IN strengthening the rice supply chain, Director Glenn Gregorio of the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) said the center "embraces sustainability and technology to transform the rice supply chain toward greater resilience and transparency."
Gregorio served as a panel discussant during the "Sustainability and Technology in the Rice Supply Chain" session of the 2024 International World Rice Conference (IWRC) Summit held on Nov. 5 to 7 at the Conrad Hotel Manila in Pasay City.
"By integrating sustainable practices and advanced technology, stakeholders can better navigate climate impacts, secure food supply and support sustainable livelihoods for rice producers worldwide," he said.
Underscoring the role of sustainability, technology in the rice supply chain, Gregorio also emphasized the potential of the Philippines and Southeast Asia to become agribusiness hubs.
He rallied to upgrade traditional agriculture to a more progressive and globally competitive agribusiness industry.
And to support this goal, Gregorio proposed strategies such as "addressing supply chain gaps, supporting smallholder farmers, mainstreaming climate-resilient agriculture, and investing in rural infrastructure and innovation."
He also gave insights into Southeast Asia's market overview post-pandemic, discussing the shift in consumer behavior from a just-in-time to a just-in-case model where people tend to stock food supplies and seek alternative food sources.
Gregorio also explained the inclination toward cooking at home healthier, higher-quality food and growing food for self-sufficiency.
The 16th IWRC was hosted by The Rice Trader with SEARCA as one of its co-organizers. It was attended by over 600 industry leaders, exhibitors and sponsors.
SEARCA said that other key topics discussed were the impact of El Niño and other extreme weather changes in major rice-producing regions, the decline in rice markets and the unusually high global food stocks, particularly in rice, which are nearly at historical highs.