News

For millions of Filipinos, no meal is complete without a serving of rice. Despite high rice prices and challenges in rice production, the grain remains to be present in each household as a vital part of the Filipino lifestyle and culture.

Engineering asexually reproducing rice has been a mystery for many scientists for more than 30 years but a team of researchers from UC Davis and Berkeley seems to have cracked the code in their latest study.

Farmer associations based in Antique, Philippines received farm machinery from the Department of Agriculture to help boost their rice production.

During the World Rice Conference held in Pasay City, Philippines, the founder of the Philippine Rice Information System stated the the country may soon see more affordable rice prices as India removed the minimum export price on rice exports.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan announced that rice production for the year 2024 surpassed the estimated demand for the year ending next June. Private sector rice producers are also expected to improve, however, the prices may still remain high.

A team of researchers hailing from the Tokyo University of Science conducted a research that aimed to investigate the relationship between rice blast fungi and soil microbes. Their findings can lead to significant implications on how to manage plant diseases.

Fast food giant Jollibee Food Group revealed that they are considering sourcing their rice directly from Filipino farmers. Currently, the group is in the first stage of discussions with a farmer cooperative.

Rice production in the Philippines may soon see an increase thanks to the proposed PHP 9 billion annual allocation for the mechanization of rice farming under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.

India has finally lifted its export ban on non-basmati rice a year after enacting it. The Department of Agriculture is expecting that rice prices will be going down as India’s move will relieve the price pressure in the international market.

The International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines has made a breakthrough in their research, developing a type of grain that may help reduce the likelihood of diabetes.