last five years, with top farmers are figuring out how to profit with the Southern Cone of South INIA) in 1989. INIA was established surpassing 10 tons per hectare (Fig. 2). increasing production costs and America, located in a corner as an institutional innovation that Well-organized farmers’ and weaker rice prices, and pressing for between the Río de la Plata had its roots in the rice farmers’ millers’ groups, sound government new technologies to further increase andU the Atlantic Ocean. Rolling hills, experience, in which government and policies, and an articulated research yield potential. excellent natural grasslands, and farmers’ funds come together. This is and innovation system brought temperate climate have made the recognized in the Institute board, of the institutional framework to Mr. Zorrilla is the director of the National country a perfect place for , , grain market in the world? Natural 50 years, the final value the farmer which half of the members are elected success. This has become possible Research Program at the National Institute and dairy production, while typical conditions favored rice production receives depends on the total value of by the Ministry and half by farmers’ even without any kind of subsidy, of Agricultural Research in Uruguay and a temperate agriculture has been a with good land, abundant water, rice from one season (exported and associations. without a domestic market to rely member of the Rice Today editorial board. tradition since the early period of the and climatic conditions affecting sold internally), less the milling cost In the last 40 years, a whole Spanish colonization. The country’s high potential for an irrigated crop. and a fixed millers’ gain. technological revolution based on traditional products are , , But the key to the country having a This farmer-miller alliance was local research took place, resulting sunflower, and maize, with soybean competitive and successful position reinforced with sound government in the highly competitive indicators dominating the scene these days. as a rice exporter was the private and policies that, without intervening in today. Now, 90% of the area is planted Rice is a relatively new crop. public institutional array of support the markets or with prices, helped with national varieties, which were The first rice fields were recorded that was constructed over time. producers with roads, electricity for developed by considering not only back in 1926. In less than 100 years, Farmers and millers organized irrigation pumps, opening markets agronomic and high-yielding traits Uruguay developed an export- the Rice Farmers´ Association (ACA with country-to-country agreements, but also the highest standards of grain oriented rice production system that by its Spanish acronym) and the Rice and farmer and miller loans, among quality, and taking into account the grew continuously on up to 180,000 Millers´ Association (GMA by its other things. markets to which Uruguay exports. hectares (Fig. 1). The country has Spanish acronym) in the late 1940s. All rice is planted in dry soils attained high yields and a premium Since then, both organizations have Institutional innovations with minimum tillage and using position in the international market. been articulating all aspects of the In 1970, Estación Experimental del no-till planters that are adapted for Having a tiny fraction of world rice rice agribusiness chain, knowing Este (Eastern Experimental Station) planting over levees. The country’s production, it is seventh on the list of that each has specific needs and was established, which started local rice production is extensively rice-exporting countries, behind only interests, but that both are in the research and innovation for rice. mechanized, with an average farm the big players. same boat of the rice industry. The Since its early days, research has been size of 300 hectares. Rice is planted in best example of this integration is a highly integrated with ACA and rotation with pastures, with a typical Farmer-miller alliance private rice price agreement, which is GMA, thus ensuring well-oriented, rotation of two years of rice and three A RICE mill in eastern Uruguay. How has this happened in the based on transparency between ACA demand-focused actions. In 1980, a years of grasses and legumes, which most intervened and protected and GMA in which, for more than government–rice sector agreement allow for highly productive cattle

18 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 19 yields. Significantly, 84% of the area sown to the crop is irrigated, and The rise of rice on it is also favored by high amounts of sunlight and limited rainfall. On an estimated 50% of the irrigated area, climatic conditions are just Peru’s sacred ground right for high yields. Dr. Bruzzone further believes that transplanting of seedlings, the method used most by Adriana Varón Molina commonly to sow rice in Peru, contributes importantly to rising output. Eduardo Graterol, the executive director of the Latin American Fund With its rising national rice production, for Irrigated Rice (FLAR), cites other factors, particularly the adoption of IN SOME areas of Peru, rice yields are as Peru is now Latin America’s most modern varieties with high yield high as 16 tons per hectare, among the important rice producer after Brazil potential and resistance to pests and highest in the world. diseases, together with tolerance of environmental stresses as well as the use of certified seed on about 50% of RICE CULTIVATION in machinery plus the support of ésar Puerto’s half-hectare About 380,000 hectares are sown and Doña Marina, the answer is clear. the cultivated area. Peru employs about national and local government to rice plot yields him 3 tons to the crop in this country, with an “This is sacred ground—so rich 161,000 people. make credit, training, and technical of grain each harvest. Mr. average yield of 7.7 tons per hectare, in nutrients that we don’t have to Dreaming of exports support more widely available in Puerto has dedicated 10 which is well above the regional apply much fertilizer,” says César, James Pinedo is the president of rural areas. ofC his 32 years to growing rice. It average of 5 tons, says Orlando who also believes that La Esperanza, the Rice Producers Association of provides a living for him, his brother, Palacios, head of the National Rice the variety he’s been planting for Jaén and San Ignacio, which has Beyond sister-in-law, and two nieces, who Program at Peru’s National Institute years (and whose name means 88 members. All members have Per capita consumption of rice in Peru help sow and harvest the crop on this for Innovation in Agriculture (INIA). “hope”), plays a big role in the the same dream: that a part of the is high at 60 kilograms per year, on small farm, located at the end of a In coastal areas, such as Piura and success of rice on his land. nearly 100,000 tons of rice their farms average. Rice has surpassed potato dusty road. Arequipa, some growers obtain yields Looking beyond local produce each year will someday cross and is the preferred food on Peruvian His neighbor, veteran grower as high as 16 tons per hectare–among perceptions, plant breeders such national frontiers. menus today. About 7% of the rice Marina Mejía, with 30 hectares, the highest in the world. as Carlos Bruzzone, the director “Our biggest ambition is to of improved varieties that are consumed is imported, with Uruguay produces 300–360 tons of rice each for research and development at export rice and to do so directly with already available, and that of new supplying 81% of the imports, Brazil season. Mrs. Mejia has been working Secrets to success Hacienda El Potrero SAC, a company no intermediaries,” says Mr. Pinedo. hybrids, which CIAT and FLAR are 9%, 6%, and the rest her land for nearly 3 decades. “Thanks So, what’s the secret to Peru’s producing certified rice seed, cite According to INIA, it is within developing through the Hybrid Rice coming from other countries. to rice, I’ve been able to raise my four abundant rice harvests? For César other reasons for Peru’s high rice Peru’s capacity to produce some Consortium for Latin America and “Peru imports rice for class A sons and nine grandchildren,” she surplus for export. Currently, in Peru with Hacienda El Potrero. Dr. markets with high prices,” says Mr. says proudly. (See cover photo of her between 300,000 and 350,000 tons of Torres also emphasizes the need for Requejo. “We don’t have varieties with one of her grandchildren.) TO SOW 3 hectares of rice, César Puerto white rice are already being exported more site-specific crop management that can compete with imported rice, Since there are two cropping needs 120 kilograms of seed, which he informally to neighboring countries. (based on big-data approaches to which varies between 80,000 and seasons each year, the combined buys from a neighbor. Nonetheless, to fulfill the export the use of soil and other data) as a 150,000 tons per year.” average of more than 600 tons of ambitions, small- and medium- strategy for boosting rice yields to 3 For now, the scientists will rice that Mr. Puerto's and Doña scale growers, who have less than tons per hectare above the regional continue to release new varieties—

