Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received the Director- General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Dr. Yvonne Pinto, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. SG Dr. Kao appreciated IRRI’s 65-year legacy of supporting regional food security and discussed the continued support for the implementation of the Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (FAF) Sectoral Plan 2026–2030. He welcomed IRRI’s new initiative, International Rice Digital Genebank, emphasizing that advanced scientific research must translate into practical, weather-resistant seeds for everyday smallholders. SG Dr. Kao also stressed the importance of data equity to ensure all member states can access these digital tools, while strengthening opportunities for young and women agricultural scientists across the region.
