ADB, IRRI Sign Knowledge Partnership Agreement

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Director General Matthew Morell signed an agreement to promote food security in Asia and the Pacific by scaling up collaboration on disseminating research and other knowledge on the role of advanced agricultural technologies in providing affordable food for all.

Under the partnership agreement signed today during ADB's Food Security Forum 2016, the two institutions will undertake annual consultations to review and ensure alignment of ongoing collaborative activities, and to develop a joint work program. The 2016 program will focus on expanding the use of climate-smart agriculture and water-saving technologies to increase productivity and boost the resilience of rice cultivation systems, and to minimize the carbon footprint of rice production.

"This new form of collaboration with IRRI is another step toward our shared goal of ensuring good food and nutrition for all citizens of this region," said Mr. Nakao. "We look forward to further strengthening our cooperation in this area to promote inclusive and sustainable growth, as well as to combat climate change."

"I am delighted to build on our partnership with ADB to add a new dimension to our long-standing collaborative work," Mr. Morell said.

"IRRI looks forward to deepening our already strong partnership as we jointly develop and disseminate useful agricultural technologies throughout Asia."

ADB and IRRI have collaborated since 1975 on agricultural research to provide scientific solutions to a wide array of challenges including low crop yields, vulnerability to extreme weather, pests and disease, postharvest losses, deteriorating land and water resources, and greenhouse gas emissions.

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