Marina’s farms produce annually (3) MOLINA, CIAT ADRIANA VARÓN 20 hectares and are estimated to average, while adapting production and, in the future, rice hybrids—that near the town of Sinamal in Rioja account for 68.9% of the country’s to the impacts of climate change. can surpass the varieties IR43 and Province of Peru’s San Martín rice production, together with large “Already high yields and the INIA-La Esperanza (based on an Department contribute to rising producers, representing 31.1%, innovative capacity of Peru’s farmers elite line from CIAT) and subvert national production, which reached will need to meet certain quality and the private sector are key their rule in Peru’s rice fields. In the 3.1 million tons in 2013. Peru conditions in order to compete conditions for making our production meantime, small, medium, and large now accounts for 12.25% of South internationally. more competitive,” says Jonatan producers will continue building America’s total rice output, which For Edgar Torres, the leader Requejo, manager of Hacienda knowledge and investing resources amounted to 25.3 million tons in 2013, of the Rice Program at the El Potrero. “The challenge ahead for them to take advantage of the making this country the region’s International Center for Tropical is to strengthen the ability of the hidden properties of Peruvian soils. second most important producer Agriculture (CIAT), it’s important rice industry to open windows for after Brazil, according to the Food for the rice sector to invest more exports.” Ms. Varón Molina is a communications and Agriculture Organization of the crop management practices that In addition, growers need new coordinator for Latin America and the United Nations (FAO). help realize the genetic potential production technology and farm Caribbean at CIAT.

20 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 21 Adriana Varón Molina, CIAT

In the Piura area of northeastern Peru, rice growers regularly obtain yields as high as 16 tons per hectare—among the highest in the world. According to Rice Today January-March 2015, Vol. 14, No. 1 22 Rice Today January-March 2015 researchers, this is the result of high solar radiation, low rainfall, andRice (in a departureToday January-March from common 2015 practice in Latín America, where direct seeding predominates)23 transplanting of rice seedlings in irrigated fields. Lydia excused herself to attend to someone who wanted to buy from her PAUL MATURAN,IRRI PAUL NASA, LAADS LANIE REYES,IRRI (2) small store, which doubles as their home. At first glance, it seems that they have no neighbors. The village was silent. One could hear only the swishing and swooshing sound of a neighboring farmer harvesting his 1 2 3 rice. Joven harvested his rice earlier. 1. Husband and wife Joven and Lydia Ganapin are happy to try some seeds distributed by IRRI. 2. Mr. Carlito Torreon, municipal agricultural officer of Kananga in Leyte, receives some seeds of NSIC 2013 Rc344SR from Paul Maturan, IRRI associate scientist. 3. Dr. Francisco Dayap, the superintendent of Babatngon Experiment His house was filled with sacks of Station in Leyte (right), shares some good management practices with Joven Ganapin. rice—some milled, others not. He proudly showed the grains of NSIC 2013 Rc344SR, a high-yielding newly went for the rent of a thresher. In the seeds have not been tested for Staples and Sufficiency Program. released rice variety, fondly called end, they had 46 sacks of rice left. the local areas. Mr. Maturan said Aside from the sharing of “344” by the couple. The rice is said Multiplied by 46 kilos per sack at that the new DA-IRRI Next-Gen advanced breeding methods, to be special for some good reasons. about US$0.39 per kilo, the couple project is currently conducting field expertise, and germplasm, another He raved about the quality of his made $459 in profit. trials for farmers to select the most strategy of the project is “a modified newly harvested grain just like a Joven liked 344 so much that adoptable new varieties and establish farmers’ participatory varietal father would of his newborn baby. He he did not sell all the harvest from an efficient seed production and selection scheme and improved seed excitedly mentioned the long grains this variety. He set aside 13 sacks for distribution system. system that can make these new rice Bouncing back and “basmati-like” traits and that it family consumption and for sowing. Mr. Gerry Bauya, the municipal varieties and hybrids more widely is tasty and has a good aroma, and Mr. Maturan then decided to buy agricultural officer in Abuyog, said available to Filipino farmers,” Glenn how the cooked rice doesn’t harden one sack of 344 from Joven to add to that they have not heard of rice that Gregorio, IRRI plant breeder, said. easily when it becomes cold. His wife his seed stock to be distributed to can tolerate flooding, salinity, or “Multi-environment trials (MET) from typhoon praised the variety’s 60% milling farmers in Abuyog, Kananga, and drought. He said they need such of the newly developed rice lines recovery and that they were able to Hinunagan, Leyte. varieties because 200 hectares of in many different environments harvest a little bit more than 6 tons their rice areas are flood-prone while will greatly improve the quality of per hectare. Overcoming adversity some 30 hectares have problems materials going through the National The couple said that they were able to with salinity. In Kananga, Ms. Cooperative Tests, leading to the A profitable variety bounce back after Haiyan because of Maria Cristina Aras, agricultural release of a better and improved next Joven does not regret trying 344, farming. Aside from rice, they grew technologist, said the problem of generation of varieties and hybrids,” which was introduced by Paul crops—sweet corn, sweet farmers in their municipality is stem Dr. Gregorio added. Maturan, an associate scientist at the bell pepper, eggplants, and string borer infestation. She added that “Developing and promoting Haiyanby Lanie Reyes International Rice Research Institute beans—that they planted in rotation the white stem borer is the most effective technologies through (IRRI) through the Philippine to avoid diseases and pests. Crop destructive because its larval stage R&D is a viable option to attain the Department of Agriculture and IRRI rotation is a practice they learned could last up to 32 days. government’s goal of self-sufficiency,” project Accelerating the Development from from Dr. Francisco Dayap, The Next-Gen project is also Dr. Dayap, said. A DA document A family of farmers bounces back from was looted. Joven was not paid and Adoption of Next-Generation Rice the superintendent of Babatngon targeting remote and marginal rice indicates that, at today’s rate of a disaster by growing a high-yielding because his rice had not even been Varieties for the Major Ecosystems in the Experiment Station, one of the areas with similar problems. In line population growth, the country’s rice variety and vegetables weighed. Philippines (Next-Gen). Mr. Maturan research stations of the Department with the mission of the Global Rice average rice yields must rise to at “We suffered a great loss,” said said that his mission for the Next- of Agriculture, Regional Field Office Science Partnership, the project aims least 4.75 tons per hectare to attain Joven. “All was taken by Haiyan.” Gen project was to share the seeds VIII and located just two kilometers to speed up the introduction and self-sufficiency.1 usband and wife Joven and He did not feel that badly because of new rice varieties, such as NSIC away from Joven’s farm. adoption of higher-yielding rice variet- “Hopefully, through this Lydia Ganapin, farmers in a “everyone here had the same fate.” 2013 Rc344SR, with other marginal Since the vegetables can be ies and hybrids that have resistance to partnership, varietal development small village in Babatngon, What mattered to them was that no farmers in Leyte and other rice- harvested in 40 to 65 days, they have or tolerance of pests and diseases and programs and continuous availability Leyte, Central Philippines, one in their family became part of the growing areas in the Philippines. something to tide them over until the environment-related stresses such as of high-quality seeds can support clearlyH remember the floods triggered 6,000 casualties of the super typhoon. At Joven’s request, Lydia pulled next rice harvest. drought, flooding, and salinity. the goal of rice self-sufficiency of the by super typhoon Haiyan on 7 No- out her records of how much they During interviews with the A collaboration between IRRI, country,” Dr. Dayap said. vember 2013 that submerged their Life after the storm profited from 344. Lydia was very farmers, municipal agricultural the Philippine Department of home and the farm they were renting. For this farming couple, everything diligent in jotting down their expenses officers in Leyte identified the lack Agriculture, Philippine Rice Research Ms. Reyes is the managing editor of “Nothing was left,” Joven said. He about Haiyan is now a faint memory. and computing the profit, which is of seeds suitable to the area as the Institute, and the University of the Rice Today. was able to recover about 28 sacks of Thirteen months later, all the debris not surprising for entrepreneurs like main problem. Farmers usually Philippines Los Baños, the project is rice from his farm before the typhoon is gone. There’s almost no trace of them. Her records indicated that plant whatever seeds are available expected to help the country attain For more on Typhoon Haiyan, see http:// hit. He took them to a rice trader. He the scars the super typhoon left in they have harvested 75 sacks of rice, or distributed to them even if these rice self-sufficiency under the Food tinyurl.com/Haiyan-Super-Typhoon. agreed to paid by the trader after the Babatngon, 33 kilometers away from with 15 sacks used as rent payment typhoon. But, unfortunately, all the the provincial capital, Tacloban. Life to their landowner. Some were used rice of the trader, including Joven’s, has returned to normal. for paying the harvesters and some 1 Tanchuling H. 2010. Palay sufficiency outlook: first quarter 2010 DA performance report. Rice Self-Sufficiency Bulletin, January-March 2010.

24 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 25 Rice fables: Korea

and secretly placing the extra sack of rice on his younger brother’s pile. As soon as night came, he found his way in the dark carrying a heavy sack of rice and placed it above his younger brother’s pile of rice. The next morning he was surprised to see that the height of his pile of rice seemed to be the same. He counted the number of sacks and wondered why the number did not change. "I think we miscounted them when we first divided the sacks of rice between us," he said to his of a man who seemed to be carrying rice than he would. Surely his older younger brother. a bulky load. As the shadow came brother could use some of his rice. Thinking about his younger nearer, the moonlight revealed the It is said that the story of the brother, who will be starting to build familiar face of his younger brother. loving ways of these two brothers a family, he decided to carry another As soon as their eyes met, they was the talk of the village. It spread sack of rice to add to his his brother’s both called out to each other, “Why from village to village until it reached stack that night. brother!” They heartily laughed far and wide. The next morning, he went to together as they both understood the his barn to check how many more mystery of the unchanging number of would be left should he decide to their respective stacks of rice. Happy Ms. Shim-Chin likes telling stories, an sell some. He was shocked to know to see each other, they unloaded their activity she enjoyed when she that the number was still the same. sacks of rice, sat down, and talked. was a preschool teacher in South Korea. He asked his son to count it for him The older brother found out that his She temporarily gave up her job in Korea and lo and behold he arrived at the younger brother was also thinking to join her husband, IRRI plant breeder same number. “Well,” he said. “I’ll the same way. He thought of his older Joong Hyoun Chin, and their children in just carry a sack of rice to my younger brother having many children and the Philippines. She devotes some of her brother again tonight.” thus his family would consume more free time to painting. After dinner, he again loaded another sack of rice on his back and started walking on the same road to his brother’s place. The moon shone so bright that night and he could clearly see the pathway to his The good brothers brother’s place. As he Retold and illustrated by Jeehyoung Shim-Chin was halfway to his destination, he saw a silhouette This rice fable centers on fraternal love, a value that many Koreans have considered important for a very long time

long time ago, two brothers to grow rice from plowing the soil to They divided the harvest equally. together owned a rice field, sowing the seeds, from weeding until As they were stacking their harvest, which was the only inheritance the rice was ready for harvest. They the older brother thought, “My they received from their were diligent and industrious; they younger brother is newly married; he Aparents, who passed away because of worked on the farm from dawn till will need more rice to sell to cover the old age. dusk. Come harvest time, their labor expenses of a new home.” These two brothers knew how came into fruition. They had a very Knowing that his younger their parents had valued the land, bountiful harvest, the largest in the brother would not accept his offer so they cared for it the way their village. of an additional sack, he thought of parents did. They worked together going to his brother’s barn at night

26 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 27 What’s cooking? by Iman Zarei

Tah Chin saffron rice and chicken JEC NARCISO (3) NARCISO JEC

ranian culinary style, also combination of rice with meat, lamb, • Put the yogurt in a pan and add eggs, known as Persian cuisine, chicken, or fish and , vegetables, cooking oil, a pinch of turmeric, black has a long history and it is nuts, and herbs. In special dishes, pepper powder and red pepper powder, I 1 tablespoon of salt, half a cup of oil, NETWORKING WITH Rice Today. Savitri Mohapatra (left), the head of marketing and communications of RICE ON Africa’s peak. Dr. Negussie Zenna (left), rice breeder strongly influenced by the country’s saffron, dried limes, cinnamon, and the saffron dissolved in water, and Africa Rice Center, joined staff of CGNET Services International to cultivate productive relationships. from Africa Rice Center, and a fellow hiker from New York neighboring regions. In fact, several parsley are often added to give them CGNET, based in Menlo Park, California, is one of the world’s most well-known email providers in the take Rice Today magazine to new heights—on top of Mt. the mashed onion and . Mix all of Iran’s famous dishes originated unique and subtle flavors. Tah Chin international nonprofit community. Its first client was the CGIAR, from which CGNET derived its name. Kilimanjaro. Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in ingredients well. From left to right after Savitri are Kim Reed, administrator; Karin Cornils, senior systems engineer, Africa and the world’s highest free-standing mountain at from Greece, the Middle East, Turkey, (“rice cake” in Persian) combines • Add the shredded chicken and rice, and Lonni Ton, systems and network engineer; Georg Lindsey, president and CEO; Dan Callahan, vice- 5,895 meters above sea level. and Russia. These dishes commonly saffron, chicken, and yogurt to create mix well. president for cloud services; Dante Palacios, global technologies and services manager; and Richard use dairy products, fresh herbs, and an exotic blend of decadence and • Cover and cook for about 45 minutes. Hsu, data center engineer. such as plums, pomegranates, extraordinary flavor. It is traditionally • After 10 minutes, add 3 tablespoons of IN THE midst of the judges. quince, prunes, apricots, and raisins. served on special occasions such as rose water (optional). Rice Today editor-in-chief Typical Iranian main dishes are a weddings and family reunions. • Wrap the lid with a clean towel or cloth, Gene Hettel (left) meets and cover the pan to absorb the water with members of the forming from the steam. Philippine Agricultural Ingredients • Boil the water in a pot. Add the soaked • When done, invert the pan on a dish. Journalists, Inc. (PAJ) and 500 grams basmati or other long-grain rice rice when the water starts boiling. Cook fellow judges in the annual • To serve, cut into wedges and garnish 1 kilogram chicken, cut into desired pieces for 30 to 40 minutes. Remove any foam Binhi Philippine Journalism with parsley. 300 grams yogurt that forms on top while cooking. Awards. From left after Mr. Hettel are Noel Reyes, PAJ 1/2 cup cooking oil • Take a grain of rice and squeeze it with Iman is working on his PhD in human nutrition vice president and chairman 1/2 teaspoon saffron your middle finger and thumb. The rice is at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He of the 2014 Binhi awards committee; Jayson Brizuela, 1/4 cup rose water, optional parboiled if you do not feel any hardness. joined the Grain Quality and Nutrition Center at 2 to 3 pieces large , peeled Remove from heat. Place the rice in a San Miguel Corporation IRRI in 2012 and worked on research under the (SMC) Media Affairs Group; 3 to 5 cloves garlic strainer and drain the water. While the global rice core collection. His work included rice Roman Floresca, PAJ 3 eggs rice is in the strainer, pour water over it to metabolomic experiments and the development president and business salt reduce stickiness. of predictive models based on the results of those editor of The Philippine black pepper powder • Place the chicken in a pot and add onion, experiments. Currently, he is working on iron bio- Star; Rolly Gonzalo, PAJ red pepper powder garlic, salt, and turmeric. Add enough coordinator for broadcast; fortification in rice. Cora Abio, PAJ director; turmeric water to cover the chicken. Cook for 30 Cooking is a relaxing and enjoyable hobby Gani Oro, Binhi judge and parsley for garnishing minutes. for Iman. As a nutritionist, he likes to add new anchorman of Serbisyo • When the chicken is tender, take the twists and variations to traditional dishes. All-Access, 9NewsTV; Senen Directions chicken from the pot. Remove the meat His favorite cuisines are Middle Eastern, Indian, Bacani, chairman of the Russian, Uzbek, and Thai. Tah Chin saffron rice board of Binhi judges and • Wash uncooked rice in a pot with water. from the bones and shred it. Set aside. president of La Frutera, Inc.; Do this three times. Add enough water to • Remove the onion and garlic from the and chicken, based on his grandmother’s recipe, Inez Magbual, PAJ treasurer; cover the rice. Add 3 tablespoons of salt pot. Put in a bowl, add some broth, and is his favorite Persian dish. and Ruby Lumongsod, PAJ and soak for 15 minutes. mash them. Set aside. secretary. SMC was a major • After soaking for 15 minutes, remove the • Add half a cup to one cup boiling water sponsor of the 2014 Binhi Watch Iman prepare this sumptuous Persian rice dish in an awards program. water. to the saffron. Set aside. 11-minute video on YoutTube at http://youtube/kIcIqXeoOq4.

