Submitter: (International Rice Research Institute - IRRI
This technology tackles the major challenge of long breeding cycles in conventional rice improvement by enabling the accelerated development and delivery of improved, climate-resilient, and high-yielding rice varieties to farmers there by able to breed with the keep pace with the rapidly changing climate.
Breeding with the speed of climate change via a state-of-the-art speed breeding facility capable of cultivating 4–5 generations annually for both indica and japonica rice varieties. A comprehensive speed breeding protocol for indica and japonica rice, published in Plant Biotechnology Journal, enabled flowering within 60 days in tested varieties. A new protocol was developed to shorten the maturation phase to just 15–17 days.
These advancements were achieved using:
Value added:
This approach adds significant value by enabling 4–6 generations per year compared to just 1–2 in the field, accelerating the development of improved rice varieties. It allows rapid transfer of genes for high yield, stress tolerance, and enhanced nutrition, supporting accelerated responses to emerging climate, disease, and pest challenges. Integration with tools like SpeedScan (rapid and precise phenotyping under speed breeding) enhances phenotyping efficiency and alignment with field data. The approach is scalable, supports evaluation of more lines in less time, and complements the OneRice IRRI breeding framework to boost genetic gains. Despite initial setup costs, it leads to long-term savings and supports global capacity building through training and knowledge sharing.
Currently working: Speed breeding is currently operational at ISARC in India and IRRI headquarters in the Philippines, with IRRI also supporting NARES partners across Asia in establishing similar facilities. The robust protocols developed are scalable and hold strong potential for application to crops in Africa.
Where It Can Work (Potential Target Regions and Farming Systems): Speed breeding can be effectively implemented across diverse agroclimatic zones and ecologies—including irrigated and rainfed lowlands, uplands, deepwater and flood-prone areas, coastal saline regions, and drought-prone zones—spanning tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates.
OneRice breeding strategy coupled with Speed Breeding have shown significant impact by enabling up to 4–5 rice generations per year, cutting breeding timelines from 6–7 years to just 1.5–2 years. This has led to faster genetic gains in yield, resilience, and nutrition, while optimizing resource use. An estimated economic benefit of USD 18 million was projected from the shortened breeding cycle. While large-scale field impact is still unfolding, early results highlight speed breeding’s transformative potential for rice improvement and climate-resilient food security.
Speed breeding is highly scalable due to its adaptable setup, which works in both high-tech growth chambers and low-cost greenhouses. Its modular design allows customization based on program size, while ongoing efforts are making protocols more cost-effective using affordable LEDs and simplified controls. IRRI supports adoption through training, standardized protocols, and partnerships with NARS, universities, and private entities. It integrates seamlessly into existing breeding pipelines and can be decentralized for regional use. To adopt it, basic infrastructure, training, and alignment with breeding goals are essential, along with continued R&D and collaborative knowledge sharing.
Dr. Vikas Kumar Singh; South Asia breeding lead; Email Id: V.K.Singh@cgiar.org
Dr. Uma M. Singh; Scientist-Innovative breeding; Email Id: Uma.Singh@cgiar.org Phone: 9849356931
Dr. Pallavi Sinha; Scientist- Plant breeding; Email id: P.sinha@cgiar.org
