About SRP

SRP is a global alliance dedicated to transforming the rice sector by improving smallholder livelihoods, minimizing environmental impacts, and connecting sustainable rice farmers with markets. The SRP Secretariat, based in Bangkok, Thailand, supports over 100 institutional members through training, assurance, and capacity-building initiatives.

Role Highlights

The Capacity Development Manager will:

• Lead SRP’s Authorized Training Program and support training providers in delivering impactful curricula to farmers and stakeholders.
• Coordinate with SRP National Chapters, supporting the development of country-specific guidelines and fostering knowledge exchange.
• Assist in managing SRP’s Assurance Scheme and tools, ensuring robust implementation and capacity building for auditors and partners.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a candidate with:

• A master’s degree in agriculture, sustainability, or a related field.
• At least five years of experience in training coordination, certification systems, or multi-stakeholder projects.
• Strong communication skills and a passion for sustainable development.

The role is based in Bangkok or can be remote/hybrid by mutual agreement.

How to Apply

Submit your application and CV by 15 February 2025 to Benyapa Lerttrakulchai at benyapa.lerttrakulchai[at]sustainablerice.org. For the full Terms of Reference, click here.

About SRP

SRP is a membership-based organization registered in Bonn, Germany, with a Secretariat in Bangkok, Thailand. Our mission is to:

• Enhance smallholder livelihoods
• Reduce the environmental footprint of rice production
• Ensure a reliable supply of sustainable rice

We achieve these goals by developing science-based cultivation standards, providing capacity building, promoting value chain development, and fostering partnerships.

Role Highlights

The Executive Director oversees SRP’s day-to-day operations, working closely with the SRP Board, Secretariat, and members to implement the organization’s strategic plan. Key responsibilities include:

• Driving resource mobilization and membership growth
• Leading updates to SRP’s standards and assurance scheme
• Building partnerships and engaging stakeholders globally
• Managing the Secretariat team and ensuring operational excellence
• Organizing impactful events, including conferences and workshops

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a leader with:

• Proven expertise in sustainable development and the agri-food sector
• At least 10 years of leadership experience
• Strong skills in fundraising, partnership building, and resource management
• Knowledge of the rice agrifood sector and commodity standards
• Exceptional communication and strategic thinking abilities

The role is preferably based in Bangkok, with flexibility for the right candidate. Extensive travel is required.
For the full Terms of Reference, click here.

What is SRP RiceTrace?

SRP RiceTrace is a digital platform designed to provide transparent, verifiable information about SRP rice production. It allows farmers, buyers, and other stakeholders in the rice value chain to track and validate the sustainability of rice from farm to market in compliance with SRP standards.

Key Features of SRP RiceTrace:

• Supplier Contact: Facilitates efficient connections between suppliers and stakeholders across the rice value chain.
• SRP Transaction Certificates: Enables the request and management of SRP Transaction Certificates to verify compliance with sustainability standards.
• Label and Claim Assessments: Supports the assessment of sustainability labels and claims to ensure their authenticity.
• Inventory Monitoring: Provides a tool to track and manage SRP-verified rice inventory, promoting transparency and effective supply chain management.

Important for SRP RiceTrace Users:

• Register Your Details: Users must register their information and the volumes of SRP-Verified rice they possess.
• Inventory Management: Creating and maintaining an updated inventory is essential to ensure timely and efficient processing, manage future activities, and facilitate requests for issuance of transaction certificates among trading partners.

Conference Recap

The launch was an important moment in the 3rd Global Sustainable Rice Conference & Exhibition, which brought together over 240 experts to discuss the transformation of the global rice sector. The event showcased various initiatives for advancing environmental sustainability, economic resilience, and social equity in the rice industry.

During the event, demo accounts were made available for participants to explore RiceTrace’s features and functionalities. QR codes linking to user guidelines were also distributed, offering easy access to support materials. Additionally, SRP organized side meetings to provide hands-on assistance, ensuring smooth onboarding to the platform.

“We are proud to introduce SRP RiceTrace as part of our ongoing efforts to support our members and the global rice sector,” said SRP Executive Director Dr. Wyn Ellis at the event.

“RiceTrace is designed to enhance transparency and traceability, uphold the integrity of SRP practices, build trust among consumers and supply chain actors, and demonstrate our commitment to facilitating sustainable sourcing,” said SRP Standard and Assurance Manager Trusti Widiastuti.

