MANILA, Philippines The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP), a global alliance of agricultural research institutions and agri-food businesses, launched the world’s first standard for sustainable rice.
In a statement, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) said the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation uses environmental and socio-economic benchmarks to maintain yields for rice smallholders, reduce the environmental footprint of rice cultivation and meet consumer needs for food safety and quality.
The development of the standard was led by SRP members, UTZ Certified, Aid environment and IRRI, and draws on global experience in other sustainable commodity initiatives such as sugarcane, cotton, coffee and palm oil. It is made up of 46 requirements ranging from productivity, food safety, worker health, labor rights and biodiversity.
