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June 13, 2024

Participate in the Revision of the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation and Performance Indicators!

We are excited to announce the commencement of the third revision process for the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation (SRP Standard) and the SRP Performance Indicators. Since their launch in 2015, both normative documents have undergone two cycles of revision, guided by a multi-stakeholder consultation process. As we strive to continuously improve and adapt to the evolving landscape of sustainable agriculture, we invite committed experts to participate in this important initiative.

Following the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Sustainability Systems, your valuable input and expertise will be crucial in defining sustainable rice cultivation and developing a practical, quantitative framework for monitoring progress through the SRP Assurance Scheme.

Join One of Our Focus Groups

To ensure a comprehensive review, we have organized three focus groups, each dedicated to a specific theme related to the SRP Standard:

1. Cultivation, led by Imran Sheikh
Imran Sheikh, National Consultant for Food Safety at UNFAO-Pakistan, and National Coordinator of the Pakistan Basmati Heritage Foundation, advises on pesticides and promotes regenerative agriculture. He chairs the SRP Technical Committee, has previously worked on various initiatives contributing to climate-smart rice production studies, and holds an M.Phil. in Agronomy from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad.

2. Social and Economy, led by Dr. Shahid Zia
Dr. Zia, hailing from Pakistan’s renowned Basmati rice regions, brings over 30 years of post-Ph.D. experience across diverse ecological settings in Asia and Africa. His expertise spans leadership in sustainable agriculture projects, enhancing farmers’ capacity for licensed/certified production of cotton, wheat, and other commodities. Dr. Zia serves on the Council of the Better Cotton Initiative, the Technical Committee of SRP, and holds advisory roles in national universities and ministries.

3. Carbon, led by Russ Cullinane
Russ has over 28 years of global experience in sustainability and community development, specializing in climate change, carbon finance, sustainable agriculture, livelihoods, and community-based natural resource management. He has led emission reduction projects across Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific, fostering institutional and individual capacity building. With a background in the private sector and international NGOs, Russ has worked extensively across Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Group Assignments

Working Groups will play a crucial role in the following areas:

• Review and Improvement: Assess the relevance of existing standards and propose necessary improvements.
• New Requirements: Identify and propose additional requirements to address current conditions.
• Performance Indicators: Ensure all requirements are linked to its performance indicators, evaluate current methods, and develop new methods as needed.

Get involved

We invite stakeholders, experts, and enthusiasts passionate about sustainable rice cultivation – both SRP members and non-members – to express interest in joining one of the three focus groups and contribute to this important initiative. Your insights and contributions will play a vital role in shaping the future of sustainable rice farming practices.

Spaces are limited: to register your interest in joining a focus group or for more information, please contact info@sustainableroce.org and tarida.dalai@sustianablerice.org by 25 June 2024.

Together, let’s work towards a more sustainable future for rice cultivation!