Next Steps for SRP RiceTrace: We Value Your Feedback

To try RiceTrace firsthand, scan the QR code on the image to access the demo account and explore the platform’s features. We encourage you to share your feedback and reach out if you need detailed guidance. The RiceTrace Users’ Manual will be updated to incorporate user feedback.

User feedback will be essential to help SRP to continuously improve functionality and ease of use. Rice producers, retailers, buyers, and other supply chain actors are encouraged to join the platform and contribute to building a more sustainable and transparent rice supply chain.

For more information about SRP RiceTrace and how to get involved, please reach out to assurance@sustainablerice.org.

About the Sustainable Rice Platform

The Sustainable Rice Platform e.V. (SRP) is a global multi‐stakeholder alliance comprising over 100 institutional members from the public, private, research, civil society and the financial sector. SRP works with its members and partners towards transforming the global rice sector by improving smallholder livelihoods, reducing the social, environmental and climate footprint of rice production, and by offering the global rice market an assured supply of sustainably produced rice.

SRP promotes resource-use efficiency and climate change resilience in rice systems (both on-farm and throughout value chains) and pursues voluntary market transformation initiatives by developing sustainable production standards, indicators, incentive mechanisms, and outreach mechanisms to boost wide-scale adoption of climate-smart, sustainable best practices among small farmers.

For more information on the Sustainable Rice Platform contact info@sustainablerice.org or visit www.sustainablerice.org

Contact:
Roong Tepkaew, SRP Communications and Membership Manager
Email: roong.tepkaew@sustainablerice.org

• SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation supports sustainable rice practices in Thailand, with the draft Version 3.0 now open for public consultation.
• SRP launches RiceTrace, a digital platform to streamline operations and ensure compliance with sustainable rice standards.
• SRP is developing the Low-Carbon Assurance Module to measure and verify greenhouse gas reductions in sustainable rice cultivation, in partnership with key stakeholders.

Bangkok, 20 December 2024 – “Our challenge as a sector is to scale sustainable rice production as well as stimulate demand, in order to achieve our shared global environmental and social goals,” stated Inge Jacobs, Global Sustainable Sourcing Lead at Mars Food & Nutrition, during the 3^rd Global Sustainable Rice Conference & Exhibition, held recently in Bangkok.

Held on 26-27 November at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok, the event brought together over 240 experts from around the world to discuss how ongoing transformation of the global rice sector can drive environmental sustainability, economic resilience, and social equity. Speakers from UN agencies, governments, private sector, research and civil society shared discussed their experiences and challenges in implementing the Sustainable Rice Platform Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation, the world’s first voluntary sustainability standard for rice, designed to incentivize farmers, from smallholders to large producers, to adopt proven climate-smart and sustainable best practices, including innovative opportunities for scaling to achieve sector transformation.

The event highlighted the wide range of initiatives transforming the sustainable rice industry – showcasing technology innovations for farmers, new local funding & investment tools, collaborative solutions to de-carbonize rice across markets – all while empowering farmers to achieve low emission outcomes that can deliver economic benefits.

Hosted by the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP), the conference discussed all of these transformation drivers – including emerging regulatory requirements, market shifts, corporate sustainability reporting and financial instruments as drivers of sustainable rice sector growth.

Addressing the conference during the Opening Ceremony, Kulsiri Klunnuraksa, Director of the Rice Research and Development Division at the Thai Rice Department, stressed the importance of the rice sector not only as a stable food, but also as the heart of Thailand’s culture, economy, and way of life. “Rice has been an integral part of Thai society for centuries, supporting livelihoods of millions of farm families, sustaining our rural communities, and of course is at the core of Thailand’s cuisine and our agricultural exports,” said Ms Kulsiri.

“The Thailand Rice Department is committed to SRP and we are proud to be leading several large-scale projects aimed at promoting sustainable rice farming across Thailand. Among these projects is one funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented in collaboration with UNEP, GIZ and SRP. Over the next four years the project will train approximately 45,000 rice farmers to adopt the SRP Standard.”

“Fostering collaborative pathways to incentivize wide-scale adoption of low-carbon, sustainable best practices is SRP’s overarching goal,” Dr. Wyn Ellis, SRP Executive Director commented during the event’s opening ceremony.

“Rice stands at the intersection of the twin global challenges of sustainable food systems and climate change action. SRP aims at a holistic approach that links carbon action to the needs of small farmers through an integrated sustainability framework that encompasses smallholder livelihoods, resource efficiency, biodiversity, workers’ rights and women’s empowerment in rice value chains.”

