IRRI Education concluded the 15th offering of its flagship course, Rice: Research to Production (RR2P) with 20 successful participants from different parts of the world last June 16, 2023.
The RR2P is an intensive and immersive training program, typically spanning three weeks, designed to provide participants with comprehensive knowledge about the rice industry. It covers various aspects ranging from production to market, research topics related to IRRI and its partners, advancements in rice breeding, and effective collaboration within the international research community.
Throughout the course of the program, participants engaged in lectures and discussions with IRRI’s world-class scientists who are experts in their respective fields. Aside from lectures and classroom discussions, participants also conducted practical and hands-on field activities.
Integrated into the program are visits to various agricultural institutions in the Philippines, such as Corteva, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMec). These visits exposed the participants to some challenges to global food resources and how different agricultural companies and institutions based in the Philippines address these challenges. Additionally, they had the opportunity to visit the Ifugao Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where they had the opportunity to learn about the rice culture in Ifugao and met with the local farmers.
At the end of the training, participants were tasked to develop a video pitch on their chosen topic centered around what they have learned in the past three weeks.
IRRI Education has been organizing RR2P training annually with the overall aim of creating a new generation of plant scientists well-versed with the knowledge and skills to tackle the most pressing challenges of our time.
For inquiries, you may email education@irri.org.