28 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 29 The authors estimate 1.4 million Golden Rice is the poster child, life years lost over the past decade in and has received a lot of attention, Where’s my GM rice? India, thanks to vitamin A deficiency. but there are many others. In West Remember, these years of life lost Africa, for example, NEWEST rice by Mark Lynas mainly affect vulnerable young is proceeding well in field trials. children, 125 million of whom suffer NEWEST stands for nitrogen- from vitamin A deficiency around the efficient, water-efficient, salt-tolerant world. rice. This rice aims to improve both This in turn leads to a quarter to the productivity and sustainability of a half million cases of blindness in rice production across sub-Saharan children per year, and half of these Africa. And yes, it is GM. children die within a year. Many An even more ambitious project

more have their immune systems is C4 rice, another international compromised by a lack of vitamin A, collaborative scientific project being thus increasing the risk that common piloted by the International Rice childhood diseases will end in death. Research Institute (IRRI). Converting RICE IS too important a crop to be locked out The anti-GMO lobby is full- rice from using the C3 to the C4 of the biotechnology revolution said Mr. Lynas scale psychological denial—refusing photosynthetic pathway could result in his plenary speech at the IRC2014. Read the to admit that the expert opinions in dramatic productivity gains— full text of his speech at http://tinyurl.com/ of the American Association for again resulting in more rice per unit Lynas-IRC-plenary. the Advancement of Science, the of land, water, and fertilizer. Royal Society, numerous Academies As well as Golden Rice, at IRRI, 32-35). Let us not throw out any tools “It is not science that has held back the use of molecular genetics in rice of Science around the world, the good progress is being made toward that can help achieve this better world. breeding,” says a former anti-GMO activist, “it is politics” American Medical Association, and iron rice, thanks to a ferritin gene add- And then, in the words of the IRRI (3) every relevant academic body in ed from soybean that codes for iron founder of the first Green Revolution the world add up to a meaningful storage. Iron rice could help overcome in wheat, Norman Borlaug, we must scientific consensus on the inherent anemia, which affects more than 1 “take it to the farmer.” This is the safety of GM technology. billion people globally, particularly leap we have yet to make with GM t has been estimated that, for in accuracy, variety, and usability— consumer fears stoked by anti-GMO This does not mean of course poor women and children. rice, anywhere in the world. I would every 1 billion people added to remains needlessly controversial. groups, so vitamin A deficiency in that every GMO will always be I am not religiously attached hope that, by the time of the next the world’s population, 100 It is not science that has held back Chinese children must be tackled safe—it means that GM technology to this technology. Many non-GM International Rice Congress, in 2018, million tons more of paddy rice the use of molecular genetics in rice by other means or, more likely, not presents no more inherent risk than rice breeding projects exist that are many more rice breeding projects— needI to be produced annually— breeding—it is politics. at all. I won’t guess at a number of conventional breeding, and should already delivering clear benefits in whether GM or not—will be out in the ideally using less land, water, Indeed, politics can surely be the likely resulting deaths, but we can therefore be assessed on a case-by- the real world. field delivering benefits to farmers. nitrogen, and energy, and resulting in only reason why, after two decades get a sense of the probable order case basis just like everything else, However, saying GM technology And, I hope these benefits fewer greenhouse gas emissions. of rice breeding involving many of magnitude from a recent paper not opposed in totality as a class. should be banned because non-GM to farmers will also be benefits Crop genetics comes into every projects using molecular techniques published in the journal Environment This matters, in rice at least, technology also works is like saying to consumers and benefits to the aspect of this picture. Changing the for genetic improvement, there is still and Development Economics1 because many projects are using crop mobile phones should be banned environment. Rice is too important biology of rice plants offers a chance currently no commercially available estimating the impact of 10 years biotechnology that could contribute because people can already make a crop to be locked out of the to combat major and emerging rice anywhere in the world that might of nonavailability of Golden Rice in meaningfully to bringing about a phone calls using landlines. biotechnology revolution. For the sake diseases, to tackle pests with fewer attract this dreaded moniker “GMO.” India. food-secure and sustainable world I don’t think we have to choose of more than 3 billion rice consumers, and less toxic pesticides, to increase Rice breeders are wary of this century. between GM and agroecological and for the sake of the world’s water- and nitrogen-use efficiency, putting forward GM rice varieties farming—I think they can be environment, we can and must use and to increase overall productivity for approval, however much promise GOLDEN RICE grown at IRRI's complementary and mutually this technology when appropriate to to feed more people on less land. they show. Regulators have yet to screenhouse. IRRI is the supporting. Organic and ecological make farming more productive and However, in order to be able to approve GM rice, however safe and coordinating institution for farming methods have many more environmentally sustainable. the Golden Rice Network and access the widest possible pool of beneficial the new traits may be. has been working to develop important lessons to offer to germplasm, it will be essential for rice Traders are nervous about trading GM Golden Rice with national conventional farming. Mr. Lynas, an author and environmental breeders to be able to use transgenic rice. Retailers are worried about losing partners since 2006. I would like to celebrate all those campaigner, has written several books techniques as well as conventional markets with GM rice. Consumers are who are involved with rice growing, on the environment. He is now working breeding. wary of eating GM rice. whether using GM technology on a project promoting food security and And yet, the use of these I would be very surprised or not. Most will acknowledge environmental sustainability with the molecular biotechnology tools— if Golden Rice were ever able to that we need the second Green Cornell Alliance for Science at Cornell which are improving all the time be released in China now given Revolution in rice, which is already University’s Office of International underway and delivering increased Programs at the College of Agriculture productivity combined with increased and Life Sciences. See 10 minutes with 1 Wesseler J, Zilberman D. 2014. The economic power of the Golden Rice opposition. Environment and sustainability (see Green revolutions 2.0 Mark Lynas at http://tinyurl.com/Lynas- Development Economics 19(6):724-742. http://tinyurl.com/Golden-Rice-opposition. and 3.0: No farmer left behind on pages interview.

