Beijing, China
May 30, 2002

An unprecedented gathering of international leaders in science, business and government will take place in China in September. The meeting will focus on sustainable ways to keep some of the world's most populous countries well fed and stable.

The International Rice Congress will be held in Beijing at the China International Hi-Tech Convention and Exhibition Center on September 16-20. At the top of the agenda for the first-ever meeting of the international rice industry will be the effort to help farmers both improve their incomes and protect the environment through sustainable use of natural resources, while continuing to ensure reliable supplies of the food that feeds almost half the planet every day.

"Equally important as the food security issue at the congress will be renewed efforts to improve the livelihoods of the world's hundreds of millions of poor rice farmers," said Song Jian, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Council (CPPCC) and honorary chairman of the International Rice Congress Organizing Committee. "For too long, many rice farmers have been trapped in poverty and deprived of technologies that most farmers who grow other crops take for granted."

The congress is co-organized by the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the State Development Planning Commission (SDPC) of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). Under the theme "Innovation, Impact and Livelihoods," it aims to bring together for the first time all aspects of rice production - one of the world's oldest and most fundamental economic activities - with a focus on four main areas.

• Research. The congress will feature the 24th International Rice Research Conference (IRRC) on September 16-19. Organized every two years by IRRI, the IRRC is the world's premier rice research event. More information is available at the following website: <http://www.irri.org/>.
  
  Trade and economics. The congress will include the World Rice Commerce Conference, an annual event focusing on authoritative commercial information and analysis regarding the rice trade, on September 17-18. Organized by the Singapore-based company IBC Asia Limited, this conference will bring together most of the world's leading rice traders, as well as government policy makers and economists. More information is available at the following website:
  <http://www.ibc-asia.com/WorldRice/WorldRiceIntro.htm>.
  
  Technology and impact. Another event tied to the congress will be the International Rice Technology and Cultural Exhibition (IRTCE), on September 16-18. The exhibition, organized by the China Agricultural Machinery Distribution Association (CAMDA), will include the latest technologies from the developing world's national agricultural research systems and nongovernmental organizations, as well as from international agricultural research institutes such as IRRI and institutes and companies based in the developed world. More information is available at the following website: <http://www.camtf.com.cn>. 
  
  Culture. Through activities organized by the Philippines-based Asia Rice Foundation (ARF), the congress will focus on rice as the commonality that defines Asia and highlight the central role it plays in many different cultures. A rice culture exhibit organized by the ARF will be held as part of the IRTCE. More information is available at the following website: <http://www.asiarice.org>.

"The congress is being held at an especially important time for the international rice industry," explained Dr. Song, who is also a member of IRRI's Board of Trustees and the president of the CAE. "Not only have we had the recent breakthrough in decoding the rice genome, but we also have other
significant developments in rice research, such as the work on Golden Rice - or rice biofortified with provitamin A - and the increasing role of the private sector."

Other crucial developments that will be discussed at the congress include the impact of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the international rice trade, especially in the context of China's recent admission to the WTO. Today, only six percent of world rice production is traded internationally,
but with continuing trade liberalization this figure is expected to grow and may affect the ability of some countries to achieve or maintain self-sufficiency in rice.

The cultural role of rice is another interesting question to be raised at the congress. As many of the world's oldest rice cultures - such as Japan, China, India, Thailand and Indonesia - continue to develop, what on-going role will rice play in their societies? The question becomes ever more multifaceted when asked in the context of rice as the key element that the nations of Asia share in their cultural and historical legacies.

Fascinating as these questions are, by far the most vital issues confronting the congress focus on food security, poverty and the sustainable use of natural resources. "The world's rice farmers face enormous challenges," said Ronald P. Cantrell, the director general of IRRI. "We must be ready to help them overcome these challenges, or some of the biggest nations on the planet could face instability and upheaval."

Among the many issues facing farmers today are the crucial questions that address how they will grow the additional rice the world will need in the future while using less land, water, labor and chemical support. "Clearly, rice farmers in many countries face a worsening crisis over limited water supplies," Dr. Cantrell said. "They are also losing some of their most productive land to other uses and the farm labor they need to other industries.

"Considering that rice production must be one of the most important economic activities undertaken by any society anywhere, it's extraordinary that so little international attention and resources are dedicated to ensuring that we can maintain the production levels needed to feed the billions of people
who rely on rice each day," Dr. Cantrell said.

What's so special about rice production? Put simply, no other single economic activity feeds as many people, supports as many families, is as crucial to the development of as many nations, or impinges on as much of our environment. Rice production feeds almost half the planet each day (approximately 2.6 billion people) and provides the core income of hundreds of millions of poor rural households. Where farmers receive fair prices and consumers are assured adequate supplies at affordable prices, rice production provides the political stability and economic foundation necessary for development. Globally, rice covers 11 percent of the world's arable area.

For more information on the International Rice Congress and the organizations taking part, visit the following websites:

The International Rice Research Institute: IRRI: <http://www.irri.org>;
IRRI Library: <http://ricelib.irri.cgiar.org> ;
Riceweb: <http://www.riceweb.org>;
Riceworld: <http://www.riceworld.org> 

IRRI is leading international rice research and training center. Based in the Philippines and with offices in 11 other countries, it is an autonomous, nonprofit institution focused on improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers, particularly those with low incomes, while preserving natural resources. IRRI is one of 16 Future Harvest centers funded the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), an association of public and private donor agencies. For more information, visit the websites of CGIAR or Future Harvest. Future Harvest is a nonprofit organization that builds awareness and supports food and environmental research for a world with less poverty, a healthier human family, well-nourished children, and a better environment. Future Harvest supports research, promotes partnerships, and sponsors projects that bring the results of agricultural research to rural communities, farmers, and families in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

The State Development Planning Commission: <http://www.sdpc.gov.cn/>

The Chinese Academy of Engineering: <http://www.cae.ac.cn/>

The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences:
<http://w3.itri.org.tw/k0000/apec/China/CHINA24.htm>; 

IBC Asia Limited: <http://www.ibc-asia.com/WorldRice/WorldRiceIntro.htm>

The China Agricultural Machinery Distribution Association: <http://www.camtf.com.cn>

The Asia Rice Foundation: <http://www.asiarice.org>