'Climate change-ready' rice varieties in the works at IRRI

Rice varieties that can adapt to climate changes are being studied and bred at the International Rice Research Institute in Los Banos, Laguna.

IRRI is crossbreeding tolerant varieties such as the Salinas that can grow on saline seawater; the Sahod Ulan, a type suitable for rain-fed farms; and the flood-resistant variety Submarino.

Crossbreeding of Salinas and Submarino is underway, said Dr. Glenn Gregorio, senior scientist and rice breeder at the IRRI, adding that the result of the combination is a variety that is both capable of withstanding saline water and rain water.

A variant that is both drought and flood tolerant has also been recently developed, he added.

“We call it dual tolerance. Pinagko-combine na namin yun kasi yung mga farmer, sinasabi nila, nagkakaroon sila ng drought tapos after that, babahain naman sila,” he said.

Ways to develop rice varieties of triple tolerance – saline, submergence, and drought – are being tested in IRRI’s laboratories.

Another is a variant nicknamed spice rice, for its ability to withstand heat, salty water, and a very dry weather.

The changing weather patterns brought about by climate change cause a variety of unfortunate scenarios that all lead to low yield. Thus, a rice variety that is tolerant to only one kind of scenario is not enough.

Not genetically manipulated

These rice varieties are products of crossbreeding, [not by genetic manipulation], said Gregorio. “Parang pinag-aasawa namin yung [mga magkaibang variety ng] palay.”

There are rice varieties that are naturally flood-resistant, saline water-tolerant, and drought-resistant. But naturally, these varieties produce low yield.

Scientists crossbreed these varieties to high-yielding rice varieties.

Availability

With the new technology being used for crossbreeding, scientists can produce a new varieties in three to four years.

What takes longer is the field testing that takes about four to five years. This is to make sure the new crops are both high yielding and are safe for consumers and farmers, Gregorio said.

Salt-and submergence-tolerant rice is in its second year of field testing in the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Thailand, among other countries.

Submergence-and drought-tolerant rice has only recently been developed and will be field-tested soon. “[Nasa IRRI] pa lang. Ngayon, ilalabas na,” Gregorio said.

“Ang 3-in-1 [tolerant varieties] hinihilot pa,” he said. “Wala pa sa field. Nasa laboratory pa siya. Inaayos pa namin.”

Meanwhile, seeds of Salinas, Sahod Ulan, Submarino and other singly-tolerant varieties are available in PhilRice, IRRI, the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Plant Industry, and several local government units, either for sale or for free distribution.

IRRI gives one to two kilos of hybrid seed varieties to farmers who would like to try planting them.

IRRI's Rice Germplasm Bank that stores more than 100,000 varieties of rice can give around five to 10 grams of traditional varieties such as Milagrosa, and Azucena to farmers as well. — LBG, GMA News