Prospects from pure herbal rice varieties

With the improving quality of life, the demand for food that is both delicious and healthy is becoming an inevitable trend. Recognizing this, the Lao Cai Provincial Agricultural Seed Center has pioneered a new approach to rice breeding, focusing on medicinal properties to meet nutritional needs and adapt to highland farming conditions. One of the outstanding results of this research is the high-quality purebred rice variety LC26.

From 2022 to 2025, the Lao Cai Provincial Agricultural Seed Center is implementing the project "Research and selection of high-quality, delicious rice varieties with a medicinal orientation in Lao Cai province". This project is of great significance in the context of the agricultural sector moving towards green, safe development and enhancing the nutritional value of products.

LC26 is a pure rice variety developed through sexual hybridization and pedigree selection. It can be cultivated in both seasons of the year. LC26 boasts high yields: 65-84 quintals/hectare in the spring season and 62-66 quintals/hectare in the autumn season. In trials conducted at the Bat Xat Seed Farm and in the VCU (Vegetable, Animal, Crop, and Crop) trial program of the National Center for Plant Breeding in various ecological zones within and outside the province, LC26 consistently achieved superior yields compared to the control variety.

The family of Mr. Co Van Ve in Nam Can village, Nghia Do commune, is one of the households participating in the trial cultivation of the new LC26 rice variety. According to Mr. Ve, the LC26 variety grows and develops well, with few pests and diseases. When harvested, the rice yields quite high productivity, the grains are light pink in color, fragrant, and the cooked rice is sticky. Knowing that this is a medicinal rice variety, Mr. Ve hopes to expand the cultivation area and develop the economy from this crop.

According to Ms. Ha Thuy Hang, Deputy Head of the Business Department of the Lao Cai Provincial Agricultural Seed Center, after successfully researching a new pure herbal rice variety, the unit conducted several product quality assessments. Nutritional analysis conducted in 2023 by the Center for Experimental Biology under the Institute of Applied Technology ( Ministry of Science and Technology ) showed that LC26 rice has significantly superior nutritional content compared to ordinary white rice, including many beneficial substances and micronutrients.

According to Ms. Hang, many people are currently tending to reduce the amount of rice in their daily diet. With LC26 rice, the amylose content ranges from 13.63% to 14.05% of dry matter, resulting in cooked rice with a moderately chewy texture, not too sticky, and a low to medium glycemic index – suitable for people on diets, those with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or high blood pressure.

With its superior nutritional value, LC26 rice not only meets domestic consumption needs but also has the potential to be exported to demanding markets where consumers increasingly prioritize functional and nutrient-rich rice products.

The successful development of the LC26 rice variety not only marks a step forward in plant breeding research but also opens up an effective and sustainable economic development direction for farmers in the northern mountainous region. Compared to traditional rice varieties, producing LC26 yields 35% to 40% higher economic efficiency due to its high yield, fewer pests and diseases, reduced pesticide costs, and higher selling price thanks to its superior nutritional value.

On December 17, 2024, the LC26 variety was officially approved for circulation in the northern midland and mountainous regions by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) under Decision No. 608/QD-TT-CLT. This is an important legal basis for localities to proactively include LC26 in their crop structure, expand production models, and move towards developing a production-processing-consumption chain.

With its outstanding advantages in yield, resistance, and nutritional value, LC26 is a clear example of the innovative direction in plant breeding research – combining science and technology with the practical demands of the market. The successful development of the LC26 rice variety not only brings economic benefits but also represents a step forward in community health care through the selection of healthy, biologically valuable food. This new rice variety is expected to become one of the key varieties, contributing to the development of green, safe, and sustainable agriculture in Lao Cai in the future.

Performed by: Khanh Ly

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/trien-vong-tu-giong-lua-thuan-thao-duoc-post649899.html