Trio of global partners unveil ambitious $1.5Bn plan for greener rice cultivation in Asia-Pacific

ADB, CGIAR & Gates Foundation Launch $1.5 Bn Initiative for Climate-Smart Rice Farming in Asia-Pacific. Part of ADB’s $ 40Bn food systems strategy, the initiative aims to boost productivity while cutting rice farming’s environmental footprint.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in partnership with CGIAR and with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has launched a landmark initiative to promote sustainable, low-carbon rice farming across Asia and the Pacific. The effort, announced today, aims to support millions of smallholder farmers who depend on rice not just for food, but as a primary source of income.

Rice, a dietary staple for over half the region’s population, faces mounting challenges—from stagnating productivity and dwindling water resources to its growing role in greenhouse gas emissions. In response, the new initiative will invest up to $1.5 billion by 2030 to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart practices that enhance yields, improve water use efficiency, and significantly reduce emissions.

“This is not just about agriculture—it’s about livelihoods,” said ADB Vice-President Fatima Yasmin. “Environmental pressures are jeopardizing a crop central to the well-being of hundreds of millions. We must act decisively.”

At the heart of the effort is the ADB–CGIAR Clearinghouse Facility, designed to channel financing and technical expertise into proven innovations that make rice systems more resilient. Co-financed by the Gates Foundation, the facility will work with research institutions, governments, and farmer organizations to scale solutions that are both effective and inclusive.

The initiative is a flagship component of ADB’s broader $40 billion strategy to transform food systems by 2030, unveiled in May. Initial implementation will begin in countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Pakistan, and the Philippines, with a focus on scaling impact through strategic partnerships and local engagement.

Yvonne Pinto, Director General of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a core CGIAR partner, noted that the collaboration represents a new era for rice innovation. “With the combined strength of ADB and the Gates Foundation, we are well-positioned to bring proven solutions to scale and ensure long-term sustainability for smallholders across the region,” she said.

The program underscores a growing recognition that food security, climate resilience, and rural prosperity are deeply intertwined—and that coordinated global action is needed to safeguard the future of rice farming in Asia-Pacific.

This article has been republished from The AgroSpectrum.