Massive rice collection to receive permanent financial backing, saving almost all known varieties of rice crops, forever
The world’s largest rice collection is to receive permanent funding for the conservation and sharing of 136,000 varieties of the staple crop that feeds more than three billion people worldwide. The agreement between the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Crop Trust, which guarantees funding worth US$1.4 million a year, in perpetuity, was signed on World Food Day, October 16th, during the 5th International Rice Congress in Singapore.