CGIAR Executive Managing Director visits IRRI Headquarters in the Philippines

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna (23 February 2024) – Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, the newly appointed Executive Managing Director of CGIAR, visited the headquarters of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Laguna in the Philippines from 21-23 February 2024.

The three-day visit was part of a series of trips to CGIAR Research Centers’ headquarters that started at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Cairo, Egypt in December.

“It was wonderful to spend the day at IRRI and see the science in the field, see the science in the lab… Hence, as I’m going to the centers, I’m really impressed on how much work is being done for climate adaptation with the co-benefits of mitigation,” said Dr. Elouafi.

Throughout her stay, Dr Elouafi dedicated time to acquainting herself with the latest innovations and technologies in rice research. She engaged with researchers and key institutional partners, fostering discussions on research opportunities and potential collaborations for the future.

Dr Elouafi kicked off her visit by delving into the latest research in nutrition and rice value addition at the IRRI Grain Quality and Nutrition Center (GQNC), where Dr. Nese Sreenivasulu, Principal Scientist at GQNC, shared the Center’s developments in low glycemic index rice and ultra-low glycemic index rice. Dr. Elouafi also participated in the rice tasting activity where she was able to compare the texture and taste of low GI rice with other varieties.

Dr. Elouafi met with IRRI’s research leadership to talk about IRRI’s priority research areas, including climate change and sustainability – particularly REMET-Rice (REducing METhane emissions from RICE) – breeding innovations, and nutrition discovery.

She toured the campus visiting facilities, laboratories, and…