United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack ... http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?con... visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI; http://irri.org ) to learn about rice production in the Philippines and how rice research is improving the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers, promoting a better environment, and helping cope with climate change.

The United States has a long-standing association with rice research in the Philippines in 1960 IRRI was established with the support of the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations and the government of the Philippines. Also, the U.S. government has been an IRRI donor since 1965.

Joining Secretary Vilsack were the Kristie Kenney ... http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwham99.html U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Secretary of Agriculture Arthur Yap, Director Ronilo Beronio of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice; http://www.philrice.gov.ph/ ), and their respective staffs.

The Philippines is the world's largest importer of rice, and this year has suffered losses to its rice crop due to severe tropical storms and flooding events likely to increase with climate change. Secretary Vilsack's visit to IRRI demonstrates how seriously the U.S. is taking international food security. (less info)