VARANASI, India (03 October 2025) - The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will host the Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR) Conclave 2025 at its South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) in Varanasi, bringing together more than 300 participants from across the globe. The three-day event from October 05-07, will convene policymakers, scientists, private sector leaders, NGOs, and farmer representatives to explore the sustainable pathways for scaling direct-seeded rice as a climate-resilient and resource-efficient alternative to puddled transplanted rice.

The Conclave comes at a pivotal moment. With agriculture at the frontlines of climate change, DSR offers multiple benefits— saving water and labor, lowering production costs, cutting methane emissions, and boosting farm profitability. Building on over seven years of collaborative research and evidence generated through the Direct-Seeded Rice Consortium (DSRC), the conclave aims to develop a roadmap for accelerating large-scale adoption of DSR through science, policy, and partnerships.

A key highlight of the program will be a commemorative session marking 150 years of the Uttar Pradesh Department of Agriculture. This historic session will celebrate the legacy of the state’s leadership in serving farmers while charting bold new pathways to make Uttar Pradesh a global food basket by 2030. Discussions will focus on the vision of bringing 2 million hectares under DSR in the state, achieving 30% productivity enhancement in rice-based systems, and aligning science, innovation, and policy to meet the food security and climate goals of tomorrow.

Dr. Yvonne Pinto, Director General of IRRI, emphasized the significance of the event: 
“Direct-Seeded Rice is established as a proven solution, showing tangible impact on yield, water use and greenhouse gas emission. The challenge ahead is scaling it from pilots to millions of hectares, and that requires science, enabling policy, and strong partnerships. This conclave will be a milestone in charting that path.”

Dr. Sudhanshu Singh, Director of ISARC, underlined the regional importance: 
“Hosting the DSR Conclave at ISARC in Varanasi reflects our commitment to translating global science into regional impact. Uttar Pradesh, one of the largest rice-producing states, with its ambitious targets and strategic role in India’s food security, is the right place to demonstrate how DSR can transform rice-based systems and deliver prosperity to farmers.”

Dr. Virender Kumar, Research Director of Sustainable Impact Department at IRRI and Coordinator of DSRC, who is co-leading the conclave, added: “Our research over the past decade has generated robust evidence on agronomy, mechanization, varietal suitability, and resource use efficiency in DSR. Phase III of the DSR Consortium focuses on scaling this evidence into action. This conclave will provide a platform for public and private sectors, and farmers to align around a shared vision for adoption.”

By convening global and national stakeholders under one platform, the DSR Conclave 2025 aims to generate actionable recommendations, mobilize partnerships, and accelerate a transition toward resilient, low-emission, and farmer-centered rice systems across Asia and beyond.