Smart Net-Zero

December 18, 2025 | International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) |

IRRI and the Vietnam Rice Research and Development Institute (VIETRISA) jointly launched ViRiCert, a certification scheme recognizing low-emission rice production and supporting Vietnam’s “One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice” program in the Mekong Delta. The scheme integrates field-level MRV with improved water and nutrient management, using standardized emissions benchmarks tailored to rice systems. As rice cultivation is a major source of methane emissions in Asia, ViRiCert links mitigation practices—such as mid-season drainage and no burning of rice straw—with digital compliance assessment, verification, and future labeling under a low-emission rice brand. The pilot implementation is planned across around 10 cooperatives, covering approximately 500 ha and targeting certification of about 20,000 tonnes of rice in the 2025–2026 winter–spring season. By connecting credible emissions data with certification, the initiative aims to improve farmers’ access to green finance and premium markets, while pilot scheme will inform scaling across major rice-producing regions.