Monday, March 16, 2015

Rice R&D (Technology & Innovation) News 16th March,2015

Local researchers find anti-obesity properties in rice bran

 Updated: 2015-03-16 16:26:26 KST

About 500,000 tons of rice bran is produced every year in Korea after rice is polished.
Thirty percent of the residue is used in cosmetics or livestock feed, while the rest is discarded.
But a group of local researchers has recently discovered evidence that special properties in rice bran could be beneficial in preventing obesity.They released the results early this month.The researchers conducted a test in which a control group of mice was fed high-fat foods, while an experimental group was fed high-fat foods and given an injection of rice bran extract.After six weeks, the mice in the control group gained 44 percent more weight, but the group that was given the rice bran injections showed a significant difference in weight gain of only 33 percent.( , Korean)

"The mice given the rice bran extract injections gained significantly less weight and there was a reduction in the amount of fat in the liver cells."The difference was also noticeable in the size of fatty tissues and cells. The mice in the high-fat control group had enlarged cells, but the mice in the rice bran group saw no change in their fatty tissues.The researchers discovered that certain bioactive components in rice bran helped decrease the proportion of fat in the body.( , Korean)

"Through animal testing, we've proven that rice bran is effective in fighting obesity. It could be used to make health-functional food or medicine."After confirming the effectiveness and safety of rice bran in humans, the researchers anticipate the results will transform the unused raw material into a high-value product while tackling the oversupply of rice in the country.
Sohn Jung-in, Arirang News.


Rice is not bad after all, says study

Eating rice may do more good and less harm if you watch your portions, suggests a new campaign that aims to promote guilt-free rice consumption. Best Foods Limited, which owns the label ‘Best Rice’, seeks to reinstate rice as staple diet as part of its ‘I Love Rice’ campaign. The company engaged market research firm TNS India to discern new-age myths surrounding rice consumption. The findings showed thatHyderabadi s love rice dishes, but a majority (73 per cent respondents), fear the cereal is fattening.
City-based nutritionist B. Janaki, who sought to bust myths on Friday, said rice’s high glycemic index, which has earned it the reputation of being a fattening food, is actually lowered by its combination with other components of an Indian meal. Glycemic index is the effect of a food on blood glucose level.“Rice is seldom taken by itself. Though it has a high index, when mixed with dal, vegetable or meat, it does not dramatically influence blood glucose levels. Most importantly, unlike wheat, rice does not contain any gluten. So it does not cause stomach bloating. If consumed in moderate quantities as required by the body, it becomes the main source of nutrients,” Dr. Janaki said.
Myths
Description: http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/02341/13HYRPL01-Rice__hy_2341025e.jpgOther myths that discourage people from eating rice, the research revealed, included rice having low-fibre content and being bad for diabetics.Dr. Janaki said eating brown rice and less polished rice could make available higher fibre content and also stressed that diabetics could consume rice if they adhere to regular eating hours and restricted portions.The research found that people from the city regularly cooked an average of 12 rice dishes, higher than other metros where the research was conducted.Best Foods CEO Ayushman Gupta said rice was the only food that could change form easily even after cooking.The respondents were married women aged 25 to 45, and hailed from higher income families. Two hundred and fifteen of them were from Hyderabad.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/rice-is-not-bad-after-all-says-study/article6992702.ece

 

Red Yeast Rice as Alternative to Diabetes-Causing Statins?

Mar 13, 2015
A new study by researchers in Finland shows that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may significantly increase a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes – in fact, it may increase a person’s risk by as much as 50%!
What’s a person to do when faced with a choice between high cholesterol or increased risk of type 2 diabetes?
Rice to the rescue once again!  Red yeast rice has been a controversial product – especially in the West.  In fact, Switzerland doesn’t even allow its sale in the country.  However, it’s popularly used in Asia for a variety of health benefits, including lowering cholesterol and improving blood circulation.On the back of a study showing that statins, which millions of people around the world (and especially in the West) take daily, can increase the risk of another chronic disease, perhaps scientists should consider investing research into red yeast rice so that we can finally reach a conclusion about its efficacy in treating cholesterol.  If it is found to be scientifically effective, it could prevent millions of people from developing type 2 diabetes every year.
ORYZA Rice.com

Int’l Centre for Chemical & Biological Sciences, China institute sign MoU on rice research

KARACHI: An MoU on rice research was signed between International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences and China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI) of Hangzhou, China.
The objective of the agreement is to conduct research for developing new high yielding and disease resistant varieties of rice and such other areas as the two parties may agree upon.

The MoU was signed in an official ceremony held at Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi.Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, on behalf of ICCBS and Deputy Director General CNRRI Dr Peisong Hu on behalf of his institute signed the agreement.Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rahman said that this was the positive sign that Pakistani and Chinese scientists were jointly carrying out research on rice.

Dr Iqbal Choudhary informed that the Chinese institution will train the scholars from ICCBS in the field of rice breeding and production of high quality hybrid rice seed.As per the agreement, both the institutions have agreed to enhance relations between the two institutions and to develop academic exchange in the area of research,” he said.Dr Peisong Hu said that CNRRI focused on basic and applied researches with priority on solving significant scientific and technical problems in rice production.
ICCBS, Chinese institute to work on rice research
 our correspondent
Saturday, March 14, 2015
From Print Edition
Karachi 
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for rice research was signed between the KU’s) of Hangzhou on Thursday.The objective of the agreement is to conduct research for developing new high-yielding and disease resistant varieties of rice and any such other areas the two parties may agree upon.

Description: Int’l Centre for Chemical & Biological Sciences, China institute sign MoU on rice researchThe MoU was signed at a ceremony held at Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), said a spokesperson of the ICCBS.Chinese officials, including CNRRI Deputy Director General Dr Peisong Hu, Dr Liyong Cao, Dr Xinhua Wei, Aijuan Ge, ICCBS Patron-in-Chief Professor Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, ICCBS Director Professor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary and other faculty members attended the ceremony.Prof Dr Rahman said the agreement would further promote collaborative research between the two countries and termed the MoU a positive sign for research on rice.Dr Choudhary said the centre was engaged in research and development of various fields of chemical, biological, biomedical and genomic research.

“The Chinese institution will train scientists from ICCBS in the field of rice breeding and production of high quality hybrid rice seed,” he added.As per the MoU, both institutions will work together in the field of agricultural biotechnology and both have agreed to enhance relations and develop academic exchange in the area of research.Dr Hu said the CNRRI focused on basic and applied researches with priority on solving significant scientific and technical problems in rice production.http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-306708-ICCBS,-Chinese-institute-to-work-on-rice-researchHome / Science & Technology / Science / Int’l Centre for Chemical & Biological Sciences, China institute sign MoU on rice research

Dr Swaminathan wants special package for state

MS Swaminathan in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: S Chandan
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 13
Former Director-General of International Rice Research Institute and one of the pioneers of the Green Revolution, Dr MS Swaminathan today said that Punjab should be declared a special agriculture zone and should be given a special package to maintain food security.Regarding amendments in the Land Acquisition Act, he said without specifying the objective, agriculture land should not be acquired by the government. “A sizeable chunk of land was acquired for special economic zones, many of which failed to take off and have now become real estate sites,” he said.
No land should be acquired without consulting farmers and without declaring the need for acquiring the land, he said. “While acquiring land, three factors—food security, security of farmers and purpose for which land is to be acquired—should be kept in mind. Preserving land is a must as 90 per cent of food for humanity comes from the soil and only 10 per cent comes from other resources such as the ocean,” he said.
Cropping pattern
On the crisis in the farm sector, he said Punjab farmers should adopt a three-year cropping pattern. In the first two years, they should grow wheat and in the third, leguminous crops or green fodder to invigorate the soil.Description: Dr Swaminathan wants special package for stateLikewise, farmers should grow paddy (rice), especially basmati, for two years and shift to pulses the third year, he said. Dr Swaminathan said that it would be in the national interest if farmers in Punjab continued to grow paddy and wheat. He said there was a need to move to “evergreen revolution” which meant making farming viable for small and marginal farmers, ecological sustainability and maintaining soil health.
On the Shanta Kumar committee report regarding FCI restructuring, he said before taking a decision, there should be an informed debate on the issue among all stakeholders. He said the policy of MSP and grain procurement could not be abandoned. “Implementing the report without a debate could pose a threat to the country’s food security,” he claimed.“ I have only recommended a 50 per cent margin for the farmers whereas some pharmaceutical companies earn profit up to 500 per cent,” he said.
On need for MSP
There has been a hue and cry across the country over the non-implementation of Dr Swaminathan’s recommendations regarding the MSP. The BJP, that had promised to implement the recommendations on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, has backed off. Dr Swaminathan suggested that this could be done in phases — announcing a 10 per cent increase in the first year, a 20 per cent increase the second year and ultimately a 50 per cent rise in the third year. “Saving small and marginal farmers is a must to save the farm sector as the survival of 60 per cent of the population depends on it,” Dr Swaminathan said.
Value addition in the farm produce and starting allied ventures was the need of the hour, said Dr Swaminathan. He said he was for a single agriculture market in the country. Along with technical upgradation of technology, there was a need to improve the labour efficiency to ensure inclusive growth in the farm sector.
On climate change
On climate change, he said there was a need for anticipatory research to counter the effect of climate change. More money needed to be pumped into agriculture research for coming out with weather-resistant varieties of wheat. With the increase in temperature (up to 2 degree Celsius) there could be a huge fall in food production in Punjab, he warned. He said soil health cards would not serve any purpose if the panchayats were given help in maintaining soil health. He said after ensuring food security, there was a need to raise the nutritional value of foodgrain.
Need for insurance

There is a need to introduce insurance for the farm sector, said Dr MS Swaminathan. This would ensure stability in the farm sector and ensure food security. He said there was no harm in growing genetically modified crops. He said foreign direct investment (FDI) could prove beneficial for the farm sector. It would be a win-win situation for farmers as well as investors, he said.

Drought Might 'Make It Rain' for California Rice Farmers

Mar 13, 2015
Rice farmers in drought-stricken California might finally have something to look forward to: the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has offered up to $71 million for farmers to ship their water to the Los Angeles area in southern California.  As much as 115,000 acre-feet of water, or more than 37 billion gallons, could be sold.According to the Sacramento Bee, some farmers may actually make more cash from selling their water than they would from selling their rice!  Last year, when Sacramento Valley water districts shipped their water down south they were getting $500 an acre-foot.  This year prices are around $700 an acre-foot.  (An acre foot is 326,000 gallons and will supply roughly two Southern California households for about a year.)
So far, nine irrigation districts have made tentative deals with the Water District to ship some of their water.This news might decrease rice acreage in California even further; in 2014 rice acres in California decreased by 140,000 acres due to drought, and about one-fourth of the crop didn’t get planted.  Most rice farmers in the Sacramento Valley region make around $1,000 to $1,500 an acre profit when they plant rice.  Idling an acre of rice would save about 3 acre-feet of water, or more than $2,100 at this year’s rates.  However, many growers take a long-term approach and recognize the importance of supporting the rice industry as a whole; most farmers will likely still grow some rice – the question is how much?

VN plans greener rice cultivation

Viet Nam plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from rice cultivation alone by 14 per cent by 2030.

This was announced in Ha Noi on Tuesday by an official from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment at a conference.Pham Hoang Yen, an expert involved in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, said in the last few years, the country had chased the goal of a 20 per cent reduction in GHG in the overall cultivation sector by 2020.What the country has been doing includes preparation for National Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) and other policies developing countries adopted to control global GHG at a UNFCC conference in Bali eight years ago.In addition, Viet Nam has also carried out a programme of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).In June last year, the country had 253 CDM projects and had registered 11 programmes of activities.

This move earned it 10.7 million certified emission reduction (CEF) credits granted by CDM Executive Board through CDM activities, Yen said.The total GHG emissions reduction from the 253 CDM projects was 137 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.Viet Nam ranks fourth in the world in term of the number of CDM projects and ninth in terms of granted CEF certificates.In the near future, many projects would be started to lower methane emissions in rice cultivation in a number of localities, Yen said.The agricultural sector also applied Good Agricultural Practices and cultivation methods that economise the use of fertiliser, pesticide and water in order to limit methane emission on rice fields, she said.According to the 2010 National Greenhouse gas inventory, there will be an increase in emissions on both livestock and farm land.

In livestock breeding sector, GHG emissions are expected to grow from 18.03 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2010 to 24.95 million tonnes in 2020 and 29.32 tonnes in 2030.In agriculture, GHG emissions are expected to increase from 23.81 million tones of carbon dioxide in 2010 to 33.94 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2020 and 37.4 tonnes in 2030.The industrial process had an GHG emission growth, but it was still small compared with the total of emissions, Yen said.It is predicted that Land use, Land use Change and Forestry activities in Viet Nam will absorb 42.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2020, and 45.3 million tonnes in 2030. The main source of emissions and absorption will be forest and cultivated land.The workshop was organised by the Research Programme on Climate change, Agriculture and Food Security and its partners.http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/125513/vn-plans-greener-rice-cultivation.html


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