Researchers and training specialists from FSI, together with officers and staff from the DFA, attended the briefing organized by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on Rice Science and Global Food and Nutrition Security on 24 January 2015 at the IRRI Center in Los Baños, Laguna.

Rice is the staple of billions in the world, especially those in the global south. Thus, the presentations from IRRI officials highlighted the research conducted by IRRI with regard to rice adaptation and food security in general.

According to Dr. V. Bruce Tolentino, Deputy Director-General for Communication and Partnerships of IRRI, rapid population growth threatens not only the environment but also the global food security as more people compete for limited resources. World population is projected to balloon to 10 billion by 2040. Policymakers and researchers are now confronted with the challenge on coming up with environmentally sustainable approaches to feed everyone. As such, IRRI’s research has created a significant impact on improving lives and the environment over the last fifty years. It has contributed to increasing food security, reducing poverty, protecting the environment, and tackling climate change.

Furthermore, rice could also be used to bridge political divides among contiguous countries, such as Bangladesh, India, and Nepal which all exchanged rice germplasm for common and shared prosperity.