Singapore – Another lane on the research highway between the non-profit and private sectors opens today to help deliver technology-driven solutions to rice farmers and the rice industry in the face of climate change and global food security challenges.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed today in Singapore between the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Syngenta sets out a commitment between the two organizations to closely collaborate in undertaking rice research, to build scientific capacity, and to establishing a Scientific Know-how Exchange Program (SKEP).

The SKEP will allow Syngenta and IRRI to pool their expertise and resources and focus on a number of areas such as characterizing the genetic diversity of rice, marker-assisted breeding applications, and dealing with rice productivity constraints.

“Syngenta has significant expertise in rice research, the use of marker technology and in the development of holistic approaches to crop production and performance,” says Dr. Robert Zeigler, director general, IRRI.

“This complements the strengths of IRRI which include conserving the world’s largest collection of rice and making it widely available, numerous breeding programs that produce new breeding lines and varieties of rice that are made available to farmers worldwide, and expertise on all aspects of sustainable, environmentally friendly management for the key rice production systems.”

“We will work together on disseminating new crop management and postharvest technologies in key rice-growing regions, including water-saving irrigation and site-specific nutrient management,” adds Dr. Zeigler.

Future areas of research collaboration on the agenda may include insect resistance monitoring and management, newly emerging diseases, grain quality, weed management in dry-seeded rice, water quality and ecosystem services, and alternative forms of irrigation.

Public awareness events on rice and scholarships for educating a new generation of rice scientists are also scheduled to be part of the SKEP agreement.

The MOU and the anticipated SKEP will also ensure IRRI, a non-profit organization, can continue to widely deliver its research, including the seed of new rice varieties, to its partners. Neither the MOU nor the SKEP will include any agreements on exclusive access to IRRI’s research or research outcomes.

“Our collaboration with IRRI including the SKEP is an important next step in our close working relationship. It is entirely consistent with Syngenta’s very strong commitment to rice in the region and to improving outcomes for rice farmers,” says Mr. Peter Pickering, Syngenta’s Head of Seeds for the Asia Pacific region.

On hand to witness the signing was Syngenta Chairman, Mr. Martin Taylor who was in the region visiting several of Syngenta’s rice and research facilities.

In 2010 IRRI celebrates its 50th anniversary. Since its establishment IRRI has fostered many partnerships with the private sector and others that have increased IRRI’s capacity to deliver on its mission to improve the welfare of rice farmers and consumers – particularly through higher rice yields.

Announced in Singapore – an emerging hub for IRRI where it will raise awareness about rice research and build alliances in the region – the MOU and subsequent SKEP are part of the latest generation of IRRI’s collaborations with private sector partners to increase the scope and impact of rice research.

Contact 

Andrew McConville, Syngenta: +65 6799 5712, +65 9729 6009 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sophie Clayton, IRRI: +63 2 580 5600 (extension 2204), +63 917 552 6082 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it