30 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 31 Green Revolutions 2.0 & 3.0: IRRI ARCHIVES No farmer left behind A breeder’s epiphany by Gene Hettel for farmers in marginal weather- sets the stage for GR1.0 stressed environments,” Dr. Zeigler predicted. He said there inpointing the beginning of Green Revolutions GR2.0 and is a very wide array of problems, GR1.0 might have been when GR3.0 will benefit the poorest of previously thought to be absolutely the first farmer, most likely in insurmountable, that researchers P the poor who, for various reasons, the Philippines in 1966, harvested a field can now address more rapidly using of the newly released IR8, the semidwarf did not reap rewards of the first one the scientific tools coming out of rice variety that started it all and parallel high-science revolutions ultimately prevented famine across Asia. in genetics, molecular biology, and However, with no documentation plant physiology. of that significant event, one can go According to Dr. Zeigler, everal million of the back in time 3 more years to July 1963, GR2.0 is allowing researchers to world's poorest farmers when IRRI’s first breeder, Peter Jennings successfully meet great challenges are already adopting (photo), visited the experimental rice with unprecedented research efforts one of the first new plots on the Institute’s research farm and that will result in unparalleled technologiesS of the second Green most likely got his own goose bumps. impact—ranging from mining the rice Revolution (GR2.0)—flood-tolerant Dr. Jennings was walking a plot of F2 genomes and wild relatives of rice for rice! This was the optimistic (second-generation) rice plants derived needed traits to developing climate- pronouncement of Robert Zeigler, from a set of 38 crosses involving dwarf ready rice and from fighting human director general of the International rice varieties from Taiwan when he had malnutrition with more nutritious Rice Research Institute (IRRI), during what he later called “his epiphany.”2 rice to better management of water his keynote address to kick off the 4th He observed tall plants and short and nutrient resources in farmers’

International Rice Congress (IRC2014) GENE HETTEL (5) plants in a ratio of 3:1—classic Mendelian rice fields. in Bangkok on 28 October 2014. inheritance indicating that he had just More than 1,500 delegates from 69 to yield 4.5 tons, a good yield for any Indeed, one scientific study from the spread of Swarna-Sub1 discovered a single recessive gene 1 countries (photo) attended the week- rainfed paddy in the world! indicated that “the scheduled castes in India. “When I read this last for shortness (later called sd1-d). Well, long IRC, touted as the Olympics of “This was—unambiguously— are likely to be a major beneficiary paragraph of the study, I literally got the rest is history as selections in later Rice Science. the start of GR2.0,” Dr. Zeigler goose bumps,” he told the delegates. generations ultimately resulted in the said, “because for any agricultural “The scheduled castes are the lowest semidwarf IR8—and all succeeding Start of GR2.0 pinpointed revolution to be successful, farmers of the low. So, this technology—the modern rice varieties It is thanks to one farmer, Mr. Asha must adopt the product of the science. most exquisite research from some of July 1963 to July 2008, 45 years Ram Pal from the Indian state of Since then, Sub1 rice varieties have the finest laboratories in the world—is between the respective starts of GR1.0 Uttar Pradesh, that Dr. Zeigler spread like wildfire in eastern India significantly benefiting the poorest of and GR2.0, was an unusually long time pinpoints, at least in his opinion, the and other regions where flooding the poor. Now if that is not scientific period. But a lot had to be done. Once exact start of GR2.0. It was 31.07.2008 is a perennial problem for farmers revolution, I don’t know what is. It the high-yielding semidwarfs were in 13:17 (1:17 in the afternoon of 31 July growing their crop in such marginal gives me great pride to be a scientist place with a recipe for proper irrigation 2008)—the exact moment in time environments.” and to be associated with the people and fertilization to go with them, when, ignoring the advice of his According to the internationally who have done this work.” various GR1.Xn‘s kicked in as scientists neighbors by showing faith in the respected plant pathologist who painstakingly worked to incorporate science, Mr. Pal decided not to plow has led IRRI for the last 9 years, the GR3.0 will stagger the imagination insect and disease resistances for farmers under his severely flood-ravaged and new technology can be attributed “GR2.0’s run will be fruitful—and and grain quality for consumers. n sick-looking rice crop on his 1-hectare primarily to high-level and high- quicker than GR1.0—particularly field that had been submerged for quality science—science publishable around 17 days across two floods. in the top scientific journals in 2 1 Listen to Peter Jennings tell this story himself Dar MH, de Janvry A, Emerick K, Raitzer D, Sadoulet E. 2013. Flood-tolerant rice reduces yield variability and during his Pioneer Interview on YouTube at Well, those rice plants with the the world—brought to bear on the raises expected yield, differentially benefiting socially disadvantaged groups. Sci Rep. 3: 3315. www.ncbi.nlm. http://tinyurl.com/Jennings-Pioneer. SUB1 flood-tolerance gene recovered problems in farmers’ fields. nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3837307.

32 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 33 “Over the next 10 to 20 years, environments, is justly criticized for with IRRI through the Global Rice during which GR2.0 will phase into benefitting only farmers in those Science Partnership (GRiSP) and GR3.0, we will seize opportunities for relatively stress-free areas,” he said. its five rice-breeding hubs in Asia, Spreading the good news about rice: he far-ranging IRC2014 scientific program had something sustainable rice production in ways “GR2.0 is incorporating tolerance Africa, and Latin America. Many IRC2014 wrap-up for everyone including plenary sessions, symposia, and that will stagger our imagination,” to severe stresses and additional attended their first-ever International poster sessions on the latest advances in rice research he confidently forecasted. In another nutritional value and ultimately, as Rice Congress in Bangkok. Twenty- T and technologies coming out of GR2.0 and what is on the drawing bold prediction, he envisions the start already mentioned, is leaving no nine of these young rice scientists boards for GR3.0. of GR3.0 sometime around 2030 when farmer behind. GR3.0 will accelerate were chosen to present their research The week-long agenda also included a temperate rice farmers start planting yield plateau- the evolution of the rice plant itself. It during the science sessions and they conference, a workshop on drip irrigation, and an investors’ forum busting C43 and nitrogen-fixing will effectively produce designer rice by were formally recognized for this on nature and success of agricultural research. rice varieties and consumers begin leaving no Oryza species untapped.” notable achievement during the IRC Held under the patronage of the Royal Government finding broad-based nutritious rice in gala dinner (photo above). of Thailand, specifically the Ministry of Agriculture and the marketplace. Young scientists will lead the “The future of rice science is at Cooperatives, IRC2014 was organized by IRRI and Kenes MP Asia Pte. charge stake because without new blood in Ltd. Summarizing the GR series During a media briefing following the experiment plots and laboratories, A great wrap-up of the milestone event has been put together Dr. Zeigler summarized for the his keynote, Dr. Zeigler told reporters the outlook for a continuing GR2.0 by Michael Jackson, chair of the IRC Science Committee. It can delegates what he calls the ongoing that leading the charge of the science- would be grim and there wouldn’t be found on his blog at http://tinyurl.com/IRC2014-wrap-up. Green Revolution Series. “GR1.0, based GR2.0 and 3.0 is the next crop even be a GR3.0,” he warned reporters. For a video playlist of IRC2014 activities, go to: http://tinyurl.com/ which basically built a high-yield plant of vibrant, intelligent, and caring IRC2014-videos. n architecture adapted to the low-stress young scientists. They are in league Mr. Hettel is editor-in-chief ofRice Today.