In his keynote address to the conference, Chris Brett, Lead Agribusiness Specialist at the World Bank Group congratulated SRP on its progress in highlighting the need for global action and reported on the increasing emphasis on climate finance for the rice sector within the global development community.

“We continue to work to leverage climate finance and carbon markets to accelerate a transitioning of the rice sector toward low-emission practices,” he said.

“We are making significant progress in the development of financing tools & innovations that further encourage wide-scale adoption of low-emission technologies, while generating economic benefits for smallholders. However, much higher levels of public funding and private investment will be critical to realize these goals.”

In her keynote, Dr. Yvonne Pinto, Director General at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a founding member of SRP, noted that SRP stands at an important moment in the context of key global drivers: “The global market for sustainable rice is developing due to the interplay of food security needs, climate change challenges, economic incentives for farmers, consumer preferences for sustainability, and ongoing investment in agricultural innovation.” she said.

“We see great opportunities for large-scale mitigation and sequestration through sustainable rice practices, and creation of pathways to gigaton-scale carbon reductions, all while delivering significant economic and social benefits for farmers, the environment and society.”

Speakers discussed how SRP members and partners around the world are championing sustainable rice, showcasing country-level case studies and panel discussions from around the world. The 2-day event also featured the launch of SRP’s new RiceTrace digital traceability platform, designed to streamline operations and ensure compliance with SRP Standards, the release of the draft Version 3.0 of the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation for public consultation and a progress update on the development of the SRP Low Carbon Assurance Module, in partnership with key stakeholders. This module aims to measure and verify greenhouse gas reductions in sustainable rice cultivation. Additionally, two new IFC reports were launched, exploring market and financing opportunities for sustainable rice and benchmarking SRP against global best practices.

Photos and presentations from the event are available here.

The 3rd Global Sustainable Rice Conference & Exhibition was proudly supported by sponsors Olam Agri and String Bio, as well as media partner SSR Rice News.

About the Sustainable Rice Platform

The Sustainable Rice Platform e.V. (SRP) is a global multi‐stakeholder alliance comprising over 100 institutional members from the public, private, research, civil society and the financial sector. SRP works with its members and partners towards transforming the global rice sector by improving smallholder livelihoods, reducing the social, environmental and climate footprint of rice production, and by offering the global rice market an assured supply of sustainably produced rice.

SRP promotes resource-use efficiency and climate change resilience in rice systems (both on-farm and throughout value chains) and pursues voluntary market transformation initiatives by developing sustainable production standards, indicators, incentive mechanisms, and outreach mechanisms to boost wide-scale adoption of climate-smart, sustainable best practices among small farmers.

For more information on the Sustainable Rice Platform contact info@sustainablerice.org or visit www.sustainablerice.org

Contact:
Roong Tepkaew, SRP Communications and Membership Manager
Email: roong.tepkaew@sustainablerice.org

The GMR applies to SRP producer groups and is essential for efficient data collection and ensuring compliance with the SRP standards. Here are the key benefits of the updated GMR: 

• Data Collection: The GMR template is used to collect data from each individual farmer within a producer group. 

• Mandatory Compliance: Completing the GMR is a requirement for producer groups to comply with IMS Standard requirement #3. 

• Best Practices Adoption: The GMR facilitates the efficient distribution and adoption of best practices in alignment with the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation. 

• Resource Allocation: The registry supports the effective allocation of resources such as training and financial assistance.  

• Data-Driven Decision-Making: The GMR enables informed decision-making for improved management strategies.  

• Monitoring & Evaluation: It provides a robust framework for tracking progress and evaluating success.  

Key Points for Producer Groups: 

• Mandatory Requirement: It is essential that the GMR be completed prior to or during the SRP verification audit.  

• Flexibility: If your verified unit already has its own group member registry, it is acceptable as long as it includes all required information. 

• Compliance Assurance: The updated GMR ensures full compliance with IMS Standard requirement #3, streamlining the verification process.  

We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this update to ensure a seamless and fully compliant verification process. The updated Group Members Registry Template here: Group Members Registry Template

Should you have any questions, please contact assurance@sustainablerice.org.  

Regenerative Agriculture (RA) has become a vital approach to addressing critical challenges in global food systems. This paper explores the alignment of SRP practices with RA outcomes, including enhanced soil health, carbon sequestration, water conservation, and biodiversity preservation. The analysis highlights how the SRP Standard supports these outcomes through its best practices.

