About us
The Global Rice Research Foundation, or GRRF, has given over 40 grants to undergraduates and graduate students to pursue rice research and travel overseas to where rice is important. GRRF was founded in 1999 as the Asia Rice Foundation USA (ARFUSA) and has been doing business as GRRF since 2022. It was founded by former IRRI staff members in the U.S. who worked and lived in countries where rice is vital for food and livelihoods.
As like-minded scientists, development experts and family members who dedicated substantial parts of our careers and lives to the various aspects of rice in human society, we wished to continue to support activities that help contribute toward a world that can feed itself, treasure the rich heritage of rice cultures, and value rice growing land as a precious resource to be shared with future generations.
We are particularly interested in encouraging the next generation of rice scientists through our Global Rice Leadership Awards that support travel and study costs for young scholars seeking to expand their knowledge about rice.
2025 GRRF Meeting Plans
The next Annual Meeting of GRRF members is planned for August 1-3 in Davis CA. More details will be forthcoming, but the meeting will hear reports from past awardees and vote on members to the Board of Directors in addition to other business.
Last July GRRF sponsored an IRRI Reunion in association with its Annual Meeting in Portland, OR. Cameron Pittelkow, agronomist on the faculty of UC Davis, reported how his GRRF scholarship helped him in his professional career. Cameron was also elected to the Board of GRRF.Friends attending had lots of unstructured time for food and fellowship and some enjoyed touring in the Portland area.
GRRF is a membership organization open to all who share our goals. The Board of Trustees is elected by the members, and currently comprises: Ronnie Coffman, Fernanda Stella de Freitas, Robert Herdt, Jennifer Herdt, Janneke HilleRisLambers, J.K. Ladha, Renu Miles, Kevin Murphy (Board Chair), Elvis Heinrichs, Cameron Pittelkow, Kristin Stark, Diane Wang, and Robert Zeigler (Executive Director). Members of the 2019 Board are pictured. L to R: Bob Herdt (Treasurer), Kevin Murphy (Vice Chair), Renu Miles (Associate Treasurer), Short Heinrichs, Ranjiv Khush (Chair), Kristin Stark, Bob Zeigler (Corporate Secretary and Executive Director), Ronnie Coffman, Russ Freed.