11th February,2015 Daily Global Rice E_Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

8/9/2019 11th February,2015 Daily Global Rice E_Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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Iran to resume Basmati imports from India soon

AMITI SEN NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 11:

Indian rice exporters may soon be able to resume Basmati exports to Iran. Top officials in the

country have assured India that the temporary ban placed on imports late last year will be liftedshortly and the process of registration of suppliers will begin.A team of officials from theCommerce Ministry recently visited Iran to hold talks with their counterparts on exports of avariety of products including rice.

Low exports likely

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―We were assured that Iran is ready to resume rice imports as the glut in their domestic market

has eased substantially,‖ a Commerce Ministry official told BusinessLine.

Business for rice exporters, however, is notlikely to be as brisk as before, as Iran still has

substantial stocks of rice.―Iranian officialshave indicated that they will resume the process of re-registration of Basmati suppliers.The country is supposed to come up with itsnotification (on lifting curbs) on March 21.Wehave to find out what happens,‖ said RajenSundaresan from the All India Rice ExportersAssociation (AIREA).Sundaresan was part ofthe business delegation that accompanied the

Indian officials.―We expect rice exports to Iran to be 3-5 lakh tonnes (lt), as it will not be possible to touch the earlier highs,‖ the Ministry official said.

Glut in Iran

In 2014-15, exports of rice from India to Iran are likely to be around 8 lt, as opposed toexpectations of 10 lt. In 2013-14, India‘s export of Basmati to Iran was a whopping 1.4 milliontonne.Sundaresan said that while Iran had not indicated how much they want to buy, the generalexpectation was that it would be lower this year as there was still a lot of existing stock in themarket.Iran stopped importing rice late last year (August-September) as there was a glut in thecountry because of a robust local production and a spill-over in stocks from the previous year.

Payment mechanism

Iran had stepped up its purchase of all items including rice from India over the last couple ofyears to get around economic sanctions imposed by Western countries over its alleged nuclearactivities.India and Iran have put in place a Rupee payment mechanism wherein part payment forthe oil purchased from Iran by India is deposited in a Rupee acco unt in India‘s UCO Bank.Themoney is then used to make payments to Indian exporters to Iran thereby avoiding payments inDollars and through foreign banks.

(This article was published on February 11, 2015)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/iran-to-resume-basmati-imports-from-india-soon/article6883163.ece

Bill Gates gives Ghana, others $3.3m for rice production

Feb 11, 2015 at 3:55pm

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Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) andthe German Development Cooperation (BMZ),under their Competitive African Rice Initiative(CARI) project have given Ghana, Nigeria,Burkina Faso, and Tanzania a $3.3 million grant to

boost rice production.About 120,000 small scalerice producers will benefit from the project whichis expected to end 2017. Secondary beneficiariesare the rural service providers and rice millers.

The implementing institutions of the grant are led by GIZ, Technoserve, the John A. Kufuor(JAK) Foundation and Kili Trust (KT). The initiative is geared towards improving their sourcingcapacity of quality supply.Speaking on the establishment of the Nigeria/ECOWAS Rice SectorPolicy and Regulation Advocacy Platform in Abuja, CARI‘s project coordinator, Mr. Stefan

Kachelriess-Matthess, stated that the main instrument for the implementation of CARI across thefour countries on the matching grant will be on the basis of Public Private Partnership(PPP).―The projects are implemented at two levels of support, we support up to 40 percent ofimplementation cost and our Nigerian partners in the private sector have to provide 60 per centof the implementation cost,‖ Kachelriess-Matthess said.

The ECOWAS Commissioner of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, Dr. LapodiniMarc Atouga, represented by a Director at the Commission, said rice consumption in the last twoyears in the sub-region had increased from 7 to 7.7 million tons, pointing out this clearly showsthat production is not matching up with the consumption as it has to depend on internationalimports for 40 per cent of its rice supply with Thailand and Vietnam as the leading suppliers of

the commodity to the region.As a way of achieving its regional Agriculture InvestmentProgramme (RAIP), he said the Commission went a step further to develop projects and programmes that will increase rice production and productivity in the region.

Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM

http://www.starrfmonline.com/1.1992346

BATAN to produce prime crop seedlings

Bambang Muryanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta | Archipelago | Wed, February 11 2015, 9:16 AM

The National Atomic Energy Agency (BATAN) will this year release five prime crop seedlings,consisting of two types of rice seedlings, two sorghum seedlings and a peanut seedling, as theresult of the application of nuclear technology.―We will immediately announce a supe rior riceseedling called Tropiko,‖ BATAN Radiation and Isotopic Application Center head Hendig

Winarno told The Jakarta Post at the Application of Radiation Processing for Sustainable

http://www.starrfmonline.com/1.1992346http://www.starrfmonline.com/1.1992346http://www.starrfmonline.com/1.1992346


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Development of Agriculture Seminar in Yogyakarta on Monday.The seminar and workshop,which run until Thursday and were organized by BATAN and the Forum for NuclearCooperation in Asia (FNCA), were attended by representatives from countries such asBangladesh, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Hendig said BATAN was waiting for a decision letter from the agriculture minister regardingthe Tropiko superior rice seedling, which can withstand pests and yield 10.5 tons of rice perhectare.―If developed, we can meet up to 10 percent of rice seedling demand nationally,‖ added

Hendig.He said the application of nuclear technology, such as gamma rays and electronradiation, was able to produce new superior seedling varieties in bigger volumes compared toconventional methods. Meanwhile, rice farmer Sumana Sri Darwanta, from Musirawas in SouthSumatra, revealed that he had tried growing Tropiko rice seedlings, saying they grew faster thanusual and had strong roots and a survival rate of 95 percent.

BATAN data showed that the prime sorghum seedling called Samurai 1 could produce 1,148liters of ethanol fuel from a 1-hectare field and the Samurai 2 seedling (suitable as food) could

yield 8.5 tons per hectare, while the superior black soybean seedling, named Mutiara 2, could produce 3 tons per hectare and Mutiara 3 could produce 3.2 tons per hectare.BATAN created 17superior rice seedlings from 1982 to 2014 and eight prime black soybean seedlings from 1987 to2014.BATAN, equipped with nuclear technology, is also able to produce oligochitosan from prawn waste, the product of which is called Fitosan, to boost crop growth and prevent plantdiseases originating from fungi, bacteria and viruses.

Another of its products is the super water absorbent hydrogel (SWA), used for agriculture onsandy or dry farms and aimed at efficient water use and maintaining the balance of soilmoisture.―SWA usage for shallot cultivation in sandy soil in Samas Beach, Bantul, could

minimize irrigation from twice daily to once in three days,‖ said Hendig.BATAN NuclearTechnology Development Division deputy head Anhar Riza Antariksawan said agricultural products using nuclear technology were safe to consume.―The method is safe because radiation

immediately disappears,‖ said Anhar.

He added that BATAN‘s innovations in the field of agriculture could boost crop productivity andhelp economic growth. He expressed hope that BATAN‘s findings could be used by farmers inIndonesia.―We hope investors will be willing to produce these innovations en masse. BATAN

will provide technical assistance,‖ said Anhar

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/11/batan-produce-prime-crop-seedlings.html#sthash.eOuWPaqG.dpuf

Malaysia; Where has the S$113.2 rice subsidy gone?Sin Chew Daily/Asia News Network Wednesday, Feb 11, 2015

MALAYSIA - Kedah Regency Council deputy chairman and two rice millers have lodged areport to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob over suspected power abuse in handling

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rice subsidy, exposing drawbacks in the RM500 million subsidy for Super Tempatan ST15 percent broken rice.

