Photo: David Swanson/IRIN
Rice is the staple food for half the world's population
A new global rice research initiative aimed at lifting millions out of poverty was launched in Hanoi on 10 November.
“Individual players can now play a more significant role,” Achim Dobermann, deputy director-general for research at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) told IRIN on the sidelines of the 3rd International Rice Congress, noting the significant impact national rice research can have internationally.
Launched by IRRI and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP) is expected to lift 150 million people out of poverty by 2035, as well as prevent emission of greenhouse gases by an amount equivalent to one billion tons of carbon dioxide.
By improving the capacity of rice farmers to feed growing populations, GRiSP has the potential to contribute significantly to lowering food prices, reducing global poverty by 5 percent by 2020 and 11 percent by 2035, IRRI says. According to a September report by IRRI and the Asia Society, rice research is the largest documented source of agricultural research benefits in the developing world. Annual economic benefits from rice productivity-enhancing research exceed US$19.5 billion.
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?Reportid=91042
No comments:
Post a Comment