Chipotle's Seoul store uses long-grain rice developed by Sejong University professor

Chipotle’s Seoul store is using IPS, a long-grain rice developed by Sejong University professor Chin Joong-hyoun, at its first Asia location. The rice has been cultivated and commercialized in Haenam since 2021. The university said the project was designed to help Korean agriculture cope with climate change, flooding and fertilizer shortages.

IPS is an indica variety developed by Chin Joong-hyoun, a professor in Sejong University’s Department of Integrative Biological Sciences and Industry.

Full-scale cultivation and commercialization of IPS began in 2021 with support from Haenam County and Ttangkkeut Hwangto Eco-friendly Farming.

A 2025 project led by the Rural Development Administration, universities and companies will run through 2029 with a total budget of 19 billion won, or about $14 million.

Published Sep 27, 2026 12:33 pm KST

Indica rice variety designed to address effects of climate change

IPS, Korea’s first domestically developed indica long-grain rice variety to be mass-produced and commercialized / Courtesy of Sejong University

Locally grown long-grain rice is gaining attention after U.S. restaurant chain Chipotle selected it for use at its first location in Asia.

The long-grain variety used in Chipotle’s burritos and burrito bowls in its restaurant in Seoul is less sticky and has longer, more slender grains than the short-grain rice commonly consumed in Korea.

The variety remains unfamiliar to many Korean consumers. However, efforts to cultivate and commercialize the rice have been underway in Haenam, Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, since 2021.

The new rice is called IPS and is an indica variety developed by Chin Joong-hyoun, a professor in the Department of Integrative Biological Sciences and Industry at Sejong University.

The university said the development of IPS was aimed at addressing the challenges posed by climate change and increasingly unstable agricultural production conditions.

Key concerns included flooding associated with climate change and fertilizer shortages stemming from disruptions to global supply chains.

To address these challenges, Chin developed IPS, which can withstand flood conditions while maintaining efficient nutrient uptake — even when essential nutrients such as phosphorus are scarce.

His long-grain rice project was supported by organizations including the Rural Development Administration and the National Research Foundation of Korea.

Interest in the variety emerged in Korea rather than in tropical regions where indica rice is more commonly grown. Chin focused on southwestern coastal areas of the country, which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels.

As the need for climate-adaptive crops grows in these areas, he saw IPS as a potential solution to help Korean agriculture adapt to changing environmental conditions.

The transition from research to commercial production was made possible through cooperation with local partners.

Yoon Young-sik, left, head of Ttangkkeut Hwangto Eco-friendly Farming, and Chin Joong-hyoun, a professor in Sejong University’s Department of Integrative Biological Sciences and Industry, pose in front of a promotional center for long-grain rice grown in Haenam, South Jeolla Province. Courtesy of Sejong University

Full-scale cultivation and commercialization of IPS began in 2021 with support from Haenam County and Ttangkkeut Hwangto Eco-friendly Farming, an agricultural corporation.

Once a production base had been established, distribution channels also expanded. IPS rice was sold to consumers through online platforms such as Naver Store, Coupang and Market Kurly.

The rice’s distinctive texture made it well suited to a variety of dishes, including fried rice, pilaf and curry.

Chipotle’s purchase illustrates how long-grain rice grown in Haenam can move beyond household consumption into the food service industry.

The experience gained through cultivation and sales has also prompted policy discussions on the industrialization of long-grain rice and food security.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Haenam County and companies have explored ways to expand the use of long-grain rice.

In 2025, the Rural Development Administration, universities and companies launched a project to develop long-grain rice varieties and technologies for stable cultivation. The project, with a total budget of 19 billion won ($14 million), will run through 2029. It expands efforts by universities, companies and local growers into a national-level research and development initiative.

Further development of new varieties is underway. Professor Chin and his research team at Sejong University are developing varieties that retain the long, firm grains of IPS while enhancing protein content, aroma and potential health benefits.

The university said the goal is to combine adaptability to changing growing conditions with the quality characteristics desired by consumers.

“I hope to develop high-quality rice varieties that consumers prefer and ultimately contribute to balancing Korea’s rice supply and demand,” Chin said.