Poor people are unable to purchase subsidied rice,due to allegedly pocketing problems involvingsenior officials in the government.However, IsmailSabri, who was severely criticised recently forharming racial harmony due to his boycott call,has distanced himself from the allegation, claimingthat he has no supreme decision-making power inthe government's ST15 per cent national ricesubsidy programme.

He said that the supply of the subsidised rice is handled by the commission led by the Ministry's

Secretary-General. As the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister, how could IsmailSabri pass the buck just like that? The accusation does not seem to be baseless as it was openly pointed out by the Kedah Regency Council deputy chairman, who is a rice miller himself.It wasreported that the Kedah Regency Council deputy chairman has his rice supply quota cut from1,000 tons to 100 tons as he refused bribery while the supply of other rice millers werecompletely cut off. It is believed that many other millers are facing the same problem, showingthat corruption problems in the rice subsidy programme has become increasingly serious.

The government implements the ST15 per cent national rice subsidy programme and subsidies60,000 tons of rice each month, with RM750 subsidy for each ton. However, rice millers receive

only RM450 for each ton while the other RM300 was said to have passed to specific officials inthe Ministry. If such a saying is true, it shows the existence of corruption practices and who arethe so-called specific officials? The MACC must investigate where has the RM300 gone.

The purpose of the government to spend RM500 million for rice subsidy each year is to allowthe poor buy cheap rice, helping them to ease financial burden. The intention is good, but hasunfortunately been abused by corrupt officials and unscrupulous rice millers, who turn ST15 percent broken rice into ST5 per cent rice to gain profits from it, causing ST15 per cent rice can nolonger be seen in the market, and the poor still need to buy expensive rice. The government'ssubsidy has only benefited the senior officials. The Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry

Ministry has failed to properly implement the rice subsidy programme and many problems havederived from it. The Minister's capability should be questioned.

To solve the problem of abusing rice subsidy, the government must make a thorough reform,such as revoking the quota system for Bumiputera rice millers. The Ministry allegedly allowsonly Malay rice millers to enjoy the subsidy while shutting the door to Chinese rice millers,rather allowing Malay millers to store up to 6,000 tons of rice and Chinese rice millers to face


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shortage of supply. Unfair policy is also a factor causing corruption and abuse of power.SinceKedah Regency Council deputy chairman has lodged a report against the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister and officials, we hope that the MACC can launch a thoroughinvestigation on involving wholesalers, millers and officials in the ministry to lift the doubts ofthe people, as well as allow the poor to enjoy the rice subsidy.

http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/malaysia-where-has-s1132-rice-subsidy-gone#sthash.hnscJyQd.dpuf

Small and Medium Enterprises financing can best be achieved

with leasing and hire purchase: Zulfikar Thaver

Web Desk

February 10, 2015

Karachi, February 10, 2015 (PPI-OT)

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the government to promote the micro and small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) through hire purchase, leasingand special schemes designed for the sector and also urged the Bankers Institute of Pakistan toco-ordinate with the government to design products for the sector.President UNISAME ZulfikarThaver said it is very important for the banks and financial institutions to relax theircollateral requirements for financing the SMEs and consider financing against positive cashflows.He appreciated the different schemes of the government including the Prime Minister YouthLoan Scheme (PMYLS) but said that since the risk in financing was of the concerned banks, thedifferent schemes did not succeed.The PMYLS is beneficial to only those who succeed in the ballot despite of having a sound business plan. Unless the SME financing issues are addressedseriously the financing requirements of the sector will remain and the sector deprived of its rightsand level playing field.The reduction in discount rate was also much appreciated but unfortunately the commercial banks have not reduced their lending rates proportionately and their spread is high.He urged thegovernment to provide credit guarantee to commercial banks against default by the SME borrower and said the commercial banks will not be inclined to finance the SMEs unless they are

made comfortable through credit guarantee insurance. The present 40% guarantee cover isinsufficient and needs to be increased substantially.

Thaver said through a survey conducted by UNISAME it was found that some of the SMEs needfinance to acquire assets namely land, machinery, building. Others need working capital orrunning finance to purchase raw material or goods, pay utilities, salaries.Many SMEs need tradefinance for import, exports and domestic trading. All the entrepreneurs complained of lack of

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interest of commercial banks in financing them and pointed out that the banks were demandingimmovable properties in selected areas as collateral.Few even informed UNISAME that the banks were not inclined to discount export bills and refused post shipment finance against billsof third world countries and letter of credits established by buyers having low rating opening banks.

Most of the entrepreneurs were not aware of the SME Bank and those who knew said it is justlike any other commercial bank and not a specific SME bank. The government must restructurethe SME Bank to make it a specific SME Bank.Senior citizens complained that the commercial banks were not financing them as the insurance companies were not prepared to insure them andthe unemployed youth complained that the banks were not financing them because the bankswere financing businesses which were at-least 3 years old.

Incidentally senior citizens also complained that the National Saving Centres were delaying profit payments by cheques as the cheque books were in short supply and cheques were not being issued by the treasury promptly and suggesting the depositors to collect profit of less than

Rs 100,000 by cash.One senior citizen pointed out that he requested for profit cheque 10 daysago but had still not received the profit cheque. Secondly new senior citizen depositors areoffered very low rates and they are unable to survive on such low rates. It is very important thatthe government takes good care of its senior citizens and ensures their comfort as IslamicRepublic of Pakistan is a welfare state.Thaver urged the Bankers Institute to educate the banks inrisk management and also design products for the SMEs. UNISAME suggested the designing ofSME credit cards for all micro and SME units according to their size to enable them to payutilities and purchase bills and facilitate them for short periods till sale and realization of proceeds of their goods or services.

Secondly commercial banks must be directed to finance mandatory percentage of their lending to

SMEs. Most of the banks are engaged in consumer financing and reporting it as SME financing.This needs to be checked. Thirdly there is need to promote hire purchasing and leasing withoutdown payments or equity as this is asset basedfinancing.Fourthly the ministry of finance mustcome up with schemes to finance energy companies and security companiesto promote alternateenergy generation and private guards and detectives services provider companies. Business is notgrowing due to lack of energy and due to poor law and order.

For more information, contact:Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME)75/1 3rd Commercial Street,Phase IV, D.H.A., Karachi, Pakistan

Tel: +92-21-35884225-6Fax: +92-21-35380642Cell: +92-300-8245307, +92-321-8245307Email: [email protected] post Small and Medium Enterprises financing can best be achieved with leasing and hire purchase: Zulfikar Thaver appearedfirst on AsiaNet-Pakistan.

