Hybrid Rice Research and Development Consortium

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI; http://www.irri.org ) and its partners in the public and private sectors have led research, development, and use of hybrid rice technology in the tropics for almost 30 years. Hybrid rice technology has the potential to raise the yield of rice and thus overall rice productivity and profitability in Asia. Successful deployment of hybrid rice in Asia, however, requires a more effective cooperation between public research institutions and the private sector in research to overcome current constraints. Therefore, Dr. Achim Dobermann, IRRI's Deputy Director for Research, announces the establishment of an international Hybrid Rice Research and Development Consortium (HRDC; http://hrdc.irri.org ) to strengthen public-private sector partnerships in the hybrid rice sector. For a story on the first meeting of the HRDC held on 3-4 April at IRRI, go to http://www.irri.org/media/press/press.asp?id=171