US rice varieties highlighted in first Breeder Workshop
USA Rice held its inaugural Breeder Workshop at LSU’s H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station to align US rice varieties with Latin American consumer preferences. The event, featuring six Central American professionals, focused on grain characteristics such as size, texture, and cooking properties. Highlights included cooking tests with various rice varieties and tours of LSU’s experimental plots and rice facilities. Dr. Adam Famoso and Dr. Maria Guadalupe Montiel led discussions, emphasizing the value of international collaboration in rice breeding.
CROWLEY, LOUISIANA, US — USA Rice had its first Breeder Workshop at the Louisiana State
University (LSU) AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station, looking to identify US rice varieties that align with Latin American consumer preferences.
Six Central American industry professionals from Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa
Rica participated in the event, where they discussed the specific characteristics that consumers
want in their respective countries.
The workshop was led by Dr. Adam Famoso, rice breeder and resident director at the HRC Rice
Research Station. He guided discussions and analyzed the complexities of rice varieties.
Dr. Maria Guadalupe Montiel, a native of Argentina, an LSU alumna, and a rice breeder with
Horizon Ag, contributed significantly to the workshop. Her experience as a rice breeder in
Argentina offered a valuable perspective, adding insights into regional consumer trends and agronomic practices.
Over the course of two days, participants delved into the preferences, focusing on traits such as
grain size, texture, and cooking properties. A highlight of the workshop was the cooking tests,
where various rice varieties, both in development and commercially available, were prepared according to a technical recipe commonly used in Costa Rica. This hands-on demonstration provided
feedback on how these varieties perform under traditional cooking methods used in Central
America.
“This activity was born from a conversation that the FECARROZ executive board had with me during the 2023 USA Rice Outlook Conference,” said Asiha Grigsby, USA Rice senior director of international promotion for the Western Hemisphere. “Although a large group of Latin American delegates participated in the annual Rice Quality Symposium, they wanted the opportunity to evaluate
the rice in a more controlled environment using their own cooking methods. Thus, the breeder
workshop was born.”
The schedule also included tours of LSU’s experimental plots, a visit to Supreme Rice Mill, farm
tours, and grocery store visits, offering a comprehensive view of the US rice industry from field to
market.
Source Link : https://www.world-grain.com/articles/20286-us-rice-varieties-highlighted-in-first-breeder-workshop
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