http://pakistanpressreleases.com/misc/small-and-medium-enterprises-financing-can-best-be-achieved-with-leasing-and-hire-purchase-zulfikar-thaver/

http://asianetpakistan.com/official-news/misc/191963/small-and-medium-enterprises-financing-can-best-be-achieved-with-leasing-and-hire-purchase-zulfikar-thaver/http://asianetpakistan.com/official-news/misc/191963/small-and-medium-enterprises-financing-can-best-be-achieved-with-leasing-and-hire-purchase-zulfikar-thaver/http://asianetpakistan.com/official-news/misc/191963/small-and-medium-enterprises-financing-can-best-be-achieved-with-leasing-and-hire-purchase-zulfikar-thaver/http://asianetpakistan.com/http://asianetpakistan.com/http://asianetpakistan.com/http://pakistanpressreleases.com/misc/small-and-medium-enterprises-financing-can-best-be-achieved-with-leasing-and-hire-purchase-zulfikar-thaver/http://pakistanpressreleases.com/misc/small-and-medium-enterprises-financing-can-best-be-achieved-with-leasing-and-hire-purchase-zulfikar-thaver/http://pakistanpressreleases.com/misc/small-and-medium-enterprises-financing-can-best-be-achieved-with-leasing-and-hire-purchase-zulfikar-thaver/http://pakistanpressreleases.com/misc/small-and-medium-enterprises-financing-can-best-be-achieved-with-leasing-and-hire-purchase-zulfikar-thaver/http://pakistanpressreleases.com/misc/small-and-medium-enterprises-financing-can-best-be-achieved-with-leasing-and-hire-purchase-zulfikar-thaver/http://asianetpakistan.com/http://asianetpakistan.com/official-news/misc/191963/small-and-medium-enterprises-financing-can-best-be-achieved-with-leasing-and-hire-purchase-zulfikar-thaver/


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Innovative rice farming in the north

S Dilip Roy, Lalmonirhat

A farmer in one of Lalmonirhat's flood prone areas shows the Binadhan-11 variety he planted,

the flood tolerant variety of Aman plants were submerged for 15 days but still survived. Photo:

Star

Back in 2014, people living in the low-lying districts

of northern Bangladesh suffered from a devastating

flood, submerging traditional Aman rice varieties for

15 days, causing full or partial damage.Most of the

low-lying areas of Lalmonirhat, Kurigram,

Gaibandha, Nilphamari and part of Rangpur district

are affected by these recent flash-floods, causing huge

losses in agriculture in around fifty thousand households while more than fifty thousand hectares

of Aman rice crops are damaged in three districts of Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Gaibandha, said

sources.

According to them, the loss is around 1.5 lakh tons of paddy, which is quite alarming.Some of

the affected farmers who live in Teesta and Dharla, said that this is now a common crisis because

of climate change. Flash flood is becoming a big threat for Aman rice production during

monsoon seasons. Aman rice is one of the most important crops in Bangladesh and connected

with the nation's food security.Due to climate changes, flash-floods occur almost every year

during monsoon and heavy rainfall. These flash floods occur twice or thrice in the same

monsoon, said an affected farmer Azizar Rahman, 65, from the flood affected village of Kalmati

in Lalmonirhat sadar.

He also said, ―On the other hand, due to heavy silt deposition, most of the rivers have lost the

free-flows they once had in the past which causes reduction in the depth and breadth of rivers

year after year.‖―Just after continuous rainfall during monsoon, these rivers overflow their banks

and flow into the adjoining fields. As a result, most of the standing rice fields are affected for

about 1-2 weeks, causing severe damage of Aman rice crops,‖ said another affected farmer, Altaf

Hossain, 58, at Char Kulaghat village in Lalmonirhat sadar.

Agrculture officials from three districts said that due to changes in climate, farmers lose around

one million tons of rice grain almost every monsoon, leading to food shortage in the country


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while more than one million hectares of Aman rice fields are affected partially or fully by flash-

floods throughout the country.Official sources at NGO RDRS Bangladesh said that Bangladesh

Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), under

joint collaboration with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has developed submergence

tolerant rice varieties which can withstand submergence for up to 15 days whereas other existingrice varieties succumb to submergence within 4 to 6 days. The submergence tolerant rice

varieties have the submergence gene (Sub1) that helps crops to renew its growth after the water

recedes.

The Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of NGO RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid

said that considering the geographical vulnerability, the STRASA (Stress Tolerant Rice in Africa

and South-Asia) project, which is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, carried

out a number of demonstration trials of this submergence tolerant rice varieties in a couple of

fields from flash-flood affected areas.

―Immediately after the water receded, these submergence tolerant rice plants started forming new

shoots and thus proving that this new rice variety can survive even if fully submerged for fifteen

days‖, he said. Deputy Director AED Safayet Hossain of Lalmonirhat said, ―After observing the

outstanding performance, farmers of the flood-prone areas are now very much optimistic about

these submergence tolerant rice varieties‖.

Published: 12:00 am Wednesday, February 11, 2015

http://www.thedailystar.net/innovative-rice-farming-in-the-north-64196

Research and Markets: Global Basmati Rice Industry

Report 2015 with Forecasts to 2020 February 10, 2015DUBLIN — Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmati) has announced theaddition of the "Global Basmati Rice Industry Report 2015" report to their offering.The GlobalBasmati Rice Industry Report 2015 is a professional and in-depth study on the current state ofthe basmati rice industry.The report provides a basic overview of the industry including

definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure.

The basmati rice market analysis is provided for the international markets including developmenttrends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.Development policies and plans are also discussed and manufacturing processes and cost structures analyzed.Basmati rice industry import/export consumption, supply and demand figures and cost price and production value gross margins are also provided.

http://www.thedailystar.net/innovative-rice-farming-in-the-north-64196http://www.thedailystar.net/innovative-rice-farming-in-the-north-64196http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.thedailystar.net/innovative-rice-farming-in-the-north-64196


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R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine Page10



The report focuses on fourteen industry players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity production, price, cost, production value and contactinformation. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is alsocarried out. The basmati rice industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.

Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusionsoffered.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Basmati Rice Industry Overview2. Global Basmati Rice Market Status Analysis3. Major Regions Basmati Rice Market Status Analysis4. Major Countries Basmati Rice Market Status and Analysis5. Major Companies Basmati Rice Market Status and Analysis

6.

Basmati Rice Industry Chain and Marketing Channels Analysis7. Basmati Rice Industry Segment Market Analysis8. Basmati Rice Industry Development Trend9. Basmati Rice New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis10. Global Basmati Rice Industry Research Conclusions

Companies Mentioned

Basmati COFCO

Charoen Coocosun Fu Ji Hai Rice Hamsons Ming Da Riviana Tilda Uncle bens Xin Li

Zhao Fa Zhong XingFor more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmati

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2015/02/10/6785641/research-and-markets-global-basmati.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmatihttp://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vts5ks/global_basmati


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http://www.heraldonline.com/2015/02/10/6785641/research-and-markets-global-basmati.html

How You Can Avoid Low-Level Arsenic in Rice and Chicken

Pesticides, fertilizers in soil contain some arsenic

By Laura Jeffers, MEd, RD, LD | 2/10/15 7:00 a.m.

Every year, we hear one or two reports about too-high-to-be-safe levels of something in our foodsupply. In many cases, the danger is limited to a specific geographic region, but sometimes it‘s a

problem that affects the entire nation.The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) reported in 2012that there‘s too much arsenic in two things many of us eat frequently – rice and chicken. Thelevels were too low to be deemed an official threat, but the presence of arsenic in food is alwaysa concern.Arsenic is a metallic mineral from the Earth‘s crust that is released into the soil andwater via fertilizers and pesticides. Organic forms are less toxic than inorganic forms. Regardlessof its form, the question is whether you can feel safe eating foods that have even low arseniclevels.

Arsenic in rice

You might not know it, but you likely eat more than 20 pounds of rice every year. It might besushi, rice pudding, rice milk, or just rice that‘s part of a comfort-food dinner. This white or brown grain holds a traditional place at our dinner table, but it also absorbs inorganic arsenicmore easily than other foods we typically eat.Regular exposure to arsenic, even at low levels, canslightly raise your risk of bladder, lung and skin cancer, as well as heart disease and Type-2diabetes. It can also have a negative impact on a baby‘s growing immunesystem.Recent studies evaluated arsenic in our rice supply and found most of it is, fortunately,organic. Levels have risen in recent years, but they‘re still not high enough for the FDA to beconcerned. That said, there‘s still no federal limit for the levels of arsenic in our rice supply.

