From Tanzania to Bangladesh, lessons on digital innovation are helping strengthen seed systems. IRRI facilitated a South–South knowledge exchange on SeedCast, a digital platform that forecasts seed demand by variety and location to support farmers. 🔗 bit.ly/4xFFyqX

🌾🇧🇩 Women in Bangladesh have kept seeds for generations, yet few can get a loan to grow a seed business. @IRRI on how Orange Bonds could change that 👉 on.cgiar.org/4AcjXcj #FoodSystems

At the Dryland Congress 2026, during the parallel session “Harmonizing Seed Systems: Potential and Policy Needs,” Dr. Swati Nayak highlighted the need for countries to harmonize seed policies, data, variety evaluation, quality standards, and regulations.

From Waste to Wealth: Instead of burning crop residues after every harvest, the New Green Farm Cooperative implemented a circular business model that turns discarded rice straw into mushrooms, organic fertilizer, & cleaner, low-emission rice production. 🔗bit.ly/4rxWqyy

IRRI and the University of Nottingham have launched Temp-Resist Rice, a new research partnership supported by UK Research and Innovation’s BBSRC to help future-proof rice production against rising temperatures. Read more: bit.ly/4hjJEAp

PaddyMitra, a scientifically validated digital tool that tailors fertilizer advisories to a farmer’s actual crop mgt practices, is taking climate-smart farming a step further by integrating weather-based advisories for flood- & drought-prone areas. 🔗bit.ly/4cWa3S5

What helps rice stand up to diseases that can put a farmer’s harvest at risk? At the German Plant Breeding Conference 2026, IRRI Scientist Dr. Van Schepler-Luu shared research on neck blast and false smut, two diseases that can substantially reduce rice harvests.

IRRI is proud to co-partner w/ The Rice Trader for this year’s IWRC! Registration is still open! IWRC 2026 will bring together leaders and experts from across the global rice industry to tackle the forces shaping the future of rice. Register here: bit.ly/4hnM8wi

In the media: IRRI’s Senior Scientist Alisher Mirzabaev discusses how El Niño could affect rice supplies, market demand, and production risks. Watch here: bit.ly/4hfPhhp

Water scarcity and land degradation are making conventional farming increasingly difficult for smallholder farmers in dryland regions. So, what alternatives can help make these farms more resilient? A study from 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗮 explored this through a 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗗𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗮 (𝗛𝗲𝗯𝗯𝗲𝘃𝘂)-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 established on one hectare of dryland. Over nine years, the plantation produced approximately 300 tonnes of timber and generated higher returns than conventional dryland crops in the region. The study also found improvements in soil health, microclimate regulation, water-use efficiency, and ecosystem services. Our colleagues Saikumar C. Bharamappanavara and Manmeet Kaur, along with Ajay Kumar Mishra and Pavan Kumar Yeggina from @irri, presented these findings at 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 through their paper, ‘𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝘆𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀: 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗗𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗮-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗮, 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮.’ The study shows the potential of agroforestry as a climate-resilient, low-input approach that can strengthen livelihoods while helping restore degraded landscapes. Check out the poster: tropentag.de/2026/abstracts/…

A new Rice Today article highlights the need for “structural synergy” in rice breeding, breaking down silos & bringing genetics, agronomy, economics, social science, & market perspectives together. 🔗Bit.ly/4gUnEMd

A tiny genetic signature could help breeders build a stronger defense against one of rice’s most destructive diseases. Scientists from IRRI, BRRI, & UPLB have identified Ptr-a, a gene that provides broad-spectrum resistance against neck blast. 🔗bit.ly/4yA3NHX

In the media: In this opinion editorial, Korean Ambassador Lee Dong-Gy reflects on the deep historical ties between Korea and the Philippines through the lens of rice science. Read the full article: bit.ly/4yEYozj

Seeds of Science: What if we could improve rice varieties that farmers already trust & grow, instead of always starting from scratch? Read the full story on Rice Today to see how this approach is helping breeders develop better rice: bit.ly/4xs2VnU

At UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia, IRRI & partners highlighted how integrating land restoration, climate action, biodiversity, & food security can make environmental investments more efficient and more attractive to finance. 🔗Read more: bit.ly/4hqUx33

🌾🇻🇳 Low-emission rice in Vietnam's Mekong Delta depends on farmers learning new fertilizer practices. Women are often left out of training. @IRRI and @Cipotato are changing that 👉 on.cgiar.org/4xd80QP #GenderEquality #FoodSystems

IN PHOTOS: We are delighted to welcome the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Agriculture Research (DA-BAR) Director Dr. Cecilia S. Gascon to IRRI HQ to further align IRRI and DA-BAR research, innovation, and investment priorities w/ the PH government’s agricultural agenda.

In the media: DOST & IRRI renewed their long-standing partnership through an MOU signed on 7 September, strengthening collaboration on emerging technologies and innovations for agriculture, nutrition, and food security in the Philippines. Read more: bit.ly/3T5sJYH

LOOK: NARI DG Dr. Nelson Simbiken & Papua New Guinea National Rice & Grain Board CEO & Chairman Koren Rokas Maso visited IRRI HQ to discuss pathways for strengthening & scaling up rice production, including the country’s transition toward larger-scale commercial rice production.

From reducing methane emissions to building healthier soils, IRRI and BASF Agricultural Solutions are expanding multi-year research collaboration on climate-smart rice production. Read more: bit.ly/4xQOQRP Photo credit: BASF