Devgen and IRRI form a partnership for the development of drought-tolerant rice hybrids to the benefit of the Asian rice farmers

06-Apr-2010 - Belgium

Devgen and the International rice Research Institute (IRRI) announced the establishment of a partnership for the development of hybrid rice varieties capable of withstanding drought more efficiently than the presently available varieties.

In recent years, rice crops in China, India, and other drought-affected countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa seriously suffered from drought stress resulting in reduced rice production. In rain fed areas, rice farmers are highly dependent on rainfall to grow their crops. In the absence of rain, "drought stress" can have a severe impact on yield.

"Lower yields mean farmers have less rice to feed their families and sell to their communities. Subsequently, rice prices may increase, causing devastating consequences for more than 60% of the world's poorest who live in Asia and rely on rice as their staple food," said Dr. Arvind Kumar, who is leading IRRI's drought-tolerant rice research under the new partnership.

IRRI has identified traits that enhance drought resistance in rice. Under the terms of the agreement, IRRI and Devgen will apply Devgen's innovative hybrid rice technology to breed some of these traits into breeding lines through marker-assisted breeding in order to develop drought-resistant rice hybrids. Following appropriate trials, Devgen will start to market its hybrids through its distribution channels, offering farmers in rain fed areas a practical solution to one of their most severe problems. The drought material used in this work, will remain widely available to other IRRI partners for rice improvement work.

The four-year Scientific Know-how Exchange Program (SKEP) also promotes capacity building and scientific interaction between IRRI and Devgen for drought phenotyping, molecular QTL-mapping, and marker-assisted breeding in hybrid rice.

The Devgen/IRRI agreement will also ensure that IRRI, a nonprofit organization, can continue to widely deliver its research, including the seed of new rice varieties, to its partners. This agreement does not provide for exclusive access to IRRI's research or research outcomes, while recognizing the Intellectual Property (IP) of both parties.

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/115740/devgen-and-irri-form-a-partnership-for-the-development-of-drought-tolerant-rice-hybrids-to-the-benefit-of-the-asian-rice-farmers.html