How to eat rice more safely

Eat less rice. If you‘re worried, I suggest eating only half of the daily recommended rice intakeand adding more variety to the grains you eat.

Rinse your rice. The U.S. Rice Foundation advises rinsing raw rice before cooking and using a1-to-6 cup rice-to-water ratio, draining the excess water off after cooking.

Know which types of white rice are considered safest. Overall, white basmati rice fromCalifornia, India and Pakistan, as well as U.S. sushi rice, has half the level of inorganic arsenic asother rice types. However, all rice – except sushi and quick-cooking – from Arkansas, Texas,Louisiana and most other U.S. locations had the highest inorganic arsenic levels.

Limit kids’ consumption of drinks with rice. Rice-containing beverages have among thehighest inorganic arsenic levels, so they should be given sparingly to children younger than age5.Choose your brown rice carefully. Although brown rice has more nutrients than white rice,studies found brown rice has roughly 80 percent more inorganic arsenic. Brown basmati from

http://health.clevelandclinic.org/author/laura-jeffers/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/author/laura-jeffers/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/author/laura-jeffers/http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/intheworkplace/arsenichttp://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/intheworkplace/arsenichttp://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/intheworkplace/arsenichttp://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/07/when-going-organic-matters-most-for-you/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/07/when-going-organic-matters-most-for-you/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/07/when-going-organic-matters-most-for-you/http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_Diabetes_Basics/hic_Diabetes_Mellitus_An_Overview/hic_Type_2_Diabeteshttp://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_Diabetes_Basics/hic_Diabetes_Mellitus_An_Overview/hic_Type_2_Diabeteshttp://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_Diabetes_Basics/hic_Diabetes_Mellitus_An_Overview/hic_Type_2_Diabeteshttp://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_Diabetes_Basics/hic_Diabetes_Mellitus_An_Overview/hic_Type_2_Diabeteshttp://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/01/how-much-arsenic-is-in-your-rice/index.htmhttp://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/01/how-much-arsenic-is-in-your-rice/index.htmhttp://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/01/how-much-arsenic-is-in-your-rice/index.htmhttp://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/01/6-popular-milks-a-comparison-infographic/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/01/6-popular-milks-a-comparison-infographic/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/01/6-popular-milks-a-comparison-infographic/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/09/day-care-diseases-how-to-keep-your-kids-healthy/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/09/day-care-diseases-how-to-keep-your-kids-healthy/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/09/day-care-diseases-how-to-keep-your-kids-healthy/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/09/day-care-diseases-how-to-keep-your-kids-healthy/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/01/6-popular-milks-a-comparison-infographic/http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/01/how-much-arsenic-is-in-your-rice/index.htmhttp://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_Diabetes_Basics/hic_Diabetes_Mellitus_An_Overview/hic_Type_2_Diabeteshttp://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_Diabetes_Basics/hic_Diabetes_Mellitus_An_Overview/hic_Type_2_Diabeteshttp://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/07/when-going-organic-matters-most-for-you/http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/intheworkplace/arsenichttp://health.clevelandclinic.org/author/laura-jeffers/


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California, India and Pakistan are the best options, having one-third less arsenic than other kindsof brown rice.

Try other grains. There are gluten-free and gluten-containing grains that have almost noinorganic arsenic, according to the U.S. Rice Foundation. For example, you could add amaranth,

buckwheat, millet and polenta (or grits) to your diet, as well as bulgur, barley and farro.

The problem with chicken

But, arsenic in rice doesn‘t just affect the grain. It makes its way to your dinner pla te in anotherway – through the chicken that eats the rice as feed.Arsenic was introduced to chicken feed in the1940s as a way to improve muscle growth, fight disease and make the meat pinker. Most of thearsenic is excreted, but some ends up in the chicken meat.In 2014, the FDA called for theremoval of the animal drug Roxarsone from chicken feed, saying it can transform into inorganicarsenic. But, removing it from the market is an ongoing process.

Eliminating Roxarsone from chicken feed could have a significant impact on our health in theUnited States. According to a 2006 Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy report, annualchicken consumption per American sky-rocketed 250 percent between 1965 and 2013, jumpingfrom 33.7 pounds to 83.1 pounds. The same report also revealed that 70 percent of the 8.7million chickens bred for the food supply ate feed containing Roxarsone.In the meantime, if thelow levels of arsenic in chicken still make you nervous, you can choose other sources of protein,including fish, beans and tofu.However, I don‘t recommend removing chicken from your diet. Ieat it regularly and will continue to do so as a part of a balanced and varied diet.

http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/02/how-you-can-avoid-low-level-arsenic-in-rice-and-chicken/

WASDE: All-Rice Imports Raised to 23.0 Million Cwt. FEBRUARY 10, 2015 11:07 AM

RICE: Slight revisions are made to the U.S. allrice and rice-by-class 2014/15 supply and use balance sheets. All rice imports are increased1.0 million cwt to 23.0 million, all in combinedmedium- and short-grain rice. Imports of broken rice from Australia of about 21,000

tons (milled basis) were reported in the U.S.Census Bureau‘s December trade data. The allrice export forecast is unchanged at 103.0million cwt, but the by-class projections areshifted by increasing long-grain 1.0 million to71.0 million and lowering combined medium-and short-grain 1.0 million to 32.0 million.

http://www.iatp.org/files/421_2_80529.pdfhttp://www.iatp.org/files/421_2_80529.pdfhttp://www.iatp.org/files/421_2_80529.pdfhttp://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/02/the-power-of-fish-in-your-diet-infographic/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/02/the-power-of-fish-in-your-diet-infographic/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/02/the-power-of-fish-in-your-diet-infographic/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/01/5-healthy-foods-you-think-are-unhealthy/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/01/5-healthy-foods-you-think-are-unhealthy/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/01/5-healthy-foods-you-think-are-unhealthy/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/02/how-you-can-avoid-low-level-arsenic-in-rice-and-chicken/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/02/how-you-can-avoid-low-level-arsenic-in-rice-and-chicken/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/02/how-you-can-avoid-low-level-arsenic-in-rice-and-chicken/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/02/how-you-can-avoid-low-level-arsenic-in-rice-and-chicken/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/02/how-you-can-avoid-low-level-arsenic-in-rice-and-chicken/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/01/5-healthy-foods-you-think-are-unhealthy/http://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/02/the-power-of-fish-in-your-diet-infographic/http://www.iatp.org/files/421_2_80529.pdf


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All rice ending stocks are raised 1.0 million cwt to nearly 42.0 million with long-grain stockslowered 1.0 million to 28.1 million, and combined medium- and short-grain stocks raised 2.0million to 11.5 million. Stocks of broken rice, not reported by class, are projected at a little over2.0 million cwt. The 2014/15 long-grain season-average price range is narrowed to $11.90 to$12.50 per cwt, up 20 cents on the low end of the range and down 20 cents on the upper end —

the midpoint is unchanged from a month ago at $12.20 per cwt.The all combined medium- and short-grain season-average price range is narrowed to $17.90 to$18.70 per cwt, down 10 cents on the low end of the range and a decrease of 30 cents on the highend — the midpoint is lowered 20 cents from last month to $18.30 per cwt. Two additionalcombined medium- and short-grain farm prices are introduced this month: a California price (onan October-September basis) and a price for Other States (on an August-July basis). TheCalifornia combined medium- and short-grain price is forecast with a midpoint of $20.00 percwt, and the midpoint for the Other States is $15.10.Global 2014/15 rice supply and use projections are lowered from last month. Global 2013/14 rice production is forecast at 474.6million tons, down 0.9 million from last month.

