Bangladesh Rice Research Institute

What Bangladesh Rice Research Institute does

Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) is a semi-autonomous government research institute under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of Bangladesh, established on 1 October 1970 (originally as the East Pakistan Rice Research Institute) and now governed by Parliamentary Act 19, 2017. Its mandate is the development of improved rice varieties and production technologies for Bangladesh, and it operates 19 research divisions, 17 regional offices, and 6 satellite stations from its headquarters in Joydebpur, Gazipur, employing 308 scientists and 786 officers/employees (1,094 total). Over its 50+ year history it has developed over 100 improved rice varieties — including high-yielding, hybrid, and stress-tolerant (salt, flood, drought, cold) lines — that underpin Bangladesh's domestic rice production.

BRRI's core technology stack spans conventional plant breeding, biotechnology, agronomy, soil science, and a growing digital portfolio. The digital layer includes the Rice Solution (Dhan Surokkha) AI/ML mobile and web app for image-based pest and disease diagnosis with a national e-surveillance dashboard; the Smart Rice Profile System (AI + IoT) covering 40 rice varieties across 5 seasons; the BRRI Services Portal integrating Seed Management (SEMS), Research Repository (37+ projects), Demo Data Collection, and Vehicle Management; and the Bangladesh Rice Knowledge Bank. In 2024 it released six new varieties (BRRI Dhan 115–118, BRRI Hybrid Dhan 09, 10).

BRRI does not operate as a commercial enterprise. It is fully funded by the Government of Bangladesh through annual budget allocations and project-based allocations such as the Hybrid Rice Project (478.066 million Taka, July 2021 – June 2026). Its products — varieties, technologies, and digital advisory tools — are provided free of cost to smallholder farmers and extension workers, with dissemination handled through the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), BADC, training programs, and its own digital platforms. Customers are Bangladesh's smallholder rice farmers (mass market), government extension agencies, BADC, and academic/research collaborators within the National Agricultural Research System.

Name

Bangladesh Rice Research Institute

Legal name

Bangladesh Rice Research Institute

Website

https://brri.gov.bd

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Bangladesh Rice Research Institute is the government-funded national rice research institute under Bangladesh's Ministry of Agriculture, developing improved rice varieties, hybrid and stress-tolerant lines, and AI-based digital advisory tools (Rice Solution, Smart Rice Profile) for smallholder farmers and agricultural extension services across Bangladesh.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research Services

NAICS

Rice Farming (11116), Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning) (115114)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Rice Farming (AFAGAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Plant Tissue, Soil & Water Sampling Coordination (Agronomy-Focused) (AFACABAH), Pest/Disease/Weed Detection & Forecasting Analytics (AFABAMAI)

Keywords

• Rice research services
• Improved rice varieties
• Agricultural biotechnology
• Hybrid rice development
• Crop pest advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Gazipur

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: BRRI is a fully government-funded autonomous research institute under the Ministry of Agriculture, People's Republic of Bangladesh. All operations are financed through annual government budget allocations. The institute does not generate commercial revenue.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BRRI develops and releases improved rice varieties (high-yielding, hybrid, and stress-tolerant types such as salt-, flood-, drought-, and cold-tolerant varieties) and conducts rice production research across 19 research divisions and 8 multidisciplinary program areas. It also operates AI/ML and IoT-based digital advisory platforms — most notably the Rice Solution (Dhan Surokkha) mobile and web app for image-based pest and disease diagnosis, the Smart Rice Profile System, and the Bangladesh Rice Knowledge Bank — providing free advisory services to farmers, extension workers, and researchers through government extension channels and 17 regional offices plus 6 satellite stations.

Product overview

Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) operates a comprehensive digital platform ecosystem for rice research, pest management, and agricultural services. The core infrastructure is the BRRI Services Portal (https://services.brri.gov.bd/) which integrates multiple specialized systems including Seed Management System (SEMS), Research Repository DBOS, Demo Data Platform, Smart Rice Profile System, and AI-Based Rice Solution Dashboard. The flagship AI product is Rice Solution (Dhan Surokkha), a mobile and web application using Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies (AI, Machine Learning, Sensor) for image-based rice pest and disease diagnosis, providing real-time management recommendations and serving as a dynamic e-surveillance platform. Supporting systems include BRRI Agromet Service for meteorological data, Integrated Rice Advisory System (IRAS), Vehicle Management System, and the Bangladesh Rice Knowledge Bank. BRRI has developed 115+ rice varieties including 6 new high-yielding varieties (BRRI Dhan 115-118, BRRI Hybrid Dhan 09, 10) released in 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rice Solution: AI, machine learning and sensor technology-based mobile and web application for image analysis-based rice disease and pest management, providing advisory services to farmers, scientists, and extension workers.
• Rice Profile
• Bangladesh Rice Knowledge Bank

