Global Rice Science Partnership

The Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP), also known as the CGIAR Research Program on Rice,[1] is an initiative of the CGIAR to bring together research and development partners from around the world to undertake and deliver rice research.[2] Launched in November 2010, GRiSP aims to "dramatically improve the ability of rice farmers to feed growing populations in some of the world’s poorest nations".[2]

France, through the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD) and L'Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD),[3] as well as Japan through the Japan International Research Centre for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS),[4] were critical establishing partners. GRiSP now claims to have more than 900 partners worldwide from the public and private sector. Most recently, Singapore announced financial support for international rice research positioning itself as an important GRiSP partner.[5]

GRiSP is being led in Asia by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in Africa by the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), and in Latin America by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).

2012 GRiSP update

Dr. Bas Bouman was announced as the new Director for GRiSP, effective from 1 September 2012, and replacing Dr. Achim Dobermann.[6]

2011 GRiSP update

In August 2011, a yield potential workshop was held at CIAT in Colombia. Scientists explored the importance of steady and incremental yield gains in Latin America, but delivering this through modern rice breeding techniques.[7]

In September 2011, the AfricaRice hosted the GRiSP Africa Science Forum. AfricaRice Deputy Director General & Director of Research for Development Dr. Marco Wopereis said that there was an increasing shift to a more demand/market-driven research in Africa.[8]

In October 2011, IRRI hosted the 2011 GRiSP Asia Review and Global Forum [9] where GRiSP Director and IRRI Deputy Director General for Research Dr. Achim Dobermann said that there was substantial progress across GRiSP’s themes in Asia during 2011, highlighting the global gene discovery work. The promise of new varieties resistant to multiple abiotic stresses such as flooding and salinity, better water and pest management strategies, the identification of the genetic information that makes rice chalky, the impact of IRRI’s rice breeding work across Southeast Asia, and the launch of a mobile phone service to help farmers get site-specific nutrient management advice.[9]

References
  1. CGIAR Research Program on Rice
  2. Media release: Improved rice availability and reduced environmental impact forecast through new Global Rice Science Partnership
  3. "Science au Sud, April-May 2010: Rethinking global agricultural research" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
  4. JIRCAS International Symposium 2011 Trends of International Rice Research and Japanese Scientific Contribution - Support to GRiSP and CARD
  5. Asian Scientist news: Singapore NRF To Invest US$8.2 Million Into Rice Research At IRRI (14 Aug 2011)
  6. IRRI news: New GRiSP Director announced
  7. Rice roadmap provides an alternative to the quest for "mega-varieties" (8 Sep 2011)
  8. Rice experts in Africa adopt a new way of doing business for greater impact (6 Oct 2011)
  9. "GRiSP holds 2011 Asia Review and Global Forum, elects oversight committee (11 Oct 2011)". Archived from the original on 12 October 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
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