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Rice research laboratory opened in Singapore

New research laboratory: Dr. Joachim Schneider, Head of BioScience (far left), and Julian Ho of the Singapore Economic Development Board (second from right) with colleagues.

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New research laboratory: Dr. Joachim Schneider, Head of BioScience (far left), and Julian Ho of the Singapore Economic Development Board (second from right) with colleagues.

Monheim – Bayer CropScience has opened a rice research laboratory in Singapore to drive the development of new high-yielding rice varieties in Asia, where 90 percent of global rice production takes place. Representing an investment of about €5 million, the research unit will work with cutting edge technologies like DNA marker analysis to support molecular assisted breeding.

The scientists at the new facility will work to integrate innovative agronomic traits, like disease or pest resistance, into hybrid rice.

At a later stage, the laboratory will also work on rice grain quality and on combating diseases that affect the crop. Bayer CropScience, already one of the world’s leading developers of hybrid rice, expects the new facility to significantly increase its breeding capacity.