RBI Results Dashboard

Source:https://rbi.irri.org/resources-and-tools/onerice-breeding-strategy

The Rice Breeding Innovations (RBI) initiative aims to enhance rice breeding and seed systems in Asia and Africa, with the goal of increasing the adoption rates of improved rice varieties. Its primary focus is on improving the genetic gains of key rice traits to enable the delivery of superior and suitable rice varieties through seed systems that benefit various stakeholders, particularly farmers and consumers. The adoption of these improved varieties by farmers is crucial for achieving developmental objectives such as increasing farm productivity, household income, and local food security.

To ensure the integration of improved and suitable rice varieties into seed systems and their subsequent adoption by farmers, the RBI addresses crucial components along the rice seed value chains. The RBI's work streams are structured around three impact pathways: breeding modernization, product demand alignment, and demand creation.

The Breeding Modernization Pathway concentrates on expedited development of better rice products by employing proven pre-breeding strategies and adopting modern breeding techniques and technologies. It emphasizes a collaborative model that involves NARES partners in advancing elite lines and developing improved rice varieties. The RBI offers comprehensive technical support, including facilitating the establishment of modern breeding facilities, to modernize NARES' breeding programs and enhance their capacities for sustainably delivering improved rice varieties within seed systems, making them more accessible in the markets.

The Product-Demand Alignment Pathway highlights the RBI's commitment to market-driven breeding and product positioning. It gathers insights from rice stakeholders and secondary sources to build a comprehensive "market intelligence" that informs breeding and product advancement decisions. Target Product Profiles (TPPs) capture the desired rice characteristics identified by rice stakeholders, guiding breeders in developing traits for specific market segments. Product Profiles reflect the characteristics of existing rice varieties and assist RBI product managers in determining suitable varieties for different market segments. Facilitating the development of improved varieties and promoting existing rice products that align with market demands can significantly increase adoption rates among seed system actors.

The Demand Creation Pathway aims to raise awareness and generate demand for improved and suitable rice varieties among seed system actors in specific market segments. The RBI intensifies promotional efforts through extensive on-farm trials, head-to-head trials, and varietal cafeterias, which demonstrate the advantages of these varieties over existing ones in the market or those currently cultivated by farmers. The RBI engages seed system actors in promotional and capacity development activities to positively influence their perception of improved varieties or existing varieties that are being positioned, thus stimulating demand.

By implementing these strategies and pathways, the RBI strives to foster innovation in rice breeding, enhance seed systems, and drive the widespread adoption of improved rice varieties, benefiting farmers, consumers, and the overall agricultural sector in Asia and Africa.

To effectively and sustainably attain this, key enabling mechanisms such as increasing private sector participation, making extension systems more active, improving information access, and improving seed system policies may also be influenced by RBI. Lastly, these outcomes will only be realized if the following key assumptions that are beyond program control hold true.