Australian academic appointed to rice research board

Related tags Rice International rice research institute

Australia’s newly appointed representative on the board of the International Rice Research Institute said she would use her role to seek ways to grow rice as a means to combat world food shortages.

Professor Kaye Basford, of the University of Queensland, was appointed this week to the IRRI Board of Trustees. As the only Australian on the board, she joins 14 other members from 11 countries.

“With new sustainable rice farming techniques, we can work with the public and private sectors to help improve the yield and quality of their rice in an environmentally sustainable way, and help governments formulate policy to improve the equitable supply of rice,” she said.

Basford added she would draw on her own research on the interface between quantitative genetics and biometry, which has led to major benefits in plant improvement programmes.

“Our mission is to become a global leader in rice germplasm development, future production systems and education to alleviate poverty, hunger and malnutrition and make rice production more sustainable.

“I am looking forward to learning more about the research programs that are being undertaking at IRRI, and contributing to setting policies and strategies to reach our goals,” she said.