Salt-Tolerant Rice Farming.

As rising sea levels continue to impact coastal provinces, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños has successfully scaled its first commercial crop of Sea-Spray rice. This new variety can thrive in soil with 30% higher salinity than traditional crops, offering a lifeline to farmers in the Cagayan Valley and Bicol regions. For 2026, the Department of Agriculture has launched a nationwide seed distribution program aimed at restoring over 500,000 hectares of previously abandoned coastal farmland to full production.

©YovaniBernard