The largest declines for Thailand and Cambodia are partially offset by increases for Sri Lankaand Iraq. Thailand‘s 2014/15 rice crop is lowered 1.0 million tons to 19.5 million due to areduction in dry-season plantings resulting from an on-going drought and a reduction inirrigation water availability concentrated in the Central Region. Thailand‘s 2014/15 crop would be the smallest since 2006/07. Cambodia‘s crop is lowered 200,000 tons to 4.7 million duemostly to flooding of the main-season crop. Global consumption is down slightly from a monthago. World trade in 2014/15 is lowered 400,000 tons due mostly to reductions for Thailand andCambodia. Imports are lowered for Iraq.

World ending stocks are lowered 0.8 million tons to 98.2 million due mostly to a reduction forThailand, which is partially offset by increases for Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Thailand‘s 2014/15

ending stocks are lowered 1.4 million tons to 9.6 million, the lowest since 2011/12. Pakistan‘s2014/15 ending stocks are raised 0.5 million tons owing to a reduction in the 2013/14 export projection.

http://www.agweb.com/article/wasde-all-rice-imports-raised-to-230-million-cwt-NAA-agwebcom-editors

Trends in global rice trade Written by Samarendu Mohanty.

Historically, a small amount of rice is traded

globally compared with other crops such as wheat,corn (maize), and soybeans. However, afterremaining stagnant for almost two and a halfdecades, rice trade expanded in the late 1980s in thewake of trade liberalization in many countries andthe General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in1994.Global rice trade now stands at around 42million tons compared with 10 – 12 million tons in

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the late ‗80s. The current trade accounts for nearly 9% of global production compared with 4%in the late ‗80s (Fig. 1)..

Structure of global rice trade

Rice is a political commodity in the majority of Asiancountries and its price is an important barometer ofgovernment performance. Thus, it becomes imperativefor policymakers to control rice trade flow fordomestic rice market to be stable. State agencies areinvolved in controlling the flow of rice in and out ofcountries and, in many cases, they also take part inimporting/exporting rice through government-to-

government (G-G) contracts.

State agencies in many rice consuming countries such as the National Food Authority of thePhilippines, the Bureau of Logistics of Indonesia, and BERNAS of Malaysia are solely in chargeof importing rice into their respective countries. Similarly, state agencies in many exportingcountries are also involved in rice exports through G-G contracts. For example, Vietnamexported in excess of 400,000 tons of rice monthly in 2013 and 2014 through G-G sales toIndonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and other Asian and African countries (2014 World RiceConference, Cambodia). The extent of the hold of the governments in rice trade was evidentduring the 2007-08 rice crisis when exporting countries such as India and Vietnam enforced anexport ban, and importing countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, and Nigeria scrambled tostockpile rice for domestic food security.The rice export market is highly concentrated with the

top five rice exporters accounting for 80% of global rice trade. Of the five top exporters, four(Thailand, India, Vietnam, and Pakistan) are from Asia.

Thailand has occupied the top spot for the most part of the past four decades. For these Asianrice-exporting countries, rice is still the most important staple, and domestic food security andstrategic reserve is extremely important. Unlike the high concentration in export market, theimport side is quite fragmented. The top five rice importers account for around 30% of the totaltrade and the top ten account for less than 50% of total imports. Many of the major importers,including the current top importer, China, are from Asia and account for a quarter of the totaltrade. The other major importing regions are the Middle East and Africa, with nearly half of thetotal global trade. These two are the fastest growing rice markets, with the trade volume doublingfrom 10 to 20 million tons in the past decade.

Types of rice traded

Global rice trade can be broadly divided into fragrant and nonfragrant rice. The fragrant ricemarket includes basmati and jasmine rice while the nonfragrant rice market includes white, parboiled, and glutinous rice. In the case of basmati trade, India and Pakistan export 100% of this

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rice to all parts of the world, with Middle Eastern countries as the major destinations, followed by the European Union. In the past 15 years, the global trade of basmati rice has grown from 1 tomore than 4 million tons, with India capturing almost all the market expansion while Pakistan‘s

market share declined from 50% to less than 20% during the same period.

For the jasmine rice market, Thailand used to dominate with an almost 100% market share adecade ago. But, Vietnam and Cambodia have made significant inroads into the market in recentyears, with Thailand‘s share dropping below 50%. Vietnam has evolved to become the biggest

competitor for Thai Hommali jasmine rice, with nearly 40% of the market share. But, despite itsrising market share, Vietnamese jasmine still sells for a hefty discount in the market. Theaverage spread between Thai Hommali and Vietnamese jasmine has been around US$400 perton ($1,000 per ton for Thai Hommali vs. $600 per ton for Vietnamese jasmine) in recentyears.In the past decade, the volume of jasmine trade was growing at a snail‘s pace from 1.7million tons in 2005 to 2.5 million tons in 2013 (Source: The Rice Trader ).

The major markets for jasmine rice are the United States, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ghana,Côte d‘Ivoire, and Malaysia. In addition, 600– 700 thousand tons of 100% broken jasmine rice, primarily Thai Hommali, are mostly exported to three West African countries, namely, Senegal,Côte d‘Ivoire, and Ghana.In the case of white and parboiled rice, the market is segregated basedon the percentage of broken rice (major types are 5%, 15%, 25%, and 100%). All majorexporters are involved in white rice trading to all parts of the world. On the contrary, themajority of parboiled rice originates from India and Thailand, with African and Middle Easterncountries as its main destinations.

Future trends

Since the 2007-08 rice crisis, many rice-consuming countries have been reluctant to depend onimported rice and have rolled out measures to improve self-sufficiency. Many rice-importingcountries have initiated programs to expand their rice production and reduce their dependence onforeign rice.Both India and China have also emerged as major players in the global rice marketin the past few years with India‘s unprecedented rise to the top of the export chart and China‘s

unexpected rise to the top of the import chart (Fig. 2). In 2012, India displaced Thailand from thetop spot by exporting 10.4 million tons of rice vis-à-vis 6.9 million tons for Thailand. Like India,nobody expected China to become the largest importer of rice in the world, displacing Nigeria,with 3.5 million tons of imports in 2013.

India‘s lifting of its export ban on the nonbasmati market in late 2011 after a 4-year gap, burgeoning domestic stocks, and a weak rupee supported India‘s exports in the past two years.

But, earlier in 2014, Thailand stopped the rice pledging scheme and has regained the majority ofmarkets lost to India in 2012. Thailand recaptured the top spot in 2014 and is expected to furtherstrengthen its position in 2015.

http://irri.org/blogs/sam-s-rice-price-and-market-blog/rice-self-sufficiency-the-renewed-mantra-of-domestic-food-securityhttp://irri.org/blogs/sam-s-rice-price-and-market-blog/rice-self-sufficiency-the-renewed-mantra-of-domestic-food-securityhttp://irri.org/rice-today/game-changers-in-the-global-rice-markethttp://irri.org/rice-today/game-changers-in-the-global-rice-markethttp://irri.org/rice-today/game-changers-in-the-global-rice-markethttp://irri.org/blogs/sam-s-rice-price-and-market-blog/rice-self-sufficiency-the-renewed-mantra-of-domestic-food-security


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Despite all these uncertainties, the global rice trade will continue to rise in the future. The rising popularity of rice in many non-Asian countries, including parts of Africa and the Middle East, islikely to greatly contribute to the uptrend in rice trade. A lot depends on Africa, where riceconsumption is expected to grow much faster than in any other regions in the world.

Based on our projections, 112 million tons of additionalrice will be needed globally by 2040 and nearly 40% ofthis additional demand will be coming from Africa. IfAfrican production growth cannot keep pace with itsrising consumption, then the continent will emerge as agrowing importer of rice from Asia. Many Asiancountries are likely to simultaneously export and importdifferent types of rice asconsumers diversify their diet

and create demand for different types of rice. China, however, remains the biggest question markin the rice market.

It appears that the rapidly rising costs of production, pressure on rice area from competing crops,and water shortages are likely to make imported rice an attractive option for Chinese traders. Inaddition, the demand for different types of rice such as sticky rice from Vietnam, jasmine ricefrom Thailand, and long-grain rice from Pakistan is growing as Chinese consumers diversifytheir consumption habit with rising income. As long as the Chinese government is not stronglydetermined on self-sufficiency and allows imported rice to enter the country, it is reasonable toassume that Chinese imports will steadily rise in the near to medium term. On the export side,the current major exporters (India, Thailand, Vietnam, and Pakistan) will continue to remain inthe market, while Myanmar and Cambodia have the potential to upgrade their rice sectors and become bigger exporters in the future.

Dr. Mohanty is the head of the Social Sciences Division and program leader (Targetting and policy) at IRRI.

http://irri.org/rice-today/trends-in-global-rice-trade?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885

A four-decade quest to improve rice in Latin America and

the Caribbean Written by Edgar Torres.

The past 40 years have seen major advances in rice improvement for the unique and diversegrowing conditions of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The Rice Program of CIAT hascontributed greatly, working in collaboration with its many national partners.In search of anideal grain

Each new rice variety is an expression of the ideal plant type that the breeder has in mind. This isone of the insights that guided the work of renowned rice scientist Peter Jennings, who

http://irri.org/rice-today/trends-in-global-rice-consumptionhttp://irri.org/rice-today/trends-in-global-rice-consumptionhttp://irri.org/rice-today/trends-in-global-rice-consumptionhttp://irri.org/rice-today/trends-in-global-rice-consumptionhttp://irri.org/blogs/sam-s-rice-price-and-market-blog/the-china-factor-in-the-global-rice-markethttp://irri.org/blogs/sam-s-rice-price-and-market-blog/the-china-factor-in-the-global-rice-markethttp://irri.org/blogs/sam-s-rice-price-and-market-blog/the-china-factor-in-the-global-rice-markethttp://irri.org/blogs/sam-s-rice-price-and-market-blog/the-china-factor-in-the-global-rice-markethttp://irri.org/rice-today/myanmar-riseshttp://irri.org/rice-today/myanmar-riseshttp://irri.org/about-us/our-people/specialists/samarendu-mohantyhttp://irri.org/about-us/our-people/specialists/samarendu-mohantyhttps://sites.google.com/a/irri.org/social-sciences-division/https://sites.google.com/a/irri.org/social-sciences-division/https://sites.google.com/a/irri.org/social-sciences-division/http://irri.org/rice-today/trends-in-global-rice-trade?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885http://irri.org/rice-today/trends-in-global-rice-trade?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885http://irri.org/rice-today/trends-in-global-rice-trade?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOxdJ_wiimc0&ei=ryPHVKvHF-XXmAWnioCgDg&usg=AFQjCNFxX6TbJ6JV_93Amlqe7b24c9FEFw&bvm=bv.84349003,d.dGYhttps://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOxdJ_wiimc0&ei=ryPHVKvHF-XXmAWnioCgDg&usg=AFQjCNFxX6TbJ6JV_93Amlqe7b24c9FEFw&bvm=bv.84349003,d.dGYhttps://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOxdJ_wiimc0&ei=ryPHVKvHF-XXmAWnioCgDg&usg=AFQjCNFxX6TbJ6JV_93Amlqe7b24c9FEFw&bvm=bv.84349003,d.dGYhttp://irri.org/images/rice_today/RT14_1World_trends_rice_trade_fig2.jpghttps://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOxdJ_wiimc0&ei=ryPHVKvHF-XXmAWnioCgDg&usg=AFQjCNFxX6TbJ6JV_93Amlqe7b24c9FEFw&bvm=bv.84349003,d.dGYhttp://irri.org/rice-today/trends-in-global-rice-trade?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885http://irri.org/rice-today/trends-in-global-rice-trade?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885https://sites.google.com/a/irri.org/social-sciences-division/http://irri.org/about-us/our-people/specialists/samarendu-mohantyhttp://irri.org/rice-today/myanmar-riseshttp://irri.org/blogs/sam-s-rice-price-and-market-blog/the-china-factor-in-the-global-rice-markethttp://irri.org/blogs/sam-s-rice-price-and-market-blog/the-china-factor-in-the-global-rice-markethttp://irri.org/rice-today/trends-in-global-rice-consumptionhttp://irri.org/rice-today/trends-in-global-rice-consumption


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ledCIAT‘s research on the crop in its early years. During a four -decade quest to boost yield potential, CIAT breeders and their partners developed hundreds of rice varieties — some of whichdemonstrate the steady genetic gains in yield amounting to 3.4 tons per hectare — and accruing over 32 years between the release of CICA

8 in 1978 and the development of the elite line CT21375 in 2010.Thisfinding comes from an experiment for measuring the amount of increase in performance that isachieved through artificial genetic improvement (or genetic gain) programs designed by theauthor and Camila Rebolledo, a rice physiologist, at CIAT in Palmira, Colombia. The idea wasto evaluate 17 rice varieties (see Figure) grown under the same conditions and agronomicmanagement for two seasons.

The experiment showed genetic gains in yield (anannual average of 106 kilograms per hectare) aswell as changes in other traits that characterize the

plant types developed over four decades. Theresulting rice plants produced more total biomass,are higher yielding, and are more efficient becausethey waste less energy on unproductive tillers.Instead, these plants produce stems that mostlydevelop large and fertile panicles with moregrains.The plant type that has guided much of thework of CIAT‘s Rice Program since its beginnings

was developed at the International Rice ResearchInstitute (IRRI) in the early 1960s and reachedCIAT through the variety IR8 (see Breedinghistory). The design of this plant type allows moresunlight and less lodging (or falling over), and

responds efficiently to fertilizer.

In 2002, Dr. Jennings and other researchers proposed todevelop another plant type based on results obtained byCIAT‘s Rice Program through selection under direct

seeding. This plant type has an adequate number of

panicles containing more full grains, while stayinggreen longer, thus increasing its productive period, andit has greater height. This experiment showed thatcombining several traits can effectively raise yield potential in rice —a key aim of CGIAR‘s IRRI-

led Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP).