3 http://C4rice.irri.org

34 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 35 impacts in unfavorable environments middle class will have an influence in Asia and Africa. IRRI Director on the international rice market. “The General Robert Zeigler said the higher the income of the people, the second Green Revolution is benefiting more diversified are their diets,” the marginalized sector of society— said Dr. David Dawe, FAO senior the poorest of poor farmers—who live economist. “This change will have an in areas most vulnerable to climate effect on the demand for rice.” change (see Green revolutions 2.0 and And, 50% of this change is coming 3.0: No farmer left behind on pages 32- from India and China, according to 35). Dr. Setboonsarng. China’s economic progress will result in mass outmigra- Booming population tion from farms to cities. The rural There will be more mouths to feed migration will be massive, according in the future. The population is to Milo Hamilton, senior agricultural increasing, particularly in South economist and co-founder of First- Asia, where most of the world’s rice grain.com. More than 250 million peo- supply is grown. “Thirty percent ple in China will leave their farms and of the global population growth move into cities in the next 15 years. in the next 5 years will be coming In China alone, 1 billion more people from this region,” said Dr. Suthad will live an urban life by 2030. This Setboonsarng, a Thai economist and phenomenon is also occurring in other currently member of the IRRI Board parts of Asia. Southeast Asian farmers of Trustees. In addition, the number are leaving rural areas for better wages of nontraditional rice eaters is rising, in cities. For example, Cambodians in especially in African countries. rural areas are migrating to the cities With global rice demand estimated of Thailand to work in construction or to increase from 439 million tons in factories. in 2010 to 555 million tons in 2035, A worrisome question is who Unleashing the rice market rice production must be able to would be left on rice farms to feed by Lanie Reyes keep up if world market prices are the ever-growing cities that need to be stabilized at affordable levels increasing quantities of food, said Mr. for billions of rice consumers. Hamilton. “This is a double whammy The global rice market is driven by factors that may radically change on the rice market—increase in urban Rising urbanization how rice is traded in the future consumption and reduction of rural The changing economic structure of food sector workers,” added Dr. Asia and the increasing number of its Setboonsarng. IRRI (3)

hat is the true price Climate change areas such as the Increases in temperatures will THE ENORMOUS Ganges Delta (formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna Rivers) is the world’s largest. Located in the South Asia area of of rice? Do we have There was a note Mekong River also decrease rice output. A study Bangladesh (visible in photo) and India, it is a key area for growing rice that could enough rice to feed the of concern on Delta in Vietnam at the International Rice Research be wiped out by a 1-meter rise in sea level. Wgrowing population? the projected and the Ganges Institute (IRRI) indicates that a rise Where will the rice in the future impact of basin in in nighttime temperature by 1 degree come from? What drives the global climate Bangladesh Celsius could reduce rice yields by rice market? What are the game change on and India. A about 10% while many varieties changers? These were just some of agriculture. 1-meter rise are sensitive to higher daytime the questions raised by economists Most agreed in sea level temperature. and other participants at the Global that rising could wipe About 20 million hectares of Rice Market and Trade Summit in sea levels, out these prime the world’s rice-growing area are at Bangkok, Thailand, on 27-29 October increasing rice production risk of occasionally being flooded, 2014. in areas. particularly in major rice-producing Government policies, climate farm areas, higher With increasing countries such as India and change, increasing population, temperatures, and more sea levels, saltwater Bangladesh. migration of farmers to cities, and frequent occurrence of floods could penetrate more inland Although more research is the rising middle class are some and will have great adverse areas and contribute to soil salinity, needed to tackle the challenges posed of the game changers in the global effects on rice production. thus radically reducing rice yields by climate change, IRRI has already rice market that echoed among the In Asia, large areas of rice are as most rice varieties are only developed several climate-smart

speakers during the Summit. grown in low-lying deltas and coastal moderately tolerant of salt. rice varieties that have made huge AGENCY SPACE EUROPEAN

