The CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) describes it as ‘diabetic-friendly, nutrient-rich designer rice.’ And if everything goes according to the plan, NIIST will release this healthy rice next year.
C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, told The Hindu on Wednesday that human trials are under way on its ‘designer rice.’ Part of what CSIR-NIIST has done is increase the protein content of the rice. The end result is a rice that is high in protein but low Glycaemic index (GI), Dr. Anandharamakrishnan said.
NIIST’s rice has a protein content of 20% and a Glycaemic Index (GI) of 54, which is a low GI. GI is a measure of how foods cause blood sugar levels to rise. To compare, white rice has a GI above 70, which is high on the scale.
NIIST, a constituent lab of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has been working on this project since December 2024.
As opposed to fortified rice, NIIST’s diabetic-friendly variety can be directly cooked and consumed. “In the case of fortified rice, you cannot directly cook and eat it. You have to mix it with normal rice at a 1:100 ratio,” he said.
