Biotech Updates

Heat-tolerant Rice Developed in Malaysia

August 28, 2013

The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) has launched a rice variety named MRIA 1 which is heat resistant, does not require much water, and can be planted off-season. Developed through the collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute, MRIA 1 matures in 90 days and is also more disease resistant.

Malaysia's Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who led the launching of the new crop, said that the rice variety would help increase the nation's rice production while adapting to climate change. Annually, Malaysia imports at least 30 percent of rice from its neighbors such as Thailand and Vietnam.

View MARDI's news release in Bahasa at http://www.mardi.gov.my/documents/10138/daf551e7-ef3d-41cb-800a-cde088e32be6.