LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA (17 August 2024) - His Excellency Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the President of the Republic of Singapore visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Los Baños Philippines headquarters, as part of his state visit to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Singapore-Philippines diplomatic relations. President Shanmugaratnam’s Los Baños engagements at IRRI and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity highlighted the organizations’ efforts in promoting sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation, and centered on exploratory talks on how Singapore and the Philippines can collaborate in these areas.
Welcomed by IRRI Director General Dr. Yvonne Pinto, President Shanmugaratnam engaged in discussions with IRRI scientists on collaborative opportunities with Singapore, in view of the rising global demand for rice amidst food and nutrition security, and climate challenges. The presentations featured IRRI’s nutrition innovations such as the low glycemic index (GI) and high protein rice, and water management research. The President, accompanied by Mrs. Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam and his delegation, likewise engaged with the IRRI delegation in a sensory low GI rice tasting session.
Photo Courtesy of H.E. Constance See Sin Yuan, Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore to the Philippines
The President participated in a guided tour of the International Rice Genebank (IRG), which houses the world’s largest collection of rice genetic diversity. He was given an overview of how IRRI leverages the combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and high-throughput phenotyping methodologies toward fast-tracking the development and deployment of high-yielding, climate-resilient rice varieties. A key feature of the IRG tour was the showcase of samples from the 67 accessions of rice seeds deposited in the IRG, by Singapore-based organizations such as the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR).
The President ended his visit by meeting with IRRI representatives and recipients of the Lee Foundation Rice Scholarship Program which offered young South and Southeast Asian researchers unique opportunities to acquire education from leading global academic institutions.
President Shanmugaratnam was accompanied by Mrs. Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu, Members of Parliament Kwek Hian Chuan Henry and Mariam Jaafar, Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines Constance See Sin Yuan, and key representatives from the Republic of Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory.