VARANASI, Oct. 6 -- The Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR) Conclave 2025 began on Sunday at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) in Varanasi, bringing together scientists, policymakers, private sector leaders and farmer representatives to accelerate innovation and the adoption of climate-smart rice systems. The morning session, titled "Direct-Seeded Rice: Progress, Vision, and Policy Pathways for Large-Scale Adoption", was chaired by Dr Yvonne Pinto, director general of IRRI and co-chaired by DP Wickramasinghe, secretary, ministry of agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, Sri Lanka. Dr Yvonne Pinto said direct-seeded rice is no longer a concept of the future but a proven solution for today's challenges. She noted that through the Direct-Seeded Rice Consortium, there is now evidence that DSR can save water and labour and reduce methane emissions by nearly half. She called for collective action linking science, policy and business models to scale the solution responsibly and inclusively. Dr Panneerselvam, who moderated the session, highlighted DSR's transformative potential as a climate-smart, water-efficient, and profitable rice production system. Presentations and discussions during the session emphasized that DSR can reduce water use by 20 to 40 percent, cut labour needs by 25 to 30 percent, and lower methane emissions by 35 to 40 percent, while maintaining yield stability and improving profitability. Examples from India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and other Asian countries illustrated how integrated approaches-combining mechanisation, precision agronomy, DSR-suitable varieties, water management and stewardship frameworks-can overcome barriers to adoption and support large-scale implementation....