On Wednesday, scientists launched a $600 million global initiative to increase rice yields and minimize the environmental impact of rice production. This effort is expected to help 150 million people escape poverty by 2035. The Global Rice Science Partnership, led by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), will conduct research over the next five years to enhance yields and develop stronger rice varieties that can withstand flooding and climate change. The initiative was announced in Hanoi during a meeting of rice scientists, executives, policymakers, and traders from nearly 70 countries to discuss research, demand, and trading risks. Robert Zeigler, director general of IRRI, emphasized the importance of rice as a staple food for a significant portion of the global population and its crucial role in food security. The research aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from rice production by over 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide by implementing improved irrigation methods and preventing deforestation. The consultative group stated that if farmers could achieve higher yields, they would not need to expand their fields into new areas, ultimately saving over 1.2 million hectares (3 million acres) of forest, wetlands, and other natural ecosystems by 2035. They also mentioned that annual funding for rice research would increase to $139 million by 2015, up from around $100 million the following year, in order to support the initiative's objectives. By increasing supplies and reducing food prices, the initiative is expected to help alleviate poverty for potentially 72 million people by 2020, according to Zeigler. Along with IRRI, the initiative includes two French organizations, a research center in Japan, and numerous other partners from governments, the private sector, and civil society.