If planted in all suitable parts of the world's rice-growing regions, agronomists estimate it could yield 100 million tons more grain than is now grown -- enough to sustain an additional 450 million people a year.
Moreover, work is underway to modify the variety in a way that promises to achieve another 25 percent boost in yield.
And, according to Klaus Lampe, director general of the Philippines-based institute where the new variety was developed, "super rice" requires significantly less fertilizer per ton of grain than do today's varieties.
"This new rice will go a long way toward feeding the world's people through the next century, especially in Asia where rice is the staple," said Ismail Serageldin, chairman of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.
The CGIAR, funded by 43 governments, international organizations and private foundations, funds IRRI and 16 other research centers dedicated to improving food production in developing countries.
Lampe said plant researchers are cross-breeding the new rice with existing resistant varieties to produce new ones that combine the best traits of the parents. He said that in a year or two, the first of these crosses will be distributed to rice breeders in several parts of the world for further cross-breeding with varieties suited to local soils and climates.
Additional plant breeding is underway to produce subvarieties with the various cooking qualities and flavors preferred by different cultures. These are the kinds of adaptations that are routine with most new varieties of any crop.
Lampe said the new breed is needed because the world has little or no additional land on which to grow rice -- the primary food of the part of the world where the population is growing in the largest numbers.
In fact, some of the best rice land has been lost to urban sprawl. Overall, the area planted in rice worldwide has not increased since 1980.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.