3rd International Conference on Rice for The Future 2024: ICRF 2024

The Hub of Rice, Thailand's hub of rice science and research knowledge, led by the Rice Science Center, Kasetsart University; the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA); and the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), together with Thailand's rice research network partners, organized the 3rd International Conference on Rice for The Future 2024 (ICRF 2024) 

 held on 14–15 November 2024  at the Grand Richmond Stylish Convention Hotel, Nonthaburi, to promote and develop rice research and drive scientific and technological progress that will lead to sustainable agricultural development and food security assurance in the future, and as a forum for building a network of researchers, experts and rice scholars at home and abroad. Emeritus Prof. Dr. Suthiporn Chittmittraphap, Chair of the Advisory Working Group for the Development of the Hub of Talents and the Hub of Knowledge, National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), presided over the opening, together with Prof. Dr. Dokrak Marod, Vice President for Research and Internationalization, Kasetsart University, Dr. Sithichoke Tangphatsornruang, Acting Deputy Director of BIOTEC, NSTDA, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siwarate Arikit, Director of the Rice Science Center, who joined in opening the event. More than 300 participants from 14 countries took part.

Click to download the document Ebook of Abstract ICRF2024

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siwarate Arikit, Director of the Rice Science Center, Kasetsart University, said that ICRF2024 presents rice research in every dimension, with as many as 14 speakers from Thailand and abroad, 45 oral presentations and 84 poster presentations, divided into 7 main topics: climate change; new processing and product development for healthy rice products; health-, medical- and pharmaceutical-related products; biotic stress; environmental stress; rice genomics/omics technologies for rice breeding; and advanced agricultural technology. These will inspire new approaches to meeting challenges and developing the future of the rice industry, and serve as a forum to present work and exchange knowledge on research, development and innovations related to rice at the international level. The event also features exhibitions on rice and rice innovations to help visualize and guide the creation of rice varieties that are more climate-resilient and higher in nutrition.

Prof. Dr. Dokrak Marod, Vice President for Research and Internationalization, Kasetsart University, said that ICRF 2024 brings together important people from around the world to share knowledge and insights about the most important crop, “rice”. Rice research today plays a vital role in meeting the challenges we face, such as climate change, water scarcity, and the need for higher yields with fewer resources. Kasetsart University has continually taken part in rice research and development, in cooperation with partners at home and abroad, pioneering new rice varieties that are more adaptable, nutritious and environmentally sustainable, integrating modern technologies such as genomics, precision agriculture and biotechnology. It also supports the development of rice products to increase farmers' incomes and expand industrial uses, fundamentally to improve farmers' livelihoods and ensure food security for future generations.

Dr. Sithichoke Tangphatsornruang, Acting Deputy Director of BIOTEC for Agricultural Biotechnology Research and Development, NSTDA, said that BIOTEC, NSTDA, is committed to pioneering advances in biological sciences and biotechnology, especially for agriculture and industry. Rice research is a major focus of BIOTEC's agricultural efforts, using genome data to examine important traits in rice and develop rice varieties that tolerate various environments. Through cooperation with the Rice Science Center, Kasetsart University, other universities, research institutes and the Rice Department, rice varieties ready for climate change have been developed, greatly benefiting Thai farmers.

Emeritus Prof. Dr. Suthiporn Chittmittraphap, Chair of the Advisory Working Group for the Development of the Hub of Talents and the Hub of Knowledge, National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), said that this conference is an important initiative underway to establish a network of researchers working in key areas, including improving rice yield, increasing disease resistance and dealing with the effects of climate change. These efforts align with the global goals of sustainable development and food security, which will play an important part in raising the country's competitiveness in the future. The event will benefit rice researchers and use research and innovation to drive the country forward.

Conference topics: 7 Concurrent Sessions, as follows:

1. Climate change
2. Novel Processing and Product Development for Healthy Rice Healthy Rice Products
3. Health, Medical and Pharmaceutical Related Product, or Variety
4. Biotic Stresses
5. Rice genomics /rice-omics
6. Agri-tech
7. Abiotic Stress

Plenary & Invited Speakers 15 speakers

1. Reiner Wassmann, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines Talk: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Rice Production: Significance, mitigation options and the emerging carbon markets
2. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA, Philippines. Salt Solutions: Talk: Designing Rice Resilience for Saline Environments
3. Nese Sreenivasulu, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines Talk: Low Glycemic Index and High Protein Rice to Transform Food and Nutritional Security in Asia
4. Apichart Vanavichit, Kasetsart University, Thailand Talk: Leaf-for-Life: From the Wonder of Rainbow Rice to a Game-Changer in Nutrition Security
5. Hajime Takahashi, Kameda Seika Co., Ltd., Japan Talk: Creating New Value of Rice Aim for the Realization of Rice Innovation Company
6. Bin Zhang, South China University of Technology Talk: Slowly Fermentable Carbohydrates and Gut Health
7. Poonpipope Kasemsap, Kasetsart University, Thailand Talk: Rice Farming for Carbon Removal: A Grain of Truth or An Elephant in Our Paddy Field ?
8. Julie E. Gray, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom Talk: Water-Saving Rice
9. Kejian Wang, State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI), China Talk: Synthetic Apomixis in Hybrid Rice
10. Jianxin Shi, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China Talk: Genetic Architecture of Plant Height in Rice
11. Pao-Yang Chen, Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan Talk: Epigenome Adaptation in Rice
12. Stephen P. Klassen, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines. Drones: Talk: Empowering Smallholder Farmers with Climate Smart Agriculture
13. Martin Trtílek, PSI (Photon Systems Instruments) Talk: AI-Driven Stress Detection in High Throughput Phenotyping Using Hyperspectral and Multispectral Data
14. Theerayut Toojinda, Kasetsart University Talk: Thailand 25 years of Rice Molecular Breeding in Thailand
15. Jixian Zhai, Southern University of Science and Technology, China Talk: Natural Variation in mRNA Polyadenylation Expands the Molecular Basis for Heterosis in Elite Hybrid Rice

This conference resulted from collaboration between the Rice Science Center, Kasetsart University; the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA); and members of Thailand's rice science hub, the Hub of Rice, with support from public and private organizations. It aims to promote rice research and advance science and technology to build sustainable agriculture and food security, covering key issues such as genomics and rice breeding, resistance to disease and environmental stress, adaptation to climate change, and health product development. A total of 347 participants from 14 countries took part, with a wide range of presentations, both talks and poster displays. The event was an important forum for building collaboration networks between Thai and international researchers, and gave school pupils, university students and researchers working on rice in every dimension an opportunity to present their work internationally, reflecting the importance of international collaboration, meeting consumer needs, and developing innovations for the sustainable security of the rice industry in the future. The event also promotes research on breeding and technology development to increase rice yield and quality, supports international cooperation by bringing together experts and researchers from many countries, advances sustainable agriculture through the exchange of new knowledge and technology, meets consumer needs with healthy rice products and related innovations, and helps plan for and cope with climate change affecting rice production, all of which drives the Thai and world rice industry to grow steadily and sustainably. The conference also led to building a network for integrated joint policy work, which will lead to a project to prepare Thailand's rice research strategic plan and several other joint research projects.

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