Global Rice News

Bangladeshi-Australian gene scientist, Dr. Abed Chaudhury, has made a groundbreaking breakthrough in rice cultivation with his innovative method called ‘Panchabrihi’. This revolutionary discovery in agricultural science is considered a landmark innovation in addressing food shortages all year round.

Dr. Abed Chaudhury is a renowned geneticist, writer, and thinker based in Australia and Bangladesh. With his expertise in genetics, crop breeding, molecular biology, human nutrition, and biotech, he has established himself as a leading figure in modern biology.

In 1984, Dr. Abed Chaudhury obtained his PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Oregon. He has since held notable positions such as Head of Research at Loam Bio, Director at Vitagrain and VitaRice, Principal Scientist at Syngenta Australia and New Zealand, and Senior Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO. His work on fertilisation independent seed (FIS) and polycomb group genes in seed development has been groundbreaking. He currently works at Soil Company.

During his time as a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institute of Health and MIT, Dr. Abed Chaudhury discovered a new gene called ‘Rekdi’, which generated significant interest in the research community in the USA and Europe.

One of his notable innovations is the development of drought-tolerant red maize, which he considers more nutritious than rice and resistant to cancer-like diseases. He has also created several new rice varieties, including Hafiza-1, Jalalia, Tanha, and Doom.

Recently, Dr. Abed Chaudhury unveiled ‘Panchabrihi’ at a seminar organized by the London-Bangla Press Club. This method allows farmers to grow four different categories of rice for different seasons on a single tree. He believes that with the proper implementation of ‘Panchabrihi’, Bangladesh can ensure food security for the next year.

Aside from his scientific contributions, Dr. Abed Chaudhury is a strong advocate for rural development and sustainable growth. He has dedicated himself to transforming his hometown, Kanihati in Sylhet, into a rural hub for social, intellectual, agricultural, and environmental improvements.

Dr. Abed Chaudhury has established educational institutions in Kanihati that promote scientific thinking and innovative ideas for rural development. Additionally, under his supervision, a new variety of aman rice called ‘Kanihati 1 to 16’ was harvested in 30 acres of land in 2023. This variety is known for its quick cultivation and superior quality.

He has authored books in both Bengali and English, covering topics such as ‘The Blueprint of Experience’, ‘Human Genome: Man of Genes’, ‘Dream, Existence, River, and other Poems’, ‘Paradigm Shift’, ‘The Gene Revolution’, and ‘The Future of Food’. Dr. Abed Chaudhury has received recognition for his work, including the ‘Abdul Mannan Chaudhury Memorial Award-2015’ and ‘ACTIVATE & ATSE AWARDS-2022’.