The Global Rice Science Partnership (GRISP), a CGIAR research program that
provides a single strategic plan and unique new partnership platform on rice
research, has reported its accomplishments since its inception in January
2011.

According to their report, six projects have been granted and are now up and
running, mostly targeting the discovery of new genes and the development of
novel technologies to increase the efficiency of breeding programs. One of
these projects aims to increase the yield potential in rice using novel
genomic and physiological approaches, including the exploration and use of
the wild rice gene pool and combining multiple desirable genes (gene
pyramiding) to get a single trait such as high yield.

Another project employs the power of phenomics, or the measurement of
important traits such as yield, and responses to major stresses, and
developing a global rice phenotyping network. GRiSP also runs a competitive
program to facilitate "discovery science," or "blue sky research" where the
unexpected scientific breakthroughs may have no immediate practical
applications. It is relatively risky but, if successful, has potentially
huge spin-off.

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