Diabetic-friendly rice under development

Filipino scientists are co-developing a new rice breed classified as ultra-low glycemic, making it relatively safer for diabetics to consume than regular rice.
The rice genetic studies are being conducted at the International Rice Research Institute, or IRRI, in Laguna and its South Asia Regional Center in Varanasi, India.

The first batch of ultra-low glycemic rice was presented to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday at the opening of the 6th International Rice Congress at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The new rice breed has a much healthier glycemic index of 44 compared to traditional rice varieties with GI scores ranging from 70 to 92. The lower the glycemic index, the slower a food raises a person's blood sugar level.

The ultra-low GI rice will be widely available in the market within two years through IRRI's partnership with the Philippine Rice Research Institute, or PhilRice.

Samba Mahsuri

"These research breakthroughs possess much-needed health benefits and tremendous market potential. We look to partnering with as many national systems as possible to help fast track the release of low and especially ultra-low GI rice varieties," said IRRI Interim Director General Dr. Ajay Kohli.

The IRRI said the traits of the ultra-low GI rice can be integrated into refined white rice and other types of different grain sizes and shapes through traditional breeding methods.

"IRRI's latest discovery offers the opportunity to develop rice varieties with low GI, and for the first time ever ultra-low GI levels to meet the health needs and dietary preferences of consumers," Dr. Nese Sreenivasulu, IRRI's head of Consumer-driven Grain Quality and Nutrition Research, said.

The first batch of ultra-low GI rice was created from the Indian rice variety Samba Mahsuri x IR36ae and after further studies on the Philippine low GI rice varieties called IRRI 147 and IRRI 125.

The number of diabetic patients worldwide is projected to increase by 47 percent by 2047 due to unhealthy diets, according to the International Diabetes Federation.

''An existential problem'

Meanwhile, Marcos said the government is committed to modernizing the farm sector since the rice supply is currently experiencing an "existential problem."

"Rice in Asia, rice in the countries where it is the staple, it is in fact life. And whenever we find ourselves in a situation where (the rice supply) is threatened, this is almost an existential problem that ordinary people feel," Marcos said.

The President said many factors like natural disasters and smuggling contribute to the country's rice problem.

            With Tiziana Celine Piatos @tribunephl_tiz