The project aims to establish a state-of-the-art Agricultural Genomics Research Center (AGRC), a hub for genomics research and collaboration between the University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB), IRRI, and various Korean university hubs. The AGRC will also serve as the regional center for advanced genome-based research.

Through the support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the project will provide capacity-building and scholarship opportunities to selected Filipino and Korean undergraduate and postgraduate students in bioinformatics and genomics to strengthen research and academic partnerships between the countries and institutions. Interns will also be invited to participate in research work on cross-cutting research in bioinformatics and genomics, as well as related areas such as molecular physiology, biotechnology, and marker-assisted breeding, with the help of IRRI’s research units.

As one of the leading universities in the Philippines specializing in agricultural research, particularly in genomics science related to plants, animals, insects, and microorganisms, UPLB proposed the establishment of a genomics center focused on agricultural research in 2019. This details the creation of a genomics center dedicated to sequencing and performing multi-OMIC analyses on nationally important genetic resources.

The project will be implemented by IRRI, a non-profit autonomous international organization that has been recognized for 65 years of achievements in international agricultural research. IRRI is committed to eliminating poverty and hunger among populations that rely on rice-based agri-food systems.