ADB Announces Ambitious Investment for Low-Carbon Rice Revolution
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has unveiled plans for major investments aimed at promoting low-carbon rice production in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
In a press release issued on 9 June, ADB announced the launch of a new initiative in collaboration with the Gates Foundation and CGIAR. The program is designed to increase investments in sustainable and low-emission rice cultivation, ultimately improving the livelihoods of millions of vulnerable smallholder farming families across Asia and the Pacific.
Describing rice as the “lifeline” of the region, the statement noted, “It feeds more than half the population every day and forms the economic backbone for millions of rural poor. However, rice production is under increasing strain—from falling productivity and water scarcity to its role in greenhouse gas emissions. If left unaddressed, these challenges could jeopardize food security and the well-being of the poorest and most at-risk communities.”
The release further emphasized that rice is vital for food security in Asia. It accounts for more than one-quarter of the region’s calorie intake and nearly half in Southeast Asia. For hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers, rice is not only a staple food but also a source of livelihood.
Fatima Yasmin, Vice-President of ADB, stated, “Today, that livelihood is increasingly threatened by extreme weather and environmental degradation. Through the newly established ADB–CGIAR Clearinghouse Facility, jointly financed with the Gates Foundation, the initiative will support climate-resilient, high-yield, low-emission agricultural practices that enhance sustainable water use, inclusive value chains, and improved nutrition for the region’s poorest communities.”
According to the ADB, the bank plans to invest over USD 1.5 billion between 2025 and 2030 through this initiative. The funding will focus on enhancing productivity sustainably, adapting to extreme climate conditions, and reducing water and carbon footprints. This initiative forms part of ADB’s broader USD 40 billion commitment to transforming food systems by 2030, announced in May.
Yvonne Pinto, Director General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), remarked, “This joint initiative will further strengthen CGIAR’s strategic partnership with ADB.” She added, “Together with partners like ADB and the Gates Foundation, we can transform Asia’s rice sector into a sustainable and resilient one, changing the lives of millions of smallholder farmers both now and in the future.”
