A four-members delegation from Bayer Crop Science, visited the International Rice Research Institute - South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) in Varanasi on June 4, 2025, to review the ongoing collaborative efforts in rice research and development. The discussions focused on advancing direct-seeded rice (DSR), hybrid rice and the deployment of IRRI’s DSR-fit rice varieties. The delegation was led by Federico Vartorelli and Hema Reddy HB, Bayer. The delegation was welcomed by the director of ISARC, Dr. Sudhanshu Singh, and team of program leaders and scientists.
The day-long visit featured an in-depth orientation and guided tour of ISARC’s state-of-the-art research and training facilities. Key points of discussion spotlighted innovations in varietal development and seed systems, mechanization, digital tools in rice cultivation, and capacity-building initiatives. Bayer representatives expressed strong interest in strategies to expand the reach of hybrid rice in India, particularly addressing critical challenges such as seed availability and affordability, farmer acceptance, DSR compatibility, and the grain quality expectations of consumers.
During an interactive dialogue, Federico Vartorelli drew parallels between India and global experiences in hybrid adoption. Citing Argentina’s journey in hybrid corn, he emphasized the importance of behavioral shifts in enabling adoption. “In many countries, including Argentina, behavioral change was critical to overcoming barriers to hybrid crop adoption,” he noted.
He further elaborated on the influence of urbanization on food preferences, stating, “As new generations migrate to urban centers, dietary patterns are changing. Hybrid rice has the potential to meet emerging demands for grain quality and palatability in urban markets. The Bayer team also showed keen interest in IRRI’s ongoing hybrid rice breeding programs and efforts to enhance value addition.
The visit concluded with a strategic dialogue on advancing public-private partnerships for farmer-centric solutions. Both IRRI and Bayer reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative innovation for climate resilience, food security, and rural prosperity.