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Outwitting rice diseases

CIAT‘s Rice Program has devoted considerable effort to combating pest and disease threats,

especially rice hoja blanca virus and rice blast (caused by the fungus Pyricularia oryzae).Genesconferring resistance to hoja blanca were found in tropical japonica varieties such as Takao Iku

18 and its offspring, Colombia I, as well as in African lines, such as IRAT 120. Just as criticalwere the methods developed to check rice for resistance to both the virus and its insect vectorunder controlled conditions.Dealing with rice blast required an innovative approach designed byDr. Jennings, which involved combining desirable traits, known as gene pyramiding, throughmultiple crosses between diverse sources of resistance from plants from different locations.Theidea was to combine different genes that had evolved with the pathogen separately, making the pathogen unable to accumulate all of the virulence genes needed to overcome disease resistance.

In addition, rice plants will be selected for resistance under a wide fungus diversity at the SantaRosa experiment station in Villavicencio, Colombia —a ―hotspot‖ site with exceedingly high

levels of rice blast — that has optimal conditions for disease development.Segregated populationswere moved between CIAT headquarters in Palmira — where rice is transplanted, completeirrigation is used, and conditions are very favorable for high yield — and Santa Rosa — wheredirect seeding is used and rice is grown under rainfed conditions with more stresses, in general,to enable the plants to adapt to wider environments. The results were excellent.

Innovators in abundance

Breeding rice for resistance to rice blast under direct seeding in favorable upland environmentsled to many useful innovations. One was a system for detecting rice blast, developed and

improved by Dr. Carlos Bruzzone, Dr. Edward Pulver, Dr. Jennings, and other researchers. Dr.César Martínez and Dr. Surapong Sarkarung devised an approach for selecting rice in uplandswith acid soils. Dr. Martínez also developed superior lines using wild rice relatives, suchasOryza rufipogon. Dr. James Gibbons contributed excellent varieties and crosses, includingCT8008, which gave rise to more than 12 varieties in Latin America.Dr. Elcio Guimarães,CIAT‘s regional research director for LAC, and Dr. Marc Chatel undertook rice improvementthrough recurrent selection, using methods developed by the Brazilian Agricultural ResearchCorporation (Embrapa) and French Center for Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD).

Manuel Rosero, Federico Cuevas, and Luis Eduardo Berrío disseminated thousands of improvedlines through the IRR I International Network for Genetic Evaluation of Rice (INGER), leadingto the development of important commercial varieties; Mr. Cuevas and Mr. Berrío also devised amethod for delayed harvest under controlled conditions to select for high milling yield.Plant pathologist Robert Zeigler , now IRRI director general, improved selection methods for rice blastand rice hoja blanca virus. Several innovative concepts, such as lineage exclusion, wereintroduced by Purdue University Professor Morris Levi and Fernando Correa, currently withRiceTec Solutions, to facilitate the development of blast-resistant varieties. Economist LuisSanint conceived and played a critical role in creating the Latin American Fund for Irrigated

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Rice (FLAR), which works with rice organizations across the region through plant breeding andother activities in an integrated approach designed to make the sector more competitive.

Tangible results of CIAT‘s and FLAR‘s ongoing collaboration with Colombia‘s National RiceGrowers Federation (Fedearroz), which focuses on improving yields, grain quality, and disease

resistance, while stabilizing production, include varieties such as Fedearroz 50, Fedearroz 2000,Fedearroz 60, and Fedearroz 174. Edgar Corredor, Pompilio Gutiérrez, James Gibbons, and LuisBerrío all contributed importantly to this work.Recent years have placed new demands on riceresearch, including greater resilience in the face of the impacts of climate change, higher yield potential, superb grain quality, and more competitive rice sectors overall. A new generation ofrice researchers has arisen to confront these challenges, benefiting from new tools and moreabundant information. Even so, they still look to the past for inspiration in confronting futurechallenges.

_________________________________________

Edgar Torres is leader of the Rice Program at CIAT.

http://irri.org/rice-today/a-four-decade-quest-to-improve-rice-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885

Counterpoint: The science is clear: Protect our wild rice Article by: PAULA MACCABEE

Updated: February 11, 2015 - 7:16 PM

Minnesota‘s limits on sulfate pollution are thoroughly vetted — and necessary.

The Earth is not flat, there is no tooth fairy and sulfate limits arerequired to protect natural stands of wild rice.A recentcommentary on wild rice and pollution from an official ofMinnesota Power (―For sulfate limits, stick to the science,‖ Jan.

29) respected neither sulfate limits nor science. In order todefend a major paying customer for its coal-generated power,Minnesota Power misrepresented the impacts of decades ofsulfate pollution from the U.S. Steel Minntac tailings disposal

facility.

The evidence is clear that sulfate pollution from the Minntac facility has devastated downstream beds of natural wild rice in Minnesota‘s Little Sandy and Sandy lakes. There are decades ofdischarge-monitoring reports that document how sulfate pollution from the Minntac tailingsfacility (there is no other nearby sulfate source) has exceeded Minnesota‘s water quality standard

by more than an order of magnitude.Wild r ice is Minnesota‘s state grain, an important tribalresource, and a vital plant to support aquatic life, ducks and mammals. The state has permanently

http://www.fedearroz.com.co/new/index.phphttp://www.fedearroz.com.co/new/index.phphttp://www.fedearroz.com.co/new/index.phphttp://www.fedearroz.com.co/new/index.phphttp://irri.org/rice-today/a-four-decade-quest-to-improve-rice-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885http://irri.org/rice-today/a-four-decade-quest-to-improve-rice-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885http://irri.org/rice-today/a-four-decade-quest-to-improve-rice-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885http://irri.org/rice-today/a-four-decade-quest-to-improve-rice-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885http://irri.org/rice-today/a-four-decade-quest-to-improve-rice-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885http://irri.org/rice-today/a-four-decade-quest-to-improve-rice-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885http://irri.org/rice-today/a-four-decade-quest-to-improve-rice-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean?utm_source=IRRI+email+subscriptions&utm_campaign=456eae392e-RiceToday_Weekly2_5_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c803adc7cf-456eae392e-40925885http://www.fedearroz.com.co/new/index.phphttp://www.fedearroz.com.co/new/index.php


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lost tens of thousands of acres of this resource. Resource managers believe wild rice is incrisis.Four years ago, with the support of the mining industry, some members of the MinnesotaLegislature tried to eliminate the state‘s water quality standard that protects wild rice fromsulfate pollution.

However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stepped in to safeguard our waterquality. The EPA explained that it is illegal under the federal Clean Water Act to weaken orremove a water quality standard unless there is good science showing the standard is notneeded.Minnesota then spent over $1 million to provide rigorous scientific research on whetherour sulfate limit of 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) is needed to protect natural stands of wild rice.State regulators hired the best scientists from the University of Minnesota and made sure thatthey could do their research objectively.Based on this recent, targeted scientific research, theMinnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) reached the following conclusions in February2014:

• Sulfate is not directly toxic to wild rice. However, sulfate in the surface water can be converted by bacteria to sulfide in the rooting zone of wild rice.

• Sulfide is toxic to wild rice.

• The 10 mg/L sulfate standard is needed and reasonable to protect wild rice production from

sulfate-driven sulfide toxicity.

• The 10 mg/L wild rice sulfate standard should continue to apply to both lakes and streams

To add another layer of scientific protection from special-interest pressure to deregulate pollution, the MPCA had a panel of seven scientists from around the world review the wild ricesulfate research in detail. These scientists issued a final report in September 2014.Although thewild rice peer review panel asked for more statistics to tease out sulfate interactions in theenvironment and told the MPCA that sulfide may be even more toxic than the agency hadthought, the panel found Minnesota‘s research and regulation limiting sulfate to protect wild rice

scientifically valid.

