Flood-proof riceNEWSAgene that enables rice to survivecomplete submergence has beenidentified by a team of researchersfrom the International <strong>Rice</strong> ResearchInstitute (IRRI) and the University ofCalifornia’s Davis and Riverside campuses.The discovery allows for thedevelopment of new rice varieties thatcan withstand flooding, and that couldoffer relief to millions of poor ricefarmers around the world. Flooding inSoutheast Asia alone costs farmers anestimated US$1 billion each year.Although rice thrives in standingwater, like all crops it will die if completelysubmerged for more than a fewdays. The development and cultivationof the new varieties are expected toincrease food security for 70 million ofthe world’s poorest people. The studyappeared in the 10 August issue of thejournal Nature.For more information, see Fromgenes to farmers’ fields on pages 28-31.A more powerful and efficient engine for riceAmajor international scientific effort prove that, the whole plant benefits.”was launched in July to develop and To meet this challenge, scientistsuse a radical new approach to boost at the workshop focused on enhancingrice production and avoid potentialthe rice plant’s photosynthetic ef-rice shortages, or even future famine. ficiency, or what’s known scientificallyKnowledge generated by the recent as converting rice from a C 3 plant tosequencing of the rice genome is offeringa C 4 plant, where the “C” refers to thenew insights into the possibility of carbon captured by photosynthesis forcompletely reconfiguring what’s known growth. To do this, C 4 plants—such asas the engine of rice production, the maize—use solar energy more effectivelyplant’s photosynthetic system.for growth.IRRI crop ecologist John Sheehy, The experts at the workshop suggestedconvener of a workshop on C 4 <strong>Rice</strong>that it will probably take another– Supercharging the <strong>Rice</strong> Engine, 3–4 years to achieve the proof-of-conceptheld at IRRI on 17-21 July, said, “Theneeded, and another 10–15 yearsphotosynthetic process is the engine of after that before the first C 4 varietiesgrowth for the rice plant. If we can im-would be available.International rice industry to gather in IndiaThe international rice industry is events—the 26th International <strong>Rice</strong>preparing to meet in India at a time Research Conference, the 2nd International<strong>Rice</strong> Commerce Conference, andof unprecedented change for the foodthat feeds almost half the planet. the 2nd International <strong>Rice</strong> TechnologyHeld every 4 years, the International<strong>Rice</strong> Congress (IRC) will bring According to Mangala Rai, secre-together all aspects of the ricetary of India’s Department and Cultural Exhibition.ofindustry with a special cus on the latest research,foscience,and technology.Hosted by the Indian Ministryof Agriculture and cosponsoredby the IndianCouncil for AgriculturalResearch (ICAR) and IRRI,the IRC will be held in Delhi on9-13 October and include three mainDAVE MACKILLAgricultural Research andEducation and ICAR directorgeneral, “The IRC2006aims to provide a commonplatform for sharingknowledge and expertiseon research, exten-sion, production, processing,trade, consumption, and relatedactivities with stakeholders.”GM rice turmoilSmall amounts of a genetically modifiedrice variety not approved forsale were detected in U.S. commercialsupplies in August. The long-grain“LibertyLink” rice, developed by BayerCropScience and known as LLRICE601, possesses bacterial DNA thatmakes the rice plants resistant to theherbicide glufosinate. Two other strainsof rice that produce the same transgenicprotein as LLRICE 601 have previouslybeen approved for sale. The U.S. Foodand Drug Administration issued astatement declaring that “the presenceof this bioengineered rice variety in thefood and feed supply poses no food orfeed safety concerns.”The discovery has hit the U.S. riceindustry, with Japan banning importsof U.S. long-grain rice and Europe acceptingonly shipments that have beenverified free of LLRICE 601 followinga U.S. Department of Agricultureapprovedtest. Since the 18 Augustannouncement of the contamination,prices for U.S. rice have dropped. Bayeris facing lawsuits from three U.S. ricefarminggroups seeking damages tocompensate farmers for falling prices.KOREAN AGRICULTURE CELEBRATES:Korea’s Rural Development Administration(RDA) celebrates its 100th birthday thisyear. Established in 1906 in Suwon, theagency—then known as the Experiment Stationfor Agricultural Encouragement—has ledKorea’s modern agricultural research as wellas disseminated technology and educatedfarmers. About 1,000 people participatedin a 30 August–3 September celebration,Korean agriculture—100 years and beyond.Korean Minister of Agriculture and ForestryHis Excellency Hong-Soo Park (left) and RDAAdministrator In-Sik Kim (right) are seenhere inspecting high-yielding rice cultivarsdeveloped by the RDA’s National Institute ofCrop Science. For more on the RDA, see Donorscorner on page 47.PARK HYUNG-GEUN, RDA<strong>Rice</strong> Today October-December 20065