Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Director General Matthew Morell signed an agreement to promote food security in Asia and the Pacific by scaling up collaboration on disseminating research and other knowledge on the role of advanced agricultural technologies in providing affordable food for all.
Under the partnership agreement signed today during ADB’s Food Security Forum 2016, the two institutions will undertake annual consultations to review and ensure alignment of ongoing collaborative activities, and to develop a joint work program. The 2016 program will focus on expanding the use of climate-smart agriculture and water-saving technologies to increase productivity and boost the resilience of rice cultivation systems, and to minimize the carbon footprint of rice production.
“This new form of collaboration with IRRI is another step toward our shared goal of ensuring good food and nutrition for all citizens of this region,” said Mr. Nakao. “We look forward to further strengthening our cooperation in this area to promote inclusive and sustainable growth, as well as to combat climate change.”
“I am delighted to build on our partnership with ADB to add a new dimension to our long-standing collaborative work,” Mr. Morell said. “IRRI looks forward to deepening our already strong partnership as we jointly develop and disseminate useful agricultural technologies throughout Asia.”
ADB and IRRI have collaborated since 1975 on agricultural research to provide scientific solutions to a wide array of challenges including low crop yields, vulnerability to extreme weather, pests and disease, postharvest losses, deteriorating land and water resources, and greenhouse gas emissions.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB in December 2016 will mark 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2015, ADB assistance totaled $27.2 billion, including cofinancing of $10.7 billion.
IRRI has its headquarters in Los Baños, Philippines, and has offices in 15 countries. It is an independent, nonprofit agricultural research and educational organization established in 1960 through funding from the Ford and Rockefeller foundations, with support from the Philippine government. Its mission is to reduce poverty and hunger, improve the health of rice farmers and consumers, and ensure environmental sustainability of rice farming.