Products and services

• Rice Solution (Dhan Surokkha / ধান সুরক্ষা) AI/ML and sensor-based mobile and web application that uses image analysis of rice plant photos (up to 5 images per submission) to automatically diagnose rice pests and diseases and generate management recommendations. Designed for farmers, scientists, researchers, and extension workers. Documented to reduce yield losses by 15-18% and save 5-6 days, 400-500 Taka, and 3-5 trips per advisory per farmer.
• AI-Based Rice Solution Dashboard Dynamic web-based dashboard providing area-wise mapping and statistics of rice pests and diseases across Bangladesh's divisions and districts, with seasonal breakdowns and real-time data feeds for pest e-surveillance. Built for scientists, researchers, extension workers, and policy makers.
• Smart Rice Profile System AI and IoT-based digital system managing structured data for 40 BRRI rice varieties across 5 seasons, including yield (average 5.99 ton/ha), protein content (8.9%), amylose content (24.92%), duration (121 days), dimensions, and seasonal distribution. Serves farmers, researchers, and extension workers.
• BRRI Hybrid Rice Varieties - BRRI Dhan 115, 116, 117, 118, BRRI Hybrid Dhan 09, BRRI Hybrid Dhan 10 Six new high-yielding rice varieties released in 2024 for commercial cultivation across Bangladesh. Includes four inbred varieties (BRRI Dhan 115, 116, 117, 118) and two hybrid varieties (BRRI Hybrid Dhan 09, BRRI Hybrid Dhan 10) developed for Bangladesh agro-climatic conditions, with tolerance traits targeting salinity, submergence, cold, BB (Bacterial Blight), and Blast diseases. Distributed to farmers through BADC and DAE channels free of cost.
• BRRI Services Portal Central gateway portal integrating multiple BRRI services including FAMS, Seed Management System (SEMS), Research Repository, Demo Data Collection, Smart Rice Profile, Rice Solutions, and Vehicle Management. Serves as the unified access point for BRRI's digital service ecosystem.
• Seed Management System (SEMS) Web-based system for managing seed-related operations across BRRI's regional offices, including breeder seed tracking and distribution management for BRRI-developed rice varieties. Used by BRRI scientists and partner seed producers (notably BADC).
• BRRI Agromet Service Agricultural meteorological service providing weather data and forecasts to support rice cultivation decisions. Targets farmers, extension workers, and rice researchers in Bangladesh.
• Integrated Rice Advisory System (IRAS) Integrated system for delivering rice cultivation advisory services to farmers and extension workers across Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh Rice Knowledge Bank Online knowledge repository providing comprehensive information on rice cultivation, BRRI-released varieties, crop calendar, regional suitability maps, climate maps, and best agronomic practices. Free public resource for farmers, researchers, and extension workers.
• Solar Light Trap Solar-powered light trap innovation designed for rice pest management. Featured in BRRI's Innovation Corner for replication by farmers and extension workers across Bangladesh.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15-18% reduction in rice yield loss through proper pest and disease management using Rice Solution app
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability11 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRRI is a key member of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) under BARC. BARC coordinates agricultural research activities across Bangladesh's research institutes, providing strategic direction and funding coordination for national research priorities.
• ICT Division, Government of BangladeshcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe Rice Solution mobile app and digital platforms were developed under the 'Mobile Gaming & Application Development and Skill Enhancement' project of the ICT Division. The division provides technical support and funding for digital agriculture initiatives.
• Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBARI is listed as a key partner organization on BRRI's website. Both institutes collaborate within the NARS framework for agricultural research and technology development.
• Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBAU is referenced as a key agricultural institution that collaborates with BRRI on research, training, and human resource development in agricultural sciences.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Indonesian Center for Rice Research (ICRR): ICRR operates under Indonesia's Agency for Agricultural Research and Development and develops improved rice varieties for Indonesian agro-ecologies. Directly comparable mandate and organizational structure to BRRI.
• Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice): AfricaRice is a CGIAR center focused exclusively on rice research for African smallholders, with similar objectives to BRRI: improved varieties, agronomic practices, and capacity building for food security. Comparable mission and institutional model.
• International Rice Research Institute (IRRI): IRRI is the global flagship rice research institute based in the Philippines, operating CGIAR-funded rice breeding programs across Asia and Africa. It is the most direct peer to BRRI, sharing the same core mission of developing improved rice varieties and technologies for developing countries, and is referenced as a peer institution in BRRI's partnership network.
• Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice): PhilRice is the Philippines' national rice research institute under the Department of Agriculture, with a mandate analogous to BRRI's: develop high-yielding and climate-resilient rice varieties, conduct extension, and serve smallholder farmers. Highly comparable in mission, structure, and product portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) - Rice Research: CAAS operates China's national rice research programs, including hybrid rice work. A much larger incumbent peer in rice science with globally significant outputs (e.g., Yuan Longping's hybrid rice legacy), serving as a strategic benchmark rather than a direct competitor.
• CGIAR System Organization: CGIAR is the global umbrella coordinating international agricultural research for food security, including rice, and is BRRI's broader peer in the global agricultural research ecosystem. BRRI participates via NARS/BARC coordination rather than direct CGIAR membership.
• National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Japan: NARO conducts rice research for Japan with strong emphasis on quality and premium varieties. Comparable in scientific rigor and national mandate, though the market and crop focus (premium Japonica) differs materially from BRRI's smallholder food-security mandate.
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): ICAR is the apex body coordinating agricultural research across India, including the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR). It is a broad incumbent peer operating across many crops with rice as one of many focus areas, comparable to BRRI's national coordinating role but at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• Corteva Agriscience (Rice Division): Corteva is a global seed and crop protection major with a commercial hybrid rice pipeline competing for the same smallholder farmers BRRI serves. It is an emerging commercial peer with partial overlap in varietal offerings, posing a competitive threat on hybrid rice.

Regional players

• Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS): VAAS is Vietnam's leading agricultural research body, including rice-focused institutes that develop high-yielding varieties for the Mekong Delta. Comparable in crop focus but operating in a different geography from BRRI.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ResearchRice
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brri

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bangladesh Rice Research Institute