The peer reviewers explained that, just as one must limit mercury to prevent the formation oftoxic methylmercury, ―sulfide is harmful, but sulfate is what has to be regulated.‖Powerfulinterests can claim otherwise, but the scientific evidence shows that sulfate pollution must becontrolled to protect natural wild rice.Thankfully, if one believes in science, control over sulfate pollution is possible. Technology to treat polluted mine discharge has been used extensivelyacross the United States. Wild rice and aquatic habitats can be protected if Minnesota regulatorsrequire water quality treatment at the Minntac tailings facility and other pollution sources.We

have the tools in our hands to prevent environmental degradation; now all we need is the courageto stick with the science.

Paula Maccabee is the advocacy director for WaterLegacy and serves on the MPCA Wild Rice Standards

Study Advisory Committee.

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/291592851.html

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http://www.startribunecompany.com/mediakit/resources.php#interactive-maps

Is rice safe to eat? Likely, yes, but growers and consumers await results of FDA testing for arsenic

By Robert [email protected] This article was published on 02.12.15. What would you do if, after many years of building a company, you learned that, through nofault of your own, your products contained potentially dangerous levels of a notorious poison?

That‘s exactly what happened to American rice growers

beginning in 2012, when reports surfaced in the media that ricecontained worrisome levels of arsenic. The grain, it turns out,is uniquely efficient at pulling naturally occurring arsenic outof the soil and absorbing it — up to 10 times as efficient as, say,

wheat.This raised further questions: How should consumersrespond to this new information? Should they continue eatingrice as usual, stop eating it, or eat less? Are some rice products — baby cereal, for example — more dangerous thanothers?

These are not questions rice farmers can answer. ―We‘re not scientists,‖ Grant

Lundberg, chief executive officer of Richvale-based Lundberg Family Farms, said in a phoneinterview. ―We depend on researchers in universities and the government‖ to understand the

issue and come up with standards and recommendations, he explained.It‘s complicated. Rice is a

staple in the diet of half the world‘s people, and it‘s grown on hundreds of thousands of ricefarms. The amount of arsenic in the soil varies from region to region. Even if consistentregulations were in place, monitoring production and enforcing those regulations would bedifficult, if not impossible. Not only that, so far the experts don‘t agree on how much arsenic people can safely consume.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency holds that any dose of arsenic carries a cancer risk.Consumer Reports, which has studied the issue and done its own testing, recommends no morethan 120 parts per billion in rice and rice products. Codex Alimentarius, a body that developsinternational food standards for the United Nations and the World Health Organization, has proposed a maximum level of 200 ppb specifically in white (or polished) rice.Right now the rice

industry is anticipating a long-awaited risk assessment and set of recommendations from the U.S.Food and Drug Administration that should provide consumers with definitive guidance on howmuch rice can be ingested safely. Nobody seems to know when the FDA‘s report will bereleased, however.In the meantime, industry spokespeople are insisting that rice remains a healthful and nutritiousfood, especially when eaten as part of a balanced diet that includes other grains.

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If you go on the website of the California Rice Commission or the Farmers‘ Rice Cooperative,two of the most important organizations serving the rice industry, you‘ll find no mention of

arsenic in rice. It‘s not something people are interested in, apparently.As Brandon Harder, thedirector of governmental affairs and communication at Farmers‘ Rice, put it during a phone

interview, ―I‘ve been working here a little over a year, and you‘re the first person who has asked

about it.‖Harder told me to call Jim Morris, the communications manager for the California RiceCommission. Morris was eager to help but couldn‘t tell me much. ―We have no scientists onstaff,‖ he said, echoing Lundberg. Like others in the industry, the CRC is waiting for the FDA‘s

risk assessment.―

We want to be able to address customers‘ concerns, and we support the FDA‘s research,‖ Morrissaid. ―We‘re very comfortable that rice is safe.‖Morris referred me to the USA Rice Federation,which operates a website called Arsenic Facts. It notes that, according to a September 2013report, FDA scientists have ―determined that the amount of detectable arsenic is too low in therice and rice product samples to cause any immediate or short-term adverse health effects.‖Alsoweighing in on the website is Dr. Stephen R. Daniels, chairman of the American Academy of

Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Nutrition.―These FDA data are reassuring,‖ he writes. ―While there is inorganic arsenic in rice and rice

products, it is at a level that should be safe for consumption across the population. Diets thatfollow the AAP guidelines include a variety of foods and a variety of grains and remain ahealthful approach to eating for children and adolescents.‖For their part, the folks at Lundberg,the nation‘s largest producer of organic rice and rice products, decided early on that they wantedto get out in front of the arsenic issue.

―Since this bubbled up in 2012,‖ Grant Lundberg said, ―we‘ve been committed to staying on the

issue. … This comes from our principles as a company. We believe consumers have a right toknow what‘s in their food. We take that seriously.‖Wanting to create a three-year baseline formonitoring arsenic levels, Lundberg Family Farms tested its rice and rice products for arsenicin 2011, 2012 and 2013 and posted the results on its website, which also includes succinct butuseful explanations of the issues surrounding arsenic in rice.In its testing, the companydetermined that the average amount of arsenic in its products was 92 parts per billion, below theConsumer Reports threshold and well below the 200 ppb level set by Codex.

This figure is doubly significant because the company tested only brown rice, whose arseniclevels tend to be higher than those of white rice.―We just put the data out there so our consumerscan make more informed choices,‖ Lundberg said. Image: Grant Lundberg, CEO of Lundberg Family Farms, says his company stayed true to its values when confronting the arsenic scare.PHOTO COURTESY OF LUNDBERG FAMILY FARMS

http://www.newsreview.com/chico/is-rice-safe-to-eat/content?oid=16279480

Nigeria in full swing with rice production NigeriaAgriculture Economic News Update

11 Feb 2015Investment in production and the rollout of higher-yield strains are helping put Nigeria on trackfor self-sufficiency in rice, potentially opening the possibility for exports further down the line.

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Oil-rich Nigeria has long been dependent on staple imports to feed its 170m people, with a total bill of $4.3bn at the end of December 2013. Nigeria has typically consumed around 6m tonnes ofrice a year, importing almost half the amount to bridge its supply deficit.However, a tighter fiscalenvironment – a result of declining oil revenues – alongside efforts to strengthen the agricultural

sector, has prompted a state-led push to improve local staple crop production and sustainability.

To that end, the government plans to ban all rice imports by the end of this year, saving some

N360bn ($1.9bn) a year.The target is ambitious, but according to the Minister of Agriculture andRural Development, Akinwumi Adesina, Nigeria has recently reached 80% self-sufficiency in

paddy rice production, speaking in November at the Second Nigeria Rice Investment Forum.

Production increase

According to government officials, the recent increase in production has been achieved through

private sector investments as well as state support schemes for growers.Minister of Agricultureand Rural Development, Akinwumi Adesina, said the introduction of new rice varieties – thatmeet international standards and allow for two plantings a year to generate additional yield – will

boost output and quality as well as open up export opportunities in the future.―We started a rapid process of replacing local varieties with these new varieties,‖ he told OBG.

―Within the last three years, we have reached 6m farmers who have expanded cultivated area by

2m hectares. These new varieties can be produced in both wet season and dry season, so for the

first time in this country, we are doing dry season farming.‖―I expect within three years Nigeria

will be a net exporter of rice just like Thailand and India,‖ he added.The new strains will becrucial but there is a broader package of measures currently being rolled out, including an

upgrade of infrastructure and

11th February,2015 Daily Global Rice E_Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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