Dinorado named 2nd best rice in the world

What's your favorite rice variety?

Our very own Dinorado rice has just been named the second best in the world, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The PH rice variety snagged the silver prize at the World’s Best Rice Awards 2025 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Named NSIC Rc218, Dinorado bested other entries from rice powerhouses like Thailand and Vietnam, "proving it has both the substance and the scent to stand among the planet’s finest grains," the DA said.

Tied at gold are Vietnam's ST25, a three-time champion, and Cambodia's Phka Rumdoul.

The DA, through its Philippine Rice Research Institute, developed Rc218 in 2009 for its "tenderness, taste, and that irresistible fragrance that can turn even the simplest ulam into fine dining."

Reacting to the win, Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement founder Rowena Sadicon said it's "not just about quality, it's about identity."

"It'a reminder that the Philippines is not only the world’s largest rice importer, but also a nation capable of producing world-class, sustainable, and export-worthy rice," she said.

 “This is proof that our local farmers and scientists can hold their own against the world’s best," DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. added.