In 2026, reports of yellowing plants & declining yields of the Komboka rice variety surged. Farmers & local stakeholders have different explanations for the symptoms, including rice yellow mottle virus, iron toxicity, and nutrient management issues. 🔗bit.ly/47Hnqme

During the NAFES Month Celebration, DA-ATI & IRRI soft-launched AgriGabay—an AI-powered digital advisor that provides farmers and extension workers with real-time, location-specific guidance in their local language. Learn more about the PalAI project: bit.ly/4jEDvjI

At the Global Rice Policy Dialogue 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, I had the honour of delivering opening remarks on behalf of the African Union Commission (@_AfricanUnion) , Chairperson, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (@ymahmoudali), underscoring the urgent need to transform Africa’s growing demand for rice into an opportunity for agricultural transformation, food security and economic prosperity. Africa's growing rice import bill is not merely a challenge; it represents an enormous opportunity to strengthen domestic production, build competitive value chains, create jobs and expand intra-African agricultural trade. As we advance the CAADP Kampala Declaration and the 2026–2035 Strategy and Action Plan, rice remains a strategic commodity in our collective ambition to increase agrifood production, reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen regional markets and accelerate Africa's journey towards food self-sufficiency. I emphasised the importance of investing across the entire rice value chain, from research, improved seed systems and irrigation to mechanisation, processing, market access and trade facilitation. Equally important is ensuring that smallholder farmers, women and young people are at the centre of this transformation. I commend the International Rice Research Institute (@irri) , @AfricaRice , @CGIAR , and our development partners for convening this timely dialogue and fostering evidence-based policy discussions and South–South cooperation. Our ambition must go beyond producing more rice. We must build resilient, competitive and inclusive rice sectors that feed our people, strengthen our economies and position Africa as a stronger participant in regional and global agricultural markets. The time has come to translate policy commitments into tangible results for Africa's farmers and communities. 📍 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Global Rice Policy Dialogue 2026 @AfricanUni_FSRP #CAADP #KampalaDeclaration #RicePolicyDialogue2026 #FoodSecurity #AgriculturalTransformation #Agenda2063 #AgrifoodSystems

At the Global Rice Policy Dialogue 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, H.E. Moses Vilakati, @MosesVilakati , African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment @AU_DARBE , delivered opening remarks on behalf of the @_AfricanUnion Commission Chairperson, H.E. @ymahmoudali Ali Youssouf, underscoring the need to transform Africa’s growing demand for rice into an opportunity for agricultural transformation, food security and economic prosperity. In his remarks, the Commissioner emphasised that Africa’s growing rice import bill should not merely be viewed as a challenge, but as an opportunity to strengthen domestic production, develop competitive value chains, create employment and expand intra-African agricultural trade. Anchoring his message in the CAADP Kampala Declaration and the 2026–2035 Strategy and Action Plan, H.E. Vilakati highlighted the strategic importance of rice in advancing Africa’s commitments to increase agrifood output, reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen regional markets and accelerate agricultural transformation. He called for coordinated investments across the entire rice value chain, from agricultural research, improved seed systems and irrigation to mechanisation, processing, market access and trade facilitation, while ensuring that smallholder farmers, women and young people remain central to these efforts. The Commissioner further underscored the importance of South–South cooperation, evidence-based policymaking and stronger partnerships between governments, research institutions and the private sector to translate continental commitments into measurable results. He commended @irri , @AfricaRice , @CGIAR , EIAR and other partners for fostering dialogue and collaboration towards more resilient and competitive rice markets. Africa’s ambition must extend beyond producing more rice to building resilient, competitive and inclusive rice sectors that feed its people, strengthen its economies and advance continental integration. 📍 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Global Rice Policy Dialogue 2026 #AfricanUnion #CAADP #KampalaDeclaration #GlobalRicePolicyDialogue2026 #FoodSecurity #AgriculturalTransformation #Agenda2063 #AfricaRice #AgrifoodSystems

@BASF and @irri have expanded research to cut rice's carbon footprint Rice paddies are among agriculture’s largest sources of methane, a greenhouse gas with outsized short-term warming effects compared with carbon dioxide thefourthplate.com/2026/10/2…

IRRI received the Global Leadership in Rice Research, Innovation & Food Security award at the Bharat International Rice Conference 2026, recognizing its contributions to sustainable rice production, nutrition, climate resilience & farmer profitability. 🔗bit.ly/47HGwZp

You are invited to the newest installment of Delta Talks 20: AMD-WUR Webinar Series This webinar series explores research progress & findings aimed at securing food systems and strengthening climate resilience in the Asian mega-deltas. Sign up here: bit.ly/3UiO2XC

Plans to establish the Asia Biologicals Foundation, an independent, non-profit, science-led institution with an Asia-wide mandate, were unveiled, bringing together science and industry to advance healthier soils and regenerative agriculture across Asia. bit.ly/4sqkP9E

In CGIAR’s 2026 GENDER Accelerator Flagship Report, IRRI’s Ranjitha Puskur sheds light on solutions for equitable resilience capacity building in times of the polycrisis, examining why resilience requires more than tech. 🔗 bit.ly/4dWsVky

At the Global Rice Policy Dialogue 2026, policymakers, researchers, financiers, and private sector leaders from African & Asian countries called for stronger implementation of national rice strategies through investment across the entire value chain. More: bit.ly/4ipK5Z3

IRRI and partners are demonstrating how mechanized direct seeding and precise fertilizer placement can reduce rice production costs while improving nutrient-use efficiency in Vietnam’s Red River Delta. Read more: bit.ly/3UoJ3EK

Hear from African Union Commissioner H.E. Moses Vilakati, AGRA Board Chair & Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, & IRRI's Dr. Yvonne Pinto on how policy, investment, regional cooperation, and research can build resilient rice markets.

New research identifies nutrient mgt (37%) & sowing time (29%) as the leading technical factors contributing to yield gaps. Digital tools can help farmers make more precise, site-specific decisions as weather patterns & water conditions change. 🔗bit.ly/4yAhRB2

At the CCAC Annual Meeting, IRRI emphasized that reducing agricultural methane emissions requires moving beyond national climate commitments towards practical implementation, supported by financing, reliable data, & institutional cooperation. Know more: bit.ly/4k8yxMa

How do we transform biodiversity and land-related commitments into investment-ready action? Join IRRI & partners at CBD COP17 to discuss how synergies across the Rio Conventions unlock finance for biodiversity, land, Climate, & food security through integrated land-use planning.

IRRI joined FMC Agro Italia’s Rice Portfolio: Cultivating Opportunity meeting in Italy, bringing together scientists, research institutions, and rice-industry stakeholders to discuss advances in crop protection, varietal development, and seed systems. 🔗bit.ly/4zeoHwU

IRRI and Wadhwani AI have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to co-develop and evaluate AI-powered agricultural advisory tools for rice farmers in India. Read more: bit.ly/4eEJscS

In field demonstrations in India, AWD reduced methane emissions by 16% compared with continuous flooding. Meanwhile, results also show that applying methanotrophs achieved an approximately 40% reduction under continuous flooding. Read more: bit.ly/4ypr6DR

The challenge is no longer just reducing agricultural emissions. It is making those solutions work for farmers. During Bangkok Climate Action Week 2026, IRRI contributed to two regional events on climate-resilient agriculture, methane reduction and sustainable rice production.

In Bangladesh’s flood-prone haor region, through the Climate-Smart Rice Value Chain project, IRRI & partners have supported around 3,000 farm households & indirectly reached 10,000 farmers, helping them manage climate risks &strengthen their incomes. 🔗bit.ly/4hRChQR