Philippines' Dinorado Wins 2nd Place at the World’s Best Rice Awards

(SPOT.ph) The locally grown Dinorado rice—officially known as NSIC Rc218 and fondly called Mabango 3—has just made it to the world stage. The Department of Agriculture announced that it bagged second place at the World’s Best Rice Award held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The winning entry was submitted by the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s Philippine Rice Research Institute (a.k.a. PhilRice). Rc218 was crafted for tenderness, taste, and aroma—all the makings of a variety of rice that can make anyone go for seconds.

A total of 30 contenders from rice giants like Thailand, India, and Australia joined the competition. Each rice variety was judged through a double-blind taste test led by Chef Robert Nieto, also known as Chef Buttercup and the reigning Lord of Rice from California. Entries were evaluated both uncooked and cooked—based on appearance, aroma, flavor, and texture to determine which deserved the title of the "World's Best Rice."

According to Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) founder Rowena Sadicon, this year’s silver award is an upgrade from last year’s third-place win. “This isn’t just about quality—it’s about identity,” she said. “It’s a reminder that the Philippines is not only the world’s largest rice importer, but also a nation capable of producing world-class, sustainable, and export-worthy rice.”

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel echoed the celebratory sentiment, calling the win proof that “our local farmers and scientists can hold their own against the world’s best.”

The World’s Best Rice Award was presented at the World Rice Conference, organized by The Rice Trader in Phnom Penh from November 7 to 9, 2025. This year, the Philippines' Dinorado landed behind a two-way tie between Vietnam’s ST25 and Cambodia’s seven-time winner Phka Rumdoul.

For more information, check out the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rice Research Institute's website.