Rice Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.5, 282-293 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/rgg 289 10 Policy support and capacity building 10.1 Formulate climate-resilient agricultural policies Climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) sounds like the direction of future agricultural development, but to truly implement it, technology alone is not enough. Policy is the foundation of the entire system. Many years ago, the scientific community repeatedly emphasized that it is critical to formulate a policy framework that can promote communication, knowledge sharing, and technology development, and it is best to link it with risk management and environmental protection (Lipper et al., 2014). But then again, although many local policies have been formulated, implementation and effect evaluation have not kept up, and there are relatively few cases that truly support CRA transformation. More realistic suggestions include: introducing climate forecasts in agricultural planning, promoting agricultural insurance to reduce farmers' investment risks, and formulating flexible policies that can take into account the specific needs of different agricultural systems (Zakaria et al., 2020; Manevska-Tasevska et al., 2023). Not only at the national level, but also local communities and public institutions must participate and provide strategic support, otherwise many good policies will be difficult to implement. 10.2 Farmer training and knowledge dissemination programs No matter how good the policy is, if farmers do not understand it, implementation is still a problem. Therefore, farmer training and knowledge dissemination programs are particularly important. It has been proven that farmers who have received relevant training are more willing and easier to adopt climate-resilient practices (Zakaria et al., 2020). Most of these trainings are promoted by extension workers or farmer organizations. The content should not only include new technologies and methods, but also integrate some traditional knowledge and local experience, which is more practical (Karume et al., 2022; Ginigaddara and Kodithuwakku, 2024). Moreover, the training targets cannot only focus on farmers. Extension workers themselves must continue to learn and update, otherwise even the best knowledge cannot be passed on. Only when information is truly flowing can capacity building really play a role. 10.3 Strengthen research and extension networks Scientific research institutions have played a great role in promoting climate-resilient agriculture, but the problem is that there is often a big gap between research and front-line application. Research can provide data support and management advice, and even develop win-win policy solutions that take into account land use, climate regulation and biodiversity (Webb et al., 2017). The extension network is responsible for translating these results into practical guidelines that farmers can understand and use (Teklu et al., 2023). However, many public institutions currently have shortcomings in funding, personnel training, and resource allocation (Khan et al., 2020). If research is to truly serve the front line, better coordination mechanisms, sufficient material support, and a more precise training system are needed (Popoola et al., 2020). Only by filling in these details can climate-resilient agriculture not only look good in papers, but also take root in the fields. 11 Future Directions and Research Focus 11.1 Innovations in Genome Editing for Climate Adaptability If rice is to survive in the increasingly unreliable climate conditions of the future, it will certainly not be able to rely on old varieties. In recent years, genome editing and molecular breeding technologies have given breeders more tools to directly address problems under climate stress such as drought, salinity, and extreme high temperatures (Isnaini et al., 2023). Many studies have found a number of quantitative trait loci (QTLs), genes, and superior alleles related to drought and salt tolerance. How to combine these characteristics into modern varieties has become an urgent task. In order to speed up the pace, high-throughput phenotyping technology, genetic map construction, gene aggregation and other methods are being widely used to strive to cultivate climate-smart rice that can truly cope with various biological and abiotic stresses (Saini et al., 2025). However, technology alone is not enough. It is also critical to develop clearer and more efficient promotion strategies, especially for those areas that are most vulnerable to climate.
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