Webinar highlights how RiceMoRe bridges the gap in rice activity data monitoring and reporting

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Paddy Rice Research Group of the Global Research Alliance co-organized a webinar that aimed to share the success story and lessons learned from the development and implementation of Rice Activity Monitoring and Reporting System (RiceMoRe) in Vietnam, as well as to explore opportunities to support other countries in the SEA region. The webinar was attended by more than 60 participants from 14 countries in Asia, Australia, Africa, America and Europe.

Dr. Bui Tan Yen, climate change scientist at the International Rice Research Institute – Vietnam, provided the introductory presentation on RiceMoRe, which is a digital solution designed to enhance efficiency, accuracy, traceability, and accessibility of activity data related to rice cultivation. RiceMoRe consists of a web-based national-level platform for production planning, climate response, GHG inventory, and early warnings, as well as a mobile app for field-level data recording, including baseline and emissions-related metrics.

Dr. Yen shared that the system is designed to be adaptable to different country-specific needs, with future developments aimed at enhancing data storage options and expanding its capabilities to support diverse project-specific requirements. He concluded that RiceMoRe bridges the gap in data monitoring and reporting, providing rice production countries with a robust system to support GHG inventories, carbon credit projects, and sustainable rice management at scale.

Providing the rationale for developing RiceMoRe, Dr. Katherine Nelson, scientist at IRRI, did a presentation on monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) requirements. She emphasized that an effective MRV system balances accuracy, cost, and scalability. While national-level MRV systems use existing data structures for cost efficiency, project-level and field-level MRV often face challenges with variability, cost, and buyer confidence in data.
She shared that combining advanced technologies like remote sensing and biogeochemical modeling offers promise but requires significant investment and calibration efforts. Dr. Nelson stressed that transparent and robust MRV systems are vital for advancing climate goals, accessing international finance, and building trust in carbon markets.

A Q&A session was conducted and delved into various aspects of the RiceMoRe system, including data quality, satellite imagery, and field-level monitoring. Participants discussed that the reliability of farmer-reported data for parameters beyond water management is uncertain, especially for low-literacy farmers. Satellite imagery and machine learning show promise but require extensive ground-truthing. The RiceMoRe system is a user-friendly tool adaptable to various rice farming systems, with future potential for advanced technology integration. Direct GHG measurements are accurate but costly, while monitoring systems offer reliable estimates when combined with established emission factors.

Dr. Yasuhito Shirato of the Paddy Rice Research Group of the Global Research Alliance shared his thoughts emphasizing the importance of seminars like this one for sharing experiences, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation in GHG inventory methods. Such exchanges are vital for improving accuracy and aligning efforts to reduce emissions in agricultural systems worldwide.

Dr. Virender Kumar, lead of the Climate Resilient Farming Systems Research Unit of IRRI, provided closing remarks. He said that the webinar underscored the transformative potential of digital MRV tools like RiceMoRe. By combining real-time data, remote sensing, and modeling approaches, these systems can significantly enhance national GHG inventories, establish credible baselines, and improve the feasibility of carbon projects. He stressed that collaboration, scalability, and contextual adaptability remain key to maximizing their impact.

Dr. Kumar also emphasized that these advancements also underline opportunities to replicate success across regions. Moving forward, fostering collaboration, investing in research and innovation, and developing adaptable MRV solutions are crucial. He ended his message by saying that “together, we can take meaningful strides toward low-emission rice production aligned with green growth and resilience, and advancing MRV adoption and building a climate-smart future for rice production in Asia and beyond.”

To learn more about the topic, you can watch the full session:

This is a New Zealand Government-funded partnership with IRRI in support of the objectives of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases. This activity is also part of the CGIAR Initiatives on Asian Mega-Deltas and Low Emission Food Systems, and the Agroecological Transitions for Building Resilient and Inclusive Agriculture and Food Systems Program funded by IFAD and EU.