Scientists at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines have developed a new variety of rice that could help reduce the growing worldwide burden of diabetes.

An estimated 537 million adults on the planet are living with the disease. And that number is expected to grow to 783 million in the next 20 years.

Statistics Canada reports that as of 2020-21, there were 3.7 million Canadians living with diabetes – almost 10 per cent of the population.