Sustainable and Low-EMISSION Rice Takes Center Stage At The International Sustainable Rice Forum 2025
04 December 2025, Indonesia: Calls for sustainable low-emission rice production echoed at the International Sustainable Rice Forum (ISRF) 2025 held on 17-18 November 2025 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Co-hosted by IRRI and Preferred by Nature under the EU SWITCH-Asia Low Carbon Rice Project, the forum aims to drive discussions on climate-smart rice production by setting standards, empowering farmers, and developing cutting-edge research.
“In the context of rising climate and natural resource risks, the costs of climate-nature risks are estimated to be at least USD 650 billion per year, with the impact already being felt across the globe and in rice-based food systems,” stated IRRI Director General Dr. Yvonne Pinto. “The ISRF demonstrates what can be achieved when various value chain actors unite behind science-based solutions that improve the lives of today’s farmers and communities while preserving resources for future generations.”
“Sustainable rice must not be something we do to farmers. It must be something we build with them. Farmers should remain at the center,” shared Peter Feilberg, Executive Director of Preferred by Nature. “Ultimately, this is about people, nature, and the climate — about choosing a future that works for both humanity and the planet,” he continued, emphasizing the importance of farmer-led practice and of bridging research, science, and policy. “The question, then, is not what to do, but how to make it happen. Real progress happens when science, policies, and farmers come together. When these three connect, change becomes powerful and lasting,” he remarked.
Rice remains a global food staple for nearly half of the world’s population, and it is also the main source of income and nutrition for most smallholder rice farming communities all over the world. However, it is also responsible for emitting greenhouse gases (GHG) such as methane, making it the third-largest source of non-CO2 GHG emissions in agriculture. Yet, there remains a critical opportunity, as rice presents a 36% relative mitigation potential, presenting areas for climate financing to support smallholder rice farmers.
“As a global community, we must secure its [rice] future through innovation, lower-carbon and lower-water production, and a commitment to inclusion so that every person benefits from sustainable, healthy, and accessible food.” shared Indonesian Minister of National Development Planning Prof. Dr. Ir. Rachmat Pambudi, M.S. He highlighted that low-carbon and climate-smart rice is critical to achieving Indonesia’s Golden Indonesia 2045 vision, as well as the country’s climate and food security goals. He also emphasized the importance of continued collaboration with IRRI to advance national and regional innovation pathways for sustainable rice production.
Across plenary and breakout sessions, IRRI experts presented science-based, market-driven solutions supporting national and regional efforts toward low-carbon rice production. A key highlight was the Rice Crop Manager, locally known as Layanan Konsultasi Padi (LKP) Indonesia, a digital agro-advisory tool that has generated more than 125,000 field-specific recommendations to help farmers increase yields and incomes while optimizing fertilizer use.
At the ISRF exhibition area, IRRI presented its 2025-2030 strategy, innovations including LKP, low-GI and high-protein rice, IRRI Education programs, and the Efficient Fertilizers for Rice Consortium (EFRC). “The EFRC is a new IRRI-led partnership advancing precision nutrient management and low-emission fertilizer management strategies through collaborative R&D,” noted IRRI Senior Scientist Dr. Kazuki Saito.
IRRI reaffirms its commitment to working with governments, development agencies, and the private sector to advance science-based and market-driven solutions that strengthen farmer resilience, enhance sustainability, and protect the planet.
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