12 December 2024, Thailand: Leaders from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) met with Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat of the Thailand Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) to discuss advancing collaborative efforts in rice research and development. The IRRI delegation, led by Director General Dr. Yvonne Pinto, Asia Director Dr. Jongsoo Shin, and Country Representative Dr. Bjoern Ole Sander, focused on enhancing human resource development and knowledge transfer to farmers, as well as preparing the grounds for a Host Country Agreement between Thailand and IRRI.

The discussions underlined the importance of advancing sustainability and enhancing food security in Thailand and the broader Southeast Asia region. As rice consumption continues to rise, Thailand’s rice production faces growing challenges. To address these, the country aims to strengthen support for rice farmers by improving access to high-quality rice seeds. With a large network of community seed centers already established, efforts are underway to expand the capacity of these centers further. The initiative seeks to provide farmers with reliable seed access, attract a new generation to the agricultural sector, and offer comprehensive training opportunities to ensure sustainable and efficient rice cultivation.

IRRI has been a longstanding partner to Thailand for over 50 years, working on initiatives to assist the country’s rice sector through innovative solutions and capacity-building programs. Thailand’s transformation from food insufficiency to becoming a leading premium rice exporting country, producing approximately 25 million tons of rice by 2022, is a testament to its strong agricultural partnership and development efforts.

“Thailand has participated in planning, policy-making, and knowledge from IRRI and other partners to further develop Thailand’s rice research and development, and can be transferred to farmers, government officials, and the private sector, increasing the competitiveness of Thai rice, creating direct economic value from rice exports, and providing opportunities for Thai academics to disseminate their rice research to be known and recognized internationally,” said Minister Pinyosinwat.

IRRI’s representatives highlighted the institute’s readiness to assist the MOAC in enhancing its technical capabilities and to offer tailored training programs for leadership in sustainable agriculture to national departments in agriculture and rice production.

It was noted by the convening parties that Thailand could serve as a regional training hub for rice research and production by taking advantage of its robust agricultural infrastructure and geographic positioning in Southeast Asia, supported by the expertise and outreach of IRRI’s global network for innovation and knowledge exchange, particularly in neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

The discussion extended into providing support to Thailand on reducing its greenhouse gas emissions as defined in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) by 2030 and achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

To realize a closer collaboration between IRRI and Thailand, it was acknowledged by both parties that establishing a Host Country Agreement will be crucial as a formal operational framework that provides guidance for mutual benefits and direction.

Published Date: December 12, 2024