Rice is the staple food for most Filipinos, yet the country's rice sector faces growing challenges. In 2023, the Philippines recorded an average rice yield of 4.17 tons per hectare. To meet the goals of the Philippine Rice Industry Roadmap 2040 and targets set by the Department of Agriculture (DA), yields need to increase to as much as 5 to 6 tons per hectare in many provinces, highlighting the need for improved rice varieties and farming technologies.

Achieving these targets is becoming increasingly difficult. Farmers face more frequent typhoons, droughts, and floods that reduce yields and affect rice quality. Climate change also intensifies pest and disease outbreaks. At the same time, agricultural land is shrinking, labor is becoming scarce, and the costs of seeds, fertilizers, and other farm inputs continue to rise. Labor and water shortages have also accelerated the shift toward direct seeding, increasing the demand for rice varieties adapted to these conditions.

The OneRicePH project aims to address these challenges through a unified national rice breeding and dissemination strategy led by the DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). The project will establish a nationwide network of testing sites and use modern breeding methods and digital tools to accelerate the development and delivery of improved rice varieties.

These varieties will combine higher yields, good grain quality, and tolerance to climate stresses, pests, and diseases while meeting consumer and market preferences. Ultimately, OneRicePH will help increase farmer productivity and incomes, strengthen resilience to climate risks, and support long-term food security in the Philippines.