As part of the ongoing SRP Standard revision process, we invite you to share your views, ideas and suggestions with us to strengthen the alignment between SRP practices and RA outcomes. The public consultation is open until 15 January 2025.

How to Participate

Review the following documentation:

• Draft SRP Position paper: Contributions of best practices under the SRP Standard towards Regenerative Agriculture outcomes
• Mapping exercise contributions SRP Standard good practices towards Regenerative Agriculture Outcomes

Submit your comments:
Send your feedback via email to info@sustainablerice.org with the subject line “Public Consultation: SRP Position Paper – Regenerative Agriculture”.

For more information, please contact us at info@sustainablerice.org. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping the future of sustainable rice cultivation and promoting regenerative agriculture.

Kylie Porter, a seasoned ESG and sustainability professional, leads SunRice Group’s global sustainability strategy, focusing on climate change, biodiversity, and human rights. She has spearheaded initiatives such as the company’s Net Zero commitment and the decarbonization of rice production. Kylie’s leadership experience with the United Nations Global Compact Network Australia and her extensive work across corporate and NGO sectors further enrich SRP’s strategic vision.

Sandra Razanamandranto brings over 20 years of experience in sustainable agriculture and certification schemes. As Cocoa Commodity Lead at Preferred by Nature, Sandra has championed sustainable practices across global supply chains. Her deep understanding of stakeholder collaboration, combined with her personal connection to rice production in Madagascar, underscores her commitment to advancing SRP’s goals of improving farmer livelihoods and reducing environmental impact.

“We are excited to welcome Kylie Porter and Sandra Razanamandranto to the SRP Board,” said Wyn Ellis, SRP Executive Director. “Their wealth of experience and dedication to sustainable practices will be invaluable as we continue our work to transform the global rice sector and create meaningful impacts across value chains.”

The new Board members join SRP at a pivotal time as the organization advances key initiatives, including the rollout of SRP RiceTrace, ongoing SRP Standard and Performance Indicator revision, and the development of a Low Carbon Assurance Module. Their leadership will be instrumental in shaping SRP’s strategic direction and expanding its global impact in promoting sustainable rice production.

About the Sustainable Rice Platform

The Sustainable Rice Platform e.V. (SRP) is a global multi‐stakeholder alliance comprising over 100 institutional members from the public, private, research, civil society and the financial sector. SRP works with its members and partners towards transforming the global rice sector by improving smallholder livelihoods, reducing the social, environmental and climate footprint of rice production, and by offering the global rice market an assured supply of sustainably produced rice.

SRP promotes resource-use efficiency and climate change resilience in rice systems (both on-farm and throughout value chains) and pursues voluntary market transformation initiatives by developing sustainable production standards, indicators, incentive mechanisms, and outreach mechanisms to boost wide-scale adoption of climate-smart, sustainable best practices among small farmers.

For more information on the Sustainable Rice Platform contact info@sustainablerice.org or visit www.sustainablerice.org

Contact:
Roong Tepkaew, SRP Communications and Membership Manager
Email: roong.tepkaew@sustainablerice.org

This public consultation seeks to ensure the updated SRP Standard addresses stakeholder needs while balancing subject matter and geographic considerations.

Key Updates in v3.0

Rewarding Innovation
A new bonus score incentivizes farmers adopting innovative climate change mitigation practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Strengthening Biodiversity
Enhanced criteria aim to support biodiversity and halt deforestation, with practical measures suitable for producers at all levels.

Advancing Livelihoods
The revised Standard emphasizes gender sensitivity and alignment with the FAO/WHO 2016 guidelines on highly hazardous pesticides.

Recognizing Progress Toward Sustainability
Farmers scoring between 50 and 89 in audits are recognized as “Aspiring farmers” and receive a “Progress Recognition Statement” for Years 1 and 2, with verification required by Year 3.

About the Consultation

Feedback Review: All submissions will be reviewed by the working group led by the SRP Technical Committee.
Further Consultation Rounds: Additional 30-day consultations may be held if issues remain unresolved or if feedback lacks representation from key stakeholder groups.
Transparency: SRP is committed to transparency and will publish the feedback received during this phase.

