Pioneer Hi-Bred, a subsidiary of one of world’s oldest companies Du Pont, has tried to start a hybrid rice program at the onset of government’s intensive hybrid rice propagation in the early 2000s, although that attempt has been short-lived.

This time, though, its collaboration with IRRI will try to raise the yield of rice through the development of hybrids that are resistant to pests like brown planthopper and other important insect pests.

"This innovative and novel partnership will enable collaboration in advanced plant genetics, breeding and product development to increase global rice productivity," said William S. Niebur, DuPont Crop Genetics Research and Development vice president, in a statement.

The joint research program will look at other ways of boosting vigor in hybrid rice.

But while the company’s normal research works hold proprietary interests for the company, results of this research will become publicly available considering the involvement of IRRI.

IRRI has been concerned that joint researches have to be carried out now with the decline in yield growth rates.

"Yield growth rates have slowed to less than one percent per year since 2000. IF this trend isn’t reversed soon, future rice supplies will tighten and prices will rice. A turnaround can only come through accelerated investment in rice research including new, innovative public-private sector partnerships," said IRRI Deputy Direcdtor General for Research Achim Dobermann.

The two agencies will benefit from the use of common facilities, germplasm, and human resources or scientists that are both working on hybrid rice.

"The research collaboration builds on the strengths of both partners. IRRI has a large and diverse germplasm pool for hybrid development. Pioneer will provide critical capabilities for molecular analysis, expertise in developing commercial-scale breeding strategy, and field locations for wider testing of IRRI and pioneer hybrids."

IRRI will also tap on its 13 resaerch centers all over the world inasmuch as it also has certain collaborations with 15 centers under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and certain financial institutions.

ON the other hand, Pioneer Hi-Bred has access to advanced plant genetics resources in about 70 countries. End