36 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 37 SINCE RICE is a water-intensive crop, campaigns discouraging consumers also emphasized the importance This allows us to provide unbiased It can collect data on soil, water, it will be coming from countries from wasting rice. of transparency as a key to a stable and accurate information on rice and temperature and even obtain whose water resource has not yet But, “government interventions global rice market. production.” a weekly estimate of rice area, and been depleted. in the form of rice policies often “In fact, the root cause of the IRRI has been developing determine the time when rice was hide the true price of rice,” said 160% price increase during the state-of-the-art tools to provide planted. And, combining all these Dr. Mohanty. For example, the 2007-08 rice crisis was not the lack of timely and accurate estimates of rice with crop growth data, we can rice-pledging scheme of Thailand supply but a lack of transparency,” production in Asia. “We have a suite estimate the harvest. This timely and made the price of its rice less Dr. Zeigler pointed out. “And, those of technologies on board,” he said. accurate information will remove affordable—and less competitive—in hundreds of millions of people who “First, we have a much better way much uncertainty around production. the international rice market. India’s suffered are the poorest of the poor. of estimating the realizable yield of “Rice demand can be determined policy on rice subsidy makes rice That became the wake-up call for us. the rice crop using a crop growth by income growth and distribution, production cheap for farmers so “For many, they think that the model, a technology that we have and government policy, among they can sell rice at a low price. With wake-up call was to pay attention to been developing for the last 25 years. other data,” Dr. Zeigler said. “As India’s low price, plus its bumper production technology,” he continued We have an extraordinarily accurate a rice research institute, IRRI can crop in 2013, it temporarily displaced “But for us, we needed to understand assessment of what a rice paddy is contribute in providing highly Thailand as the top rice exporter in what was going on in the rice trade going to do.” accurate information on the rice crop. the world. and what we could do to make a Dr. Zeigler added that, through Having a good understanding of “The government intervention difference.” satellite imagery, data can be both the supply and demand side of in rice policies is two-pronged,” Over the years, IRRI has been gathered and processed in real the equation is an important part of explained Dr. Setboonsarng. “Most focusing its expertise on what drives time to obtain a good assessment having a stable rice trade.” Water and rice from countries whose water resource governments control the price of the global market and the kind of of actual rice production. The real According to Dr. Setboonsarng, the has not yet been depleted. food, including rice, to keep the information required to attain a breakthrough is that IRRI now uses IRRI’s expanding role expansion of urbanization in Asia is price low. At the same time, they stable environment. The Institute has radar imagery, which can provide Indeed, IRRI has an important role leading to an increase in domestic A political commodity subsidize the producer, especially been gathering data and information superior penetration capability to play in the development of rice consumption of water, which will Since rice is the staple food of more the farmers to enable them to keep on the socioeconomic aspects of through any type of weather policies. A number of interventions compete with the use of water for than half of humanity, it is easy up with the production. And as a rice: how much rice is needed, condition, and this can be used in that governments have made, agricultural production, especially to understand that it is a political consequence, the indirect recipient what it takes to grow a good crop, daytime or nighttime. although reasonable in the short rice production. It is a fact that commodity. Governments will do of subsidies to farmers is, in fact, the what a good rice crop is, and what He explained that, unlike before, term, such as making sure that rice is rice is the most water-intensive everything possible to make rice rice consumer, not only in one’s own consumers want. because most rice is produced during available so that people will not have crop. “Water, a limited resource, is available to their constituents. They country but also in other countries. “The underlying foundation the monsoon season, all we got were riots on the streets, have long-term diminishing,” Dr. Setboonsarng said. have done a lot of things to control For the domestic rice market, low is that IRRI is viewed as an honest beautiful pictures of clouds. With adverse impacts. “The groundwater used to irrigate its price so their constituents or prices discourage innovation in broker,” said Dr. Zeigler. “We don’t radar imagery, IRRI can obtain a very According to Dr. Zeigler, rice in countries such as Bangladesh, “voters” can still afford it, or buying the whole rice value chain—from have a dog in the fight in rice trade. good assessment of rice distribution. organizations such as IRRI and the India, and China is stressed because from farmers at a higher price to production and marketing to storage International Food Policy Research of the expansion of irrigation.” encourage farmers to produce it. and distribution.” Institute are well placed to help Mr. Hamilton said that rice When the price of rice spiked during And what does this mean to the governments work through the production is more like water 2007-08, riots erupted in different international rice market? “As both implications of their policy choices. conversion. When one trades rice, corners of the world and posed the exporter and importer control the Those policy choices will have a one is also trading water. Samarendu tremendous challenges to many consumer price of rice and subsidize dramatic impact on rice trade— Mohanty, IRRI senior economist, said governments. rice farmers, the supply curve of rice locally, regionally, and in the overall that “when the government of India is shifted and lowers the price and global rice market. is subsidizing rice production, it is, Government policies quantity traded in the international “From our perspective, we see in one way or another, subsidizing The rice price crisis was a wake-up market,” Dr. Setboonsarng added. a transition from a strictly research the water need of the country that call for many governments. Many “As a result, the world rice market orientation attending to the issues buys the rice.” It is said that China created policy interventions to becomes small and volatile. around how to produce more and has the capacity to produce more rice prevent food crises from occurring Moreover, the self-sufficiency policy better rice in a more sustainable way if it wants to, but, unlike India, it is again. For rice-importing countries of most rice-importing countries adds as a good starting point for moving conserving its water by importing rice. such as the Philippines, Indonesia, to the uncertainty.” to a much richer engagement with This goes back to the issue of and Malaysia, the policy is self- the global community,” he said. “We finding the true value of rice. Mr. sufficiency. The Philippines is Lack of transparency think that it is increasingly important Hamilton said that water, itself, is not doing its best to increase its rice “Another reason for uncertainty is that we bring an unbiased point of usually priced but what is priced is production through its Food Staples the lack of reliable information,” view to the table to help provide the cost of obtaining the water. How Sufficiency Program, at the same time said Bruce Tolentino, IRRI’s deputy the information that the global we put a price on rice is akin to how encouraging its citizens to diversify director general for communication community needs for an open and we put a price on water. Water scarcity their diets by eating carbohydrate and partnerships. “Uncertainty AN EXAMPLE of satellite imagery transparent rice trade.” will have an effect on where the rice is alternatives such as and in the global rice market leads to shows flooded areas (blue) in Leyte, Philippines, following coming from in the future. According . In addition, the Philippine speculation, and speculation can Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) and Ms. Reyes is the managing editor of to Mr. Hamilton, rice will be coming government launched national lead to confusion and panic.” He rice-growing areas (green) - Rice Today. November 2013.

38 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 39 Rice facts

Million tons Percentage of production 45 10

40 Trade volume Share 9

8 35

7 30 6 25 5 TRENDS 20 4 15 3 10 in global rice trade 2

by Samarendu Mohanty 5 1

0 0 istorically, a small amount Similarly, state agencies in many Asia and account for a quarter of the of rice is traded globally exporting countries are also involved total trade. The other major import- 1961 1964 1967 1970 1973 1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012 Year compared with other in rice exports through G-G contracts. ing regions are the Middle East and crops such as wheat, corn For example, Vietnam exported in Africa, with nearly half of the total Fig. 1. Global rice trade. Source: PSD, USDA. (maize),H and . However, excess of 400,000 tons of rice monthly global trade. These two are the fastest after remaining stagnant for almost in 2013 and 2014 through G-G growing rice markets, with the trade two and a half decades, rice trade sales to Indonesia, the Philippines, volume doubling from 10 to 20 million expanded in the late 1980s in the Malaysia, and other Asian and African tons in the past decade. rice. The fragrant rice market includes India and Pakistan export 100% of pace from 1.7 million tons in 2005 to wake of trade liberalization in many countries (2014 World Rice Conference, basmati and jasmine rice while the this rice to all parts of the world, 2.5 million tons in 2013 (Source: The countries and the General Agreement Cambodia). The extent of the hold Types of rice traded nonfragrant rice market includes with Middle Eastern countries as the Rice Trader). The major markets for on Tariffs and Trade in 1994. of the governments in rice trade was Global rice trade can be broadly white, parboiled, and glutinous major destinations, followed by the jasmine rice are the United States, Global rice trade now stands at evident during the 2007-08 rice crisis divided into fragrant and nonfragrant rice. In the case of basmati trade, European Union. In the past 15 years, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, around 42 million tons compared with when exporting countries such as the global trade of basmati rice has Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Malaysia. 10–12 million tons in the late ‘80s. The India and Vietnam enforced an export grown from 1 to more than 4 million In addition, 600–700 thousand tons of IRRI current trade accounts for nearly 9% of ban, and importing countries such A SHIPMENT of rice in a warehouse in Manila, tons, with India capturing almost all 100% broken jasmine rice, primarily global production compared with 4% as the Philippines, Indonesia, and Philippines. the market expansion while Pakistan’s Thai Hommali, are mostly exported in the late ‘80s (Fig. 1). Nigeria scrambled to stockpile rice for market share declined from 50% to to three West African countries, domestic food security. less than 20% during the same period. namely, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Structure of global rice trade The rice export market is highly For the jasmine rice market, Ghana. Rice is a political commodity in the concentrated with the top five rice Thailand used to dominate with an In the case of white and parboiled majority of Asian countries and its exporters accounting for 80% of almost 100% market share a decade rice, the market is segregated based price is an important barometer of global rice trade. Of the five top ago. But, Vietnam and Cambodia on the percentage of broken rice government performance. Thus, it exporters, four (Thailand, India, have made significant inroads into (major types are 5%, 15%, 25%, becomes imperative for policymakers Vietnam, and Pakistan) are from the market in recent years, with and 100%). All major exporters are to control rice trade flow for domestic Asia. Thailand has occupied the top Thailand’s share dropping below involved in white rice trading to all rice market to be stable. State agencies spot for the most part of the past 50%. Vietnam has evolved to become parts of the world. On the contrary, are involved in controlling the flow four decades. For these Asian rice- the biggest competitor for Thai the majority of parboiled rice of rice in and out of countries and, exporting countries, rice is still the Hommali jasmine rice, with nearly originates from India and Thailand, in many cases, they also take part in most important staple, and domestic 40% of the market share. But, despite with African and Middle Eastern importing/exporting rice through food security and strategic reserve is its rising market share, Vietnamese countries as its main destinations. government-to-government (G-G) extremely important. jasmine still sells for a hefty contracts. Unlike the high concentration in discount in the market. The average Future trends State agencies in many rice export market, the import side is quite spread between Thai Hommali and Since the 2007-08 rice crisis, many consuming countries such as the fragmented. The top five rice import- Vietnamese jasmine has been around rice-consuming countries have been National Food Authority of the ers account for around 30% of the US$400 per ton ($1,000 per ton for reluctant to depend on imported Philippines, the Bureau of Logistics of total trade and the top ten account for Thai Hommali vs. $600 per ton for rice and have rolled out measures Indonesia, and BERNAS of Malaysia less than 50% of total imports. Many Vietnamese jasmine) in recent years. to improve self-sufficiency. Many are solely in charge of importing of the major importers, including the In the past decade, the volume of rice-importing countries have rice into their respective countries. current top importer, China, are from jasmine trade was growing at a snail’s initiated programs to expand their

