Los Baños, Philippines (25 May 2026) — The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Badan Perakitan dan Modernisasi Pertanian (BRMP) of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia have formalized a renewed partnership to advance rice research and development in Indonesia through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. Fadjry Djufry GRCE, BRMP Director General and IRRI Director General Dr. Yvonne Pinto in an event at IRRI Headquarters on 25 May 2026.

Under the MoU, IRRI and BRMP will collaborate anew across a wide range of strategic areas, including the development of policy recommendations for rice development, promotion and scaling of rice technologies, development of modern breeding capacity to advance climate-resilient and healthier rice varieties, and strengthening the adoption of standardized farming systems.

The partnership will also focus on building human resource capacity, fostering innovation, and encouraging the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and germplasm in support of national and global agricultural goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“This renewed partnership reflects a shared recognition that the future of rice systems must be more climate-resilient, science-driven, and responsive to farmers’ needs,” said IRRI Director General Dr. Yvonne Pinto. “We look forward to accelerating efforts toward shared innovations, strengthening national research capacity, and supporting Indonesia’s ambitions for sustainable and resilient rice production.”

The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia has maintained a strong and productive partnership with IRRI for more than six decades in advancing rice innovation and technology development.

Indonesia successfully achieved rice self-sufficiency on two historic occasions, reflecting the shared commitment and contribution of various stakeholders, including the support and scientific collaboration provided by IRRI. Building on this foundation and recent initiatives such as the successful rollout of Rice Crop Manager (RCM), or Layanan Konsultasi Padi (LKP), the renewed partnership aims to advance more productive, profitable, and sustainable rice-based farming systems, aligned with Indonesia’s national priorities.

"This longstanding collaboration has played a significant role in strengthening Indonesia’s national rice sector through the dissemination of improved rice varieties, cultivation technologies, and research-based agricultural innovations. BRMP is fully committed to continuously safeguarding and strengthening this partnership to support future agricultural resilience, food security, and sustainable rice sector development," BRMP Director General Fadjry Djufry said.

Also present during the signing of the MoU are BRMP Executive Secretary Dr. Husnain, Director of BRMP Food Crops Dr. Haris Syahbuddin, Director of BRMP Rice Dr. Amin Nur, and key scientists involved in several collaborations with IRRI, Dr. Nuning Argo Subekti, and Dr. Rina Hapsari Wening.

IRRI and BRMP will convene a series of discussions to further advance and operationalize the implementation of the MoU, ensuring that collaborative activities are effectively translated into impactful outcomes for Indonesia’s rice sector.