by Ma. Lizbeth Baroña and Reianne Quilloy
Efforts to address pre and postharvest challenges in the
rice supply chain, through a collaboration between the Asian Development Bank
(ADB) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), were showcased
in a side session at the International Food and Policy Research Institute
(IFPRI) Conference, “Leveraging Agriculture for Improving Health and
Nutrition”, being held in the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, India last February 10-12, 2011. The side session, titled “Pre and Postharvest
Technologies: Keeping you healthy and rice bowls full”, featured the latest efforts
and technologies on improving health and nutrition from the ADB-IRRI project
titled, “Addressing the Pre and Postharvest Challenges in the Rice Supply
Chain”. Dr. KL Heong and Engr. Martin Gummert, IRRI scientists and
principal investigators of the project, mainstreamed the importance of
improving rice pre-harvest and postharvest practices and management towards
better nutrition and healthier life. The pre-harvest component of the project, spearheaded by
Dr. KL Heong, promotes good management practices that maximize ecosystem
services to prevent pest incidence growing into epidemic proportions, help
reduce pesticide use and conserve biodiversity. Engr. Martin Gummert, lead investigator of the postharvest
component, talked about good postharvest practices and technologies designed
to minimize crop losses and increase grain quality. The conference was attended by experts from renowned
international organizations and advocates of agriculture, nutrition, and health to forge possible
collaboration and linkages to enhance human well-being.
The article is a reprint from the the draft press release submitted to the ADB Public Relations Department *Public Relations Specialist, IRRI |
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