International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

27 April 2026, Bangladesh: Bangladesh’s newly appointed Agriculture Minister, His Excellency Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, has signaled a strong push toward a more nutritious, climate-resilient rice, as he met with a delegation from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to reinforce and expand a long-standing partnership on rice research and innovation.

The IRRI delegation, led by Dr. Humnath Bhandari, IRRI Country Representative for Bangladesh, met with the Minister to discuss priorities for advancing Bangladesh’s rice-based agri-food systems. The meeting comes at a time when the country is looking to build on its achievement of rice self-sufficiency while addressing emerging challenges linked to climate change, nutrition, and sustainability.

Dr. Bhandari extended IRRI’s well-wishes to the Minister on his recent appointment and expressed the institute’s support for Bangladesh’s strong track record in agricultural development. He also highlighted IRRI’s 2025-2030 Strategy, which focuses on six integrated solutions for transforming rice agrifood systems globally and generating impacts on inclusive livelihoods, improved nutrition, and a sustainable planet. He also pointed to opportunities to further leverage the IRRI South Asia Regional Center (ISARC) to support research and capacity development in Bangladesh.

Discussions also centered on the IRRI-Bangladesh long-standing collaborations in rice research innovations, including the development of high-yielding, nutritious, and climate-resilient rice varieties; climate-smart and low-carbon rice (AWD and DSR) practices; sustainable and efficient management of natural resources (land, soil, water, and chemical); crop diversification; seed systems; mechanization; digital agriculture; rice value chain; public-private partnership in rice breeding; and capacity building of stakeholders. These innovations have significantly fostered productive, healthy, equitable, resilient, and sustainable rice agrifood systems in Bangladesh.

The Minister acknowledged IRRI’s instrumental role in helping Bangladesh increase rice production and achieve rice self-sufficiency, emphasizing its strategic importance and the need for continued collaboration to combat emerging challenges in the rice agrifood systems.

Looking ahead, he emphasized the need to sustain momentum through innovation, especially in the face of evolving environmental and health challenges. He further expressed particular interest in developing rice varieties suited for unfavorable environments and enriched with nutritional benefits, while maintaining yield and grain quality.

“I am more interested in developing rice varieties that contain high micronutrients and are low-GI, while maintaining yield stability and grain quality,” the Minister said.

The discussion also touched on the changing global funding landscape for agricultural research and the importance of strengthening joint project development and resource mobilization. The Minister reaffirmed the Government of Bangladesh’s support for IRRI’s work in the country.

Both parties expressed their commitment to further deepening the partnership, pledging to accelerate research, innovations, and capacity building to transform and future-proof rice agrifood systems in Bangladesh.

Published Date: April 28, 2026