The MSI Grant is one of the initiatives under the Improving the quality of life of smallholder rice farmers in Asia and Africa through introduction, on-farm testing and scaling of improved germplasm and climate smart agricultural practices. Under this program IRRI through IRRI Education will work closely with selected Minority Serving Institutions in USA, in helping build a new cadre of rice scientists.
Apart from offering PhD Research Scholarships and Fellowship Programs, the Grant also supports MSIs through Participation to the Rice Research to Production (RR2P) Course. The RR2P course is a regular course offered by IRRI Education annually. This course covers the basics of rice production, an overview of the changes and challenges in the rice industry from production to market, an awareness of the research considerations around the rice-based agri-food systems, advancements in rice breeding, new innovations in rice science, and building effective collaborations within the international research community. Additionally, the course also covers topics related to germplasm exchange and property rights.
The MSI grant will support up to four (4) slots for participation of qualified MSI students to this course. This program aims to help develop a new generation of scientists that are well-networked into the international community and inspire them to engage deeper and consider a career in plant science and eventually contribute in addressing global food security challenges.