Research themes |  Why rice | Potential impact

The Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP), the CGIAR Research Program on Rice, provides a single strategic plan and unique new partnership platform for impact-oriented rice research for development – it is designed to more effectively solve development challenges.

It streamlines current rice research for development activities of the CGIAR and aligns it with more than 900 rice research and development partners worldwide to:

• increase rice productivity and value for the poor
• foster more sustainable rice-based production
• help rice farmers adapt to climate change
• improve the efficiency and equity of the rice sector

Mission

GRiSP’s mission is to reduce poverty and hunger, improve human health and nutrition, reduce the environmental footprint, and enhance the ecosystem resilience of rice production systems through high-quality international rice research, partnership, and leadership.

Research themes

Theme 1:   Harnessing genetic diversity to chart new productivity, quality, and health horizons
For a summary about IRRI's related research see Our science - Genetic diversity.
Theme leader: Dr. Hei Leung

Theme 2: Accelerating the development, delivery, and adoption of improved rice varieties
For a summary about IRRI's related research see Our science - Better varieties.
Theme leader: Dr. Eero Nissila

Theme 3: Ecological and sustainable management of rice-based production systems
For a summary about IRRI's related research see Our science - Crop and environment.
Theme leader: Dr. David Johnson

Theme 4: Extracting more value from rice harvests through improved quality, processing, market systems, and new products
For a summary about IRRI's related research see Our science - Adding value.
Theme leader: Mr. Martin Gummert 

Theme 5: Technology evaluations, targeting, and policy options for enhanced impact
For a summary about IRRI's related research see Our science - Broader impact.
Theme leader: Dr. Samarendu Mohanty

Theme 6: Supporting the growth of the global rice sector
For a summary about IRRI's related research see Our science - Last mile delivery.
Theme leader: Dr. Noel Magor

Why rice

• Rice is the staple food for more than 3 billion people worldwide, including around 600 million living in extreme poverty.
• Rice will remain the most important crop in Asia and is increasingly important in Latin America and Africa.
• Demand for rice will outstrip supply.
• Rice price increases wreak havoc on the poor.

Potential impact

By 2020

• Expenditures on rice by those under the US$1.25 (PPP) poverty line will decline by nearly PPP $5 billion annually (holding consumption constant).
• Counting those reductions as income gains means that 72 million people would be lifted above the $1.25 poverty line, reducing the global number of poor by 5%.
• As a result of increased availability and reduced prices, 40 million undernourished people would reach caloric sufficiency in Asia, reducing hunger in the region by 7%.
• Approximately 275 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions will be averted.

By 2035

• Expenditures on rice by those under the $1.25 (PPP) poverty line would decline by PPP $11 billion annually (holding consumption constant).
• Counting those reductions as income gains means that 150 million people would be lifted above the $1.25 poverty line, reducing the global number of poor by 11%.
• As a result of increased availability and reduced prices, 62 million undernourished people could reach caloric sufficiency in Asia, reducing hunger in the region by 12%.
• Nearly 1 billion tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions will be averted.