The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Advanced Chemical Industries Ltd. (ACI) partner to build a state-of-the-art rice breeding program in Bangladesh. The partnership will aim to improve the lives of rice farmers through supporting better rice varieties and agricultural technologies. The collaboration will support a wide range of projects aimed to accelerate genetic research and advance breeding and product development for the Bangladesh rice ecosystem.
This agreement builds on the successful partnership developed between the two organizations through the Hybrid Rice Development Consortium (HRDC), started in 2014, which is a public private partnership that enhances the dissemination of hybrid rice technology. HRDC, of which ACI has been a member since May 2014, was established at IRRI in 2008.
IRRI’s unique expertise and technology platform will be available to ACI in the form of an intensive technology-transfer program, partially financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In addition, ACI will deploy specific elite varieties developed by IRRI that are suitable for Bangladesh agro-climatic conditions. A strong screening program, developed by ACI with the help of IRRI specialists, will yield a robust pipeline of new elite varieties. ACI will be responsible for market introduction of the best varieties.
“We are pleased to partner with IRRI, a recognized leader in rice research and development, to address the need to improve the lives of rice farmers through better rice varieties and agricultural technologies, which ensure creating wealth for farmers” said Dr. F.H. Ansarey, Executive Director for Agribusiness of ACI.
“Through this partnership with IRRI, ACI is building on its commitment to develop a strong rice breeding program and to introduce new elite varieties in Bangladesh,” said IRRI Director General Matthew Morell. “Along with our existing relationships with the public sector and civil society, partnerships with the private sector that expedite the flow of IRRI germplasm and know-how to the market for the benefit of rice farmers and food security in Bangladesh are in line with IRRI’s vision and mission. The objective of this collaboration with ACI is to facilitate higher rice yields, better quality, climate-change–tolerant varieties, and improved sustainability of rice production in Bangladesh.”
IRRI is the world’s premier nonprofit international institute on rice research, headquartered in the Philippines. ACI is a leading brand in Bangladesh with activities in pharmaceuticals, consumer brands including agriculture value addition, logistics including agriculture retailing and complete agriculture solution covering seed, fertilizer, crop care, agriculture machineries, animal health and integrated poultry and farmer’s forward and backward linkage.
