Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) was honoured to be awarded the 2025 GAEA Award at the Philanthropy Asia Summit 2025, in recognition of the Decarbonising Rice Project—an initiative that is transforming how rice is grown across Asia to be more climate-resilient, productive, and sustainable.
TLL and the four other GAEA Awards winners — Youth Climate Justice Fund, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), Built by Nature, HYBRIT — onstage with H.R.H Princess Beatrice at the GAEA Awards Ceremony. (Photo credit: GAEA)
During the award ceremony, TLL CEO Mr. Peter Chia shared:
“Rice is the lifeblood for over half the world’s population. And yet, every bowl of rice we consume comes at a cost we don’t often see. In Asia, rice cultivation is responsible for 10% of global methane emissions. At the same time, climate-related disruptions are affecting our ability to meet growing future demands for rice.”
Mr. Peter Chia, CEO, TLL, receiving the GAEA Award onstage from Mr. Chavalit Frederick Tsao, Chairman, TPC (Tsao Pao Chee). (Photo credit: GAEA)
The Decarbonising Rice Project represents over two decades of rice research and regional collaboration. What began as a response to the 2004 tsunami—when TLL partnered with scientists in Indonesia and China to develop more resilient rice varieties—has evolved into a full-scale effort to reshape rice farming in the face of climate change.
By combining climate-resilient rice lines, alternate wetting and drying irrigation techniques, and nature-based microbial solutions to improve soil health, the project has already demonstrated the following through pilot trials:
- up to 30–50% reduction in methane emissions,
- up to 30–50% reduction in water usage, and
- 5–10% increase in yields under controlled irrigation.
Currently undergoing field validation in India, Indonesia, and Laos, the initiative is co-developed with farmers, local institutions, and cooperatives—ensuring that solutions are practical, scalable, and adapted to real-world conditions.
“It’s not just about innovation in the lab—it’s about transformation in the field,” said Mr. Chia. “Our goal now is to bring 1 million tons of low methane rice to market in the next few years. We’re looking to grow farmer adoption, strengthen supply chains, and unlock carbon credit opportunities that reward sustainable practices.”
From left to right: Dr. Naweed Naqvi, Dr. Srinivasan Ramachandran, Mr Peter Chia, Dr. Phuay-Yee Goh, and Dr. Zhong Chao Yin (TLL’s Decarbonising Rice Project Team)
TLL extends its heartfelt thanks to Temasek Trust, the members of the Philanthropy Asia Alliance, the GAEA and World Economic Forum teams, the Gates Foundation, and Temasek Foundation for their belief in our work and mission.
For collaboration opportunities on the Decarbonising Rice Project, please contact Dr. Phuay-Yee Goh at phuayyee.goh@tla.com.sg.