IRRI, GMH, and AgMIP Hold First Global GHG Flux and Modelling From Rice Workshop

06 October 2025, Philippines: IRRI, the Global Methane Hub (GMH) and the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP), convened a global cohort of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rice modelling experts to foster joint learning of best practices for GHG measurement and modeling across disciplines, organizations, and countries at the IRRI Headquarters last 1-5 September 2025. In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) in Japan and the CGIAR Climate Action Science Program, the Greenhouse Gas Flux and Modelling in Rice Systems Workshop was attended by over 70 leading experts from 40 organizations across 20 countries.

“For the first time, we were able to put together top scientists from all around the world who are involved in greenhouse gas measurements and modelling to start having conversations on how to align on the methods which they use in their work,” said Dr. Kofi Boateng, Agriculture Program Associate of the Global Methane Hub. Dr. Boateng notes that the event successfully met its objective of forming an initiative to align global GHG measurement and mitigation practices. “What standards do is enhance the integrity of the data that is generated from our rice and methane emissions work,” he explained.

He also highlighted the need to work with smallholder rice farmers as rice-based systems continue to digitalize, “We do that by making sure that we understand their needs and develop strategies that enable digitalization to drive change… and also strengthening our extension systems that will carry these innovations that were developed with the key stakeholder involvement back to them on the fields.”  

“Together, AgMIP, IRRI, and the Global Methane Hub can develop a worldwide initiative on scaling up resilient, low-methane rice systems — producing science-based evidence, supporting farmer adoption, and actualizing national and global climate commitments.”, stated Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig, Senior Research Scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. “AgMIP serves as a key player in food systems climate action by advancing scientific research, improving global food-climate assessments, guiding national policies, and empowering regional actors. AgMIP’s unique strength lies in multi-model integration, stakeholder engagement, and standardized methodologies (e.g., Regional Integrated Assessment (RIA) and Mitigation and Adaptation Co-Benefits (MAC-B)), which make it well-suited to connect global climate goals with local agricultural realities.”

IRRI Director General Dr. Yvonne Pinto stated that stronger collaborations are becoming even more critical and necessary as the impact of climate change worsens. “We’ve had successes in these areas, but what we can accomplish together far exceeds what IRRI can achieve alone,” said Dr. Pinto.  

There was a resounding agreement among the caucus to build a global network of GHG data analysis and GHG modelers who will streamline the process of measuring, reporting, and verifying GHG emissions from rice-based systems across the globe.

“The bigger goal here is getting a network of measurements that are comparable and repeatable because we have the same methodology for doing these measurements,” IRRI Senior Scientist Dr. Ando Radanielson explained. “We want it to be coordinated, and we can really track ourselves that we are going to the right direction together.”

Dr. Boateng echoed that GMH and IRRI can drive this network’s agenda through expertise and the institutions’ respective strategic advantages and further emphasized the need to make this global network sustainable. “This is a fledgling community of practice for both measurement and modelling scientists. I think what we can do is to drive this agenda through expertise, to make sure that we don’t only leave this workshop and stop the process of collaboration but use our strategic advantages to drive this collaborative work.”

Also Read: Maize Prices in India Fall Nearly 10% in September 2025 Amid Surplus Supplies

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