The Philippine Rice Research Institute and the Foundation University will launch the National Rice Year 2013 during the "Rice is Life" Dumaguete Adventure Marathon on November 18, a press release from FU said.

Hazel Antonio, project leader of the NRY 2013, said they DAM as an ideal event to launch the National Rice Year because of the marathon's advocacy for rice conservation.

The DAM, which is now on its fourth year, is the only marathon in the planet that celebrates rice--the golden grain of life, the press release said.

Before the run, runners recite a pledge to help conserve rice. A cookfest also follows the marathon, participated by various schools in Negros Oriental, which prepares various rice-based dishes, it said.

The PhilRice is a regular partner of Foundation University in its advocacy for national rice sufficiency.

Antonio said the NRY 2013 campaign will focus on two problems in the Philippines: We are eating way too much rice and we are wasting too much rice.

She cited a survey which revealed that on average, Filipinos eat almost five cups of rice when one cup a meal is enough. The study also said that Filipinos are eating more rice than any other food groups. Rice, she said, should only constitute 1/4 of a meal--not 1/2.

Antonio said Filipinos devote too much energy to rice when there more nutritious energy from potatoes, cassava, sweet potato and corn.

Another finding in the study revealed that in 2010, Filipinos wasted 13 percent of the total rice imports, costing Php 17 million a day, the press release added.*

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