RICE BREEDING INNOVATIONS

The Rice Breeding Innovations (RBI) Department of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in collaboration with national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES) partners, develops and deploys innovative breeding strategies, tools, and technologies to sustainably enhance the genetic potential of rice for higher yield and its ability to tolerate pest and diseases infestations, soil and environmental stresses due to drought, salinity, and sodicity, and lower temperatures while improving its grain and nutritional qualities resulting to delivery of improved varieties and products to farmers, consumers, and other end-users in a fast and effective manner.


RBI has been actively engaged in the modernization of IRRI's breeding programs to meet the needs of farmers and consumers. To that end, it has been engaged in the development of market segments and product concepts, development of relative maturity system, product management, development of multilocation testing networks in collaboration with NARES partners. It utilizes a unified breeding strategy, dubbed as 'OneRice,' for standardization, utilizing genomic selections and predictions, and reducing breeding cycle time through Rapid Generation Advancement. Underpinning these are pre-breeding activities such as deployment of major native genes into elite materials, disease resistance stewardship, making marker-assisted selection (MAS) more reliable, digitization of data through proprietary databases, and intellectual property records.


The RBI Program Management team ensures communications, delivery of project outcomes, and fulfillment of reporting requirements. The Department conducts all its activities in compliance with IRRI’s policies and procedures to ensure minimal environmental footprint. The Rice Breeding Risk management team works with staff and liaises with the IRRI risk management team to ensure a safe working environment and implementation of safety compliance and mitigation strategies. All seeds are transferred nationally and internationally through  “safe seed transfer” processes and procedures by testing them rigorously at the Seed Health Unit based at IRRI prior to subjecting them for inspections and certification for phytosanitary and quarantine requirements. All seeds are only sent through FAO-developed Standard Material Transfer Agreement and IRRI’s Material Transfer Agreements to comply with CGIAR Intellectual Property policies and procedures.

Latest News

Training on modern breeding concepts and tools enhances capacity of AFACI member countries


(Los Baños, PHILIPPINES, 11 September 2023) The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (AFACI) conducted a training on Modern breeding concepts and tools to enhance the capacities of NARES partners in 10 AFACI-member countries on 7-9 September 2023 at IRRI headquarters in the Philippines.

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IRRI South East Asia NARES and AFACI Member Countries convene to identify  promising rice varieties for future release

(Los Baños, PHILIPPINES, 11 September 2023) - In collaboration with the Rural Development Administration and the Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (AFACI),  Philippine Department of Agriculture, and the University of the Philippines Los Baños, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) hosted the first joint meeting between the IRRI Breeding...

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NARES- IRRI breeding network’s Annual Joint Advancement Meeting strengthens rice sector collaboration in East and Southern Africa

(DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, 4 September 2023)- The National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES) - International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) breeding network organized an Annual Joint Advancement Meeting for East and Southern Africa (ESA) on 28-30 August in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, in a strategic effort to strengthen the rice sector across the region.


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IRRI researchers won Best Poster at the 27th FPSAP Scientific Conference

Researchers from the International Rice Research Institute’s Rice Genetic Design and Validation Unit received the Best Poster for Crop Physiology Award during the 27th FPSAP Scientific Conference “Innovative Plant Solutions for a Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture”, held on 27 August- 1 September 2023, Princesa Garden Island Resort, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

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