Consumers can now enjoy safer and healthier rice with the launch of GAPproved Rice, a premium product from the farming communities under DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) that meets the highest standards of quality, safety, and care. Introduced during the Institute’s Lakbay Palay in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija on Sept. 18-19, which gathered over a thousand farmers, extension workers, and local government units, GAPproved Rice is a good consumer food option as it underwent assessment on good agricultural practices (GAP) led by Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). Violeta S. Rayos, manager of Manggalang Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (MARBENCO)—the first cooperative in the country to achieve PhilGAP certification—said that PhilRice has assisted the cooperative in seeking the certification. “PhilRice project called RiceBIS or Rice Business Innovations System provided essential training, seminars, and evaluations, which helped us during the thorough inspection of our cooperative, products, and capabilities,” she said. With the certification, Rayos anticipates improved market positioning for their products. Dr. Karen Eloisa T. Barroga, PhilRice deputy executive director for development, lauded the launch as a milestone. “GAPproved Rice is not only a step towards healthier food choices for consumers but also supports local farmers in meeting global standards,” she noted.Building on MARBENCO’s success, 289 farms covering 287.4 hectares have also earned certification, with 1,002 more farms currently undergoing assessment. The number of PhilGAP-certified farms has increased from 10 in 2022 to 289 this year.PhilRice, through collaborations with government agencies and private partners, aims to further expand the availability of GAPproved Rice across the country.GAPproved Rice will soon be available in select markets nationwide.