Recap of Global Food Opportunities Seminar Series Lecture with International Rice Research Institute Leader

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Robert Zeigler of the International Rice Research Institute shares the history of how rice came to be so important to cultures around the world and the challenges they are currently facing.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – This semester's first Global Food Opportunities seminar series lecture in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas drew a large crowd to Hembree Auditorium Wednesday, Sept. 3, for plant pathologist Robert Zeigler and U of A student speakers.

Zeigler has more than 30 years of experience conducting agricultural research in developing countries and is the director general of the International Rice Research Institute. He talked in detail about the important role of rice production when battling poverty and hunger around the globe.

“The sustainable management of our rice crop is incredibly important to the future of sustainability,” said Zeigler.

Bumpers College graduate student Harry Wilmoth conducted research on the impact of climate change this past summer in the Philippines. Wilmoth reflected on how diversely important rice is to people in the developing countries.

“Something interesting I found about the Philippines was that rice is not only an important commodity for consumption, but it is a way of bartering as well,” said Wilmoth. “Many people grow rice, and not just for their own consumption or to sell directly to the market.”

However, something so important to the livelihood of people in developing countries does not come without challenges. One of rice's biggest enemies is climate change — especially when considering the threat of rising sea levels and the fact rice is grown in delta areas and low-lying islands, said Zeigler.

“When you consider that 60 percent of the growth in global rice production in the last 50 years is in delta countries and you consider that, by definition, deltas are at sea level and you’re having sea level rises and storm surges – you've got a real challenge on your hands,” said Zeigler.

Good news Zeigler shared is that researchers have succeeded in combining drought tolerance and flood tolerance traits in rice.

A sustainable rice crop is just one topic the Global Food Opportunities seminar series, sponsored by the Bumpers College International Programs Office, will address this semester.