Perennial Rice Takes Root in Malaysia: Chinese Agri-tech Supports Asia-Pacific Food Security

Recently, perennial rice developed by Yunnan University completed its first-season trial harvest in Sarawak, Malaysia. A harvest ceremony was held on August 6, attended by Abang Johari, Premier of Sarawak; Xing Weiping, Chinese Consul General in Kuching; Duan Xingwu, Vice President of Yunnan University; Zhang Shilai, Deputy Director of the University’s Science and Technology Department; experts from Yunnan University’s perennial rice research team, and BGI representatives.

Throughout the project implementation, BGI technical specialists traveled to Malaysia multiple times alongside Yunnan University experts to guide field cultivation and management. On August 6, BGI and Yunnan University specialists jointly witnessed the bumper harvest at the trial site.

After the first growing season’s observation and evaluation, five rice varieties/lines were screened to fit Malaysia’s local ecological conditions, and the grain quality has won wide recognition among local residents. During the harvest event, BGI Diverse and the local enterprise unveiled a joint Strategic Demonstration Base for Perennial Crops.