DOST Complex, Taguig City - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) inks a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on September 7, 2026 to formalize its shared commitment in advancing agriculture, nutrition, and food security in the Philippines through emerging technologies and innovation.
The long-established partnership looks forward to initiatives in further exploring the areas of rice genomics, bioinformatics web tools for omics research, high-performance computing, science cloud, research infrastructure, grain quality and nutrition for healthy diets, and other rice research domains. Joint research projects, knowledge exchange, sharing of technological resources, capacity building, and development of information and educational materials are expected under the new MOU.
A fruitful collaboration was borne out of the earlier 5-year MOU between DOST and IRRI. One particular initiative is the sequencing of 3,024 rice varieties through the help of the DOST’s Computing and Archiving Research Environment (COARE) and Philippine Research, Education and Government Information Network (PREGINET) and studying the grain quality and drought tolerance to advance rice science and address food security issues. In the current MOU, the DOST and IRRI aim to continuously further study rice varieties, work on climate-smart adaptation planning tools, and develop biotechnology applications for high-yielding, nutritious, and climate resilient rice.
Leading the DOST, Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. emphasized the significance of delivering concrete scientific solutions to the society and said, “Our areas of collaboration are highly technical and expertise-focused. Our greatest mission is not just to arrive at our research results but also to communicate them effectively to our different stakeholders. Staying true to our mantra ‘OneDOST4U: solutions and opportunities for all’, we hope to champion transforming our knowledge and findings into technologies and innovative practical solutions that address real-life challenges. We hope to significantly help in the improvement of Filipino lives by having our innovations reach the grassroots.”
Dr. Yvonne Pinto, the Director General of IRRI, reaffirmed the Institute’s dedication in progressing agricultural research and providing tangible outputs that will benefit the Philippines. “Our renewed partnership with DOST reflects IRRI’s commitment to demand-driven, impact-oriented research. Working hand-in-hand with DOST allows us to combine global cutting-edge science, from genomics to digital tools, with the country's agricultural priorities. As framed in our 2025-2030 Strategy, we are not just driving innovation but ensuring it delivers lasting value to our Philippine partners and the communities that they serve”, Director General Pinto said.
The signing of the MOU would drive the common objective to enhance nutrition and food security, promote sustainable production, and strengthen resilience through research collaborations, development of information and educational materials, sharing of technological resources, and knowledge exchange, among others.
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