BBM Says “Rice Is Life,” Meaning Filipinos Can’t Live Without Rice. Ah, The Editor In Chief Says It Should Be “Food Is Life”!

PH President Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr says, “…I think it bears repeating that rice in our country means more than food. Rice in Asia, rice in the countries where it is the staple is in fact life" (Betheena Unite, 16 Oct 2023, “'Rice Is Life': Marcos Urges Gov't Agencies To Work With IRRI, Solve Rice Woes,” Manila Bulletin, mb.com.ph).

It goes without saying that the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and our very own Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) have been working their asses off the rice plant itself and the way/s it is/can be grown to benefit more the farmer and the rice eaters.

ANN says (Author Not Named, undated 2023, IRRI, irc2023.irri.org):

The International Rice Congress is a scientific platform for rice-based food systems innovators to work towards shaping a food- and nutrition-secure future. Convened by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) every four years, the Congress brings together scientists, experts, and decision makers from the government, private, and public sectors to formulate evidence-based solutions to some of the biggest challenges of the global rice sector.

Note: “Towards shaping a food-and nutrition-secure future.” Sorry IRRI; you yourself are not paying attention to what you are saying! The aim of the International Rice Congress (IRC) is “to work towards shaping a food- and nutrition-secure future” – rice is only part of that!

Sorry too, BBM Sir! The way you put it – “Rice is life” – is only half true; “Food is life” is 100% correct!
(“Food Is Life” from foodislifenutrition.com)

More so, if the Department of Agriculture (DA) actually assists all farmers in growing & managing not only rice but such as these crops: corn, peanuts, squash, etc; and such as these animals: carabao, cattle, goats, poultry, swine – then, the Secretary of Agriculture would be one of my National Heroes!

I will also insist that the DA embraces 100% Regenerative Agriculture (RA) for 2 reasons:

(1) RA helps solve Farmer Poverty (FP).
(2) RA helps resolve Climate Change (CC).

FP and CC are the Twin Goliaths of farmers whoever and wherever they are!

Today, Wednesday, 13 Dec 2023, I google both IRRI and PhilRice websites for “Regenerative Agriculture” and:

For IRRI, it is Bayer Crop Science talking! “Together We Can Sow The Seeds Of Regenerative Agriculture” (Jessica Christiansen, undated, irri.org).

For PhilRice? Zero!

In case IRRI and PhilRice are not familiar with the concept, Regenerative Agriculture is not hard science – these age-old & modern practices are examples of it:

1, Compost application; 2, Cover cropping; 3, Crop rotation; 4, Farm crops + tree crops (simultaneous); 5, Green manuring; 6, Intercropping; 7, Multiple cropping; 8, No-till farming; 9, Ratooning; 10, “Three Sisters” cropping (corn + beans + squash); 11, Trap cropping; and 12, Trash mulching.

As an agriculturist (UP Los Baños ’65) and a wide reader, I do not see any scientific reason why UPLB and IRRI are largely ignoring agricultural practices that regenerate the lives of farmers & their fields, not to mention Mother Earth!@517