LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — A study by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has found that conflicting priorities among key players in the rice value chain are holding back the full potential of NSIC Rc 160, a well regarded Filipino rice variety noted for its premium grain quality and export potential.
Presented by Dr. Jaime Manalo IV during the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Agriculture and Development Seminar Series (ADSS), the research highlights how divergent goals among government agencies, breeders, seed growers, farmers, millers, traders, consumers, and the food industry have resulted in slow adoption, despite NSIC Rc 160's long standing popularity.
Approved for release in 2006, NSIC Rc 160 has gained "nationwide popularity and blockbuster status" in the local market, according to the study. Several millers also view it as highly competitive against imported rice varieties—if supply volume and grain quality are kept consistent.
However, two decades since its release, the variety's performance remains far below its potential. To understand why, the research team conducted innovations mapping across nine provinces, engaging 167 stakeholders to analyze motivations, roles, and tensions within the rice chain.
Among the key concerns raised were millers' perceived exclusion from government program planning, inconsistent supply levels due to continuous breeding of new varieties, and the limited availability of certified seeds needed to ensure harvest purity. Additional issues include inconsistent marketing efforts and practices that compromise grain quality, such as intentional late harvesting to fetch higher prices.
Manalo reflected that while conflicts are inevitable, notably in a democratic society, and lack a quick fix, he sees the need for a facilitated dialogue to iron out the issues impacting the progress of NSIC Rc 160.
The study calls for stronger policy support to encourage the sustained adoption of proven rice technologies. It also forms part of a broader PhilRice research initiative examining how government developed innovations perform once introduced to the market.
The full study appears in the December 2025 issue of the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD), published by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). The issue is available for free at ajad.searca.org.
The ADSS, SEARCA's flagship seminar series, aims to promote scientific exchange and discussion on agriculture, development, and innovation across Southeast Asia as part of the SUSTAIN Southeast Asia initiative.