40 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 41 Grain of truth

Million tons 12 GRiSP: Partnerships for success 10

India (Export) China (Import) 8 by Bas Bouman

6 n 2015, the Global Rice Science and staff across continents is models, which have been developed at Partnership (GRiSP) enters its unprecedented, leading to enormous IRRI and by Wageningen University fifth year, and it is gearing up exchanges of ideas, information, in the Netherlands, to explore the 4 to develop a phase II proposal knowledge, and technologies, and impacts of weather conditions and forI 2017 and beyond. Thus, this is a to new collaborative efforts and climate change on rice production. good time to take stock of GRiSP’s mechanisms. GRiSP facilitated this through 2 accomplishments so far and discuss In the field of variety develop- exchange visits and by organizing where we want to go next. ment, for example, breeders are training courses. To recall, GRiSP is a CGIAR combining forces to modernize their In Africa and Asia, GRiSP 0 Research Program led by the Interna- programs so they are more efficient scientists from AfricaRice, IRRI, and tional Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and more effective, and they can the national systems are developing and coordinated by six research-for- deliver improved varieties faster rice management advisory tools 1979 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 –2 1971 1973 1975 1977 development organizations: IRRI, than ever before. Under the banner delivered through mobile phones Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), the of accelerating genetic gain, Afri- and Internet applications. GRiSP- Year –4 International Center for Tropical caRice, CIAT, and IRRI are designing sponsored workshops and exchange Agriculture (CIAT), Centre de Coop- novel breeding strategies that reap visits catalyzed collaboration across Fig. 2. The rise of India and China in global rice trade. eration lnternationale en Recherche the fruits of the rapid advances in continents on topics such as agronomy, Source: PSD online database, USDA. Agronomique pour le Développement genomics. They share rice germplasm innovation platforms, postharvest, (Cirad), L’lnstitut de Recherche pour across continents and pick the best value adding, grain quality, and rice le Développement (IRD), and the genes and varieties for testing in their supply and demand analyses. rice production and reduce their Despite all these uncertainties, rice area from competing crops, and Japan International Research Center respective environments. Specialized expertise on rice dependence on foreign rice. the global rice trade will continue water shortages are likely to make for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS). While I was in Peru, a national diseases at Cirad and IRD is being Both India and China have also to rise in the future. The rising imported rice an attractive option These six organizations have seed company showed me an tapped to help solve rice disease emerged as major players in the popularity of rice in many non-Asian for Chinese traders. In addition, the fully aligned their rice R&D activities experimental field with promising problems in Africa, while JIRCAS global rice market in the past few countries, including parts of Africa demand for different types of rice and share the same vision, mission, hybrid parental lines that were strengthens GRiSP with new years with India’s unprecedented and the Middle East, is likely to such as sticky rice from Vietnam, objectives, and R&D structure. Under developed in Asia and made discoveries of genetic traits such as rise to the top of the export chart and greatly contribute to the uptrend in jasmine rice from Thailand, and the umbrella of GRiSP, they bring available through GRiSP. Back in the those governing phosphorus uptake China’s unexpected rise to the top rice trade. A lot depends on Africa, long-grain rice from Pakistan is together more than 900 partners from Philippines, IRRI has tested hybrid and the ability to produce high yield. of the import chart (Fig. 2). In 2012, where rice consumption is expected growing as Chinese consumers academia, the public and private parental lines from Latin America So, when looking ahead to India displaced Thailand from the to grow much faster than in any diversify their consumption habit sector, and civil society with a stake and germplasm from Africa, thus GRiSP phase II, we will keep top spot by exporting 10.4 million other regions in the world. Based with rising income. As long as the in the rice development sector. Their broadening the genetic base for catalyzing cross-institutional and tons of rice vis-à-vis 6.9 million tons on our projections, 112 million tons Chinese government is not strongly joint mission is to reduce poverty and improvement. cross-continental collaboration. We for Thailand. Like India, nobody of additional rice will be needed determined on self-sufficiency and hunger, improve human health and Moreover, a global network of will explore mechanisms to expand expected China to become the globally by 2040 and nearly 40% allows imported rice to enter the nutrition, reduce the environmental phenotyping platforms—in Africa, the global partnership concept by largest importer of rice in the world, of this additional demand will country, it is reasonable to assume footprint, and enhance ecosystem Asia, Australia, Europe, and North drawing in more allies and providing displacing Nigeria, with 3.5 million be coming from Africa. If African that Chinese imports will steadily resilience of rice production systems. and South America—characterizes more opportunities for collaboration. tons of imports in 2013. production growth cannot keep pace rise in the near to medium term. On To gauge the achievements and novel germplasm under a wide range We will develop partnerships on India’s lifting of its export ban with its rising consumption, then the the export side, the current major success of GRiSP so far, we need to ask of environmental conditions, using equal footing, whereby we subscribe on the nonbasmati market in late continent will emerge as a growing exporters (India, Thailand, Vietnam, the following questions: “What did the standardized protocols and sharing to common goals and objectives; 2011 after a 4-year gap, burgeoning importer of rice from Asia. and Pakistan) will continue to remain collective of research organizations data for genome-wide analyses. commit to joint research and domestic stocks, and a weak rupee Many Asian countries are likely in the market, while Myanmar and achieve that they would not have Also in other fields, such as development outcomes; and assume supported India’s exports in the to simultaneously export and import Cambodia have the potential to achieved without GRiSP?” “And agronomy and natural resource joint accountabilities for our ultimate past two years. But, earlier in 2014, different types of rice as consumers upgrade their rice sectors and become what has been the added value of the management, ideas, tools, and goals of poverty alleviation, food and Thailand stopped the rice pledging diversify their diet and create bigger exporters in the future. partnership approach?” technologies are shared and co- nutritional security, and a sustained scheme and has regained the majority demand for different types of rice. And the truth is—when traveling developed. In Latin America, our and healthy resource base! of markets lost to India in 2012. China, however, remains the biggest across the globe—I’ve seen the partners at CIAT in Colombia and Thailand recaptured the top spot question mark in the rice market. Dr. Mohanty is the head of the Social successes of the GRiSP partnership the National Institute of Agricultural Dr. Bouman is the director of GRiSP. in 2014 and is expected to further It appears that the rapidly rising Sciences Division and program leader blossom in each place it is active! Research (INIA) in Uruguay are View his recent seminar about GRiSP at strengthen its position in 2015. costs of production, pressure on (Targetting and policy) at IRRI. The collaboration among institutes applying crop growth simulation http://tinyurl.com/GRiSP-Bouman.

42 Rice Today January-March 2015 Rice Today January-March 2015 43 44 Rice Today January-March 2015