Resources for Review

To assist your review, the following resources are available (click on the document title to access):

1. Table of Changes from Version 2.2 to Version 3.0
2. Draft SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation (Version 3.0)
3. Annex B: Stakeholder Consultation & Risk Assessment for Land Conversion and Biodiversity
4. Annex C: Risk Assessment Checklist for Pesticide Management
5. SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation (Version 2.2)

Share Your Feedback

Submit your comments via this online form.
Deadline: 25 January 2025

For any inquiries, contact us at assurance@sustainablerice.org with the subject line: SRP Standard v3.0 Revision. Your contributions will help refine the SRP Standard and strengthen its impact on sustainable rice cultivation worldwide.

Together, let’s build a more sustainable future for rice farming.

Background

To drive progress in sustainable rice cultivation, SRP is developing a Low Carbon Assurance Module (LCAM). This tool focuses on insetting and verifying low-carbon claims for Scope 3 emission reductions within value chains. In collaboration with CarbonFarm and AgriCapture, the pilot projects will explore carbon offsetting opportunities to generate new revenue streams for rice farmers.

Project Outcomes

The pilot projects will develop scalable business models, enabling SRP members to channel carbon finance revenues directly to farmers.

Approach

Two main approaches are envisioned:

1. Support for Member-Led Projects: Providing carbon asset development and digital Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (dMRV) services to SRP members interested in developing their emission reduction projects.
2. Investor Partnerships: Sourcing and developing rice-based emission reduction projects for investors seeking financial or carbon credit returns.

Interested in learning more? Download the full Call for EoI document for all the details, including criteria, timelines, and submission guidelines. For further information, please contact Rowell Dikitanan, SRP Impact, Monitoring & Evaluation Manager, at rowell.dikitanan{at}sustainablerice.org.

The event offers attendees the opportunity to engage with global and regional experts and stakeholders who are committed to enhancing the resilience and sustainability of rice value chains. Participants will discover innovative solutions and collaborative initiatives, such as the Sustainable Rice Landscapes Initiative and the Global Environment Facility, both designed to drive impactful and scalable change. Attendees will gain valuable insights directly from SRP members and key stakeholders, who will share essential recommendations and lessons learned from their experiences within the SRP framework.

“There’s never been a more important moment for the transformation of the sustainable rice eco-system both in Asia and globally,” said Wyn Ellis, SRP Executive Director, based in Thailand. He highlighted that a shift to more sustainable rice farming practices will be crucial to boost farm livelihoods, enhance food and water security and combat climate change.

Since its launch in 2017, the SRP Conference has emerged as a flagship event and forum for bringing together stakeholders from across the global rice sector. Following the success of the last event in 2019, SRP anticipates over 300 high-level delegates from industry, government, research and development partners joining the conference this year. 

The conference aims to explore the latest innovations, share best practices, and build new partnerships to promote sustainability in rice cultivation and supply chains.

“This event is designed to offer a rich platform to explore the latest tools for impact monitoring- including carbon accounting- and to share knowledge and connect with leaders advancing sustainable practices worldwide,” said Dr. Ellis. “SRP invites attendees to be part of the conversation that will set the stage for sustainable transformation — foster new partnerships, exchange ideas, and help build a more sustainable future for the rice sector!”

Why Attend? 

• Learn from leading experts in sustainable rice production. 
• Explore the latest innovations and approaches. 
• Network with stakeholders and peers from around the world. 
• Participate in discussions to catalyze broader change through collaboration. 

Event Details: 
Dates: 26-27 November 2024 
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ICT (GMT+7) 
Venue: United Nations Conference Centre
United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok, Thailand 

Registration: https://app.glueup.com/event/3rd-global-sustainable-rice-conference-and-exhibition-2024-113133/ 

Join us in Bangkok to shape the future of sustainable rice production!

About the Sustainable Rice Platform

The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) is a global multi‐stakeholder alliance comprising over 100 institutional members from the public, private, research, civil society and the financial sector. 

SRP works with its members and partners towards transforming the global rice sector by improving smallholder livelihoods, reducing the social, environmental and climate footprint of rice production, and by offering the global rice market an assured supply of sustainably produced rice. 

SRP promotes resource-use efficiency and climate change resilience in rice systems (both on farm and throughout value chains) and pursues voluntary market transformation initiatives by developing sustainable production standards, indicators, incentive mechanisms, and outreach mechanisms to boost wide-scale adoption of climate-smart, sustainable best practices among small farmers.  

Contact:
Roong Tepkaew, SRP Communications and Membership Manager
Email: roong.tepkaew@sustainablerice.org