“My goal is to strengthen food security by developing versatile rice varieties that appeal to foreign consumers and have strong export potential,” he added.

Chipotle位于首尔的首家亚洲门店正在使用IPS长粒米，这种大米由世宗大学教授秦重铉（Chin Joong-hyoun）研发。自2021年起，这种大米已在海南县开始种植和商业化。世宗大学表示，该项目旨在帮助韩国农业应对气候变化、洪涝灾害和化肥短缺等问题。

IPS 是由世宗大学综合生物科学与产业系教授 Chin Joong-hyoun 开发的籼稻品种。

在海南郡和唐克黄土生态友好农业的支持下，IPS于2021年开始全面种植和商业化。

由韩国农村振兴厅、大学和企业牵头的2025年项目将持续到2029年，总预算为190亿韩元，约合1400万美元。

发布于2026年9月27日下午12:33（韩国标准时间）

为应对气候变化的影响而培育的籼稻品种

IPS，韩国首个自主研发并实现大规模生产和商业化的籼型长粒水稻品种 / 图片由世宗大学提供

美国连锁餐厅 Chipotle 选择在亚洲首家分店使用本地种植的长粒米，这种大米因此受到关注。

Chipotle 首尔餐厅的墨西哥卷饼和墨西哥卷饼碗中使用的长粒米，与韩国常见的短粒米相比，粘性较小，米粒更长更细。

这种水稻品种对许多韩国消费者来说仍然比较陌生。然而，自2021年以来，全罗南道光州特别广域市海南市一直在努力种植和商业化这种水稻。

这种新品种水稻名为 IPS，是由世宗大学综合生物科学与产业系教授 Chin Joong-hyoun 开发的籼稻品种。

该大学表示，IPS 的开发旨在应对气候变化和日益不稳定的农业生产条件带来的挑战。

主要担忧包括与气候变化相关的洪水以及因全球供应链中断而导致的化肥短缺。

为了应对这些挑战，Chin 开发了 IPS 技术，该技术能够在洪水条件下保持高效的养分吸收——即使在磷等必需养分匮乏的情况下也是如此。

他的长粒水稻项目得到了包括韩国农村振兴厅和韩国国家研究基金会在内的多个机构的支持。

人们对这种水稻品种的兴趣并非源于印度籼稻更为常见的热带地区，而是在韩国兴起。秦先生重点关注韩国西南沿海地区，这些地区尤其容易受到气候变化的影响，包括海平面上升。

随着这些地区对适应气候变化的作物的需求不断增长，他认为 IPS 是帮助韩国农业适应不断变化的环境条件的潜在解决方案。

通过与当地合作伙伴的合作，实现了从研究到商业化的转变。

图为唐克黄土生态友好农业公司负责人尹永植（左）与世宗大学综合生物科学与产业系教授秦重铉在全罗南道海南市长粒米推广中心前合影。图片由世宗大学提供。

在海南郡和唐克黄土生态友好农业公司（一家农业公司）的支持下，IPS于2021年开始全面种植和商业化。

生产基地建立后，分销渠道也随之拓展。IPS大米通过Naver Store、Coupang和Market Kurly等线上平台销售给消费者。

这种米饭独特的口感使其非常适合用于各种菜肴，包括炒饭、抓饭和咖喱。

Chipotle 的收购表明，海南种植的长粒米不仅可以满足家庭消费需求，还可以进入餐饮服务行业。

通过种植和销售获得的经验也引发了关于长粒米产业化和粮食安全的政策讨论。

农业食品农村部、海南郡和各公司一直在探索扩大长粒米使用范围的方法。

2025年，韩国农村振兴厅联合多所大学和企业启动了一项旨在开发长粒水稻品种及稳定种植技术的项目。该项目总预算为190亿韩元（约合1400万美元），将持续到2029年。该项目将大学、企业和当地种植户的合作提升为一项国家级的研发计划。

新品种的进一步研发工作正在进行中。世宗大学的陈教授及其研究团队正在研发既能保留IPS小麦细长紧实的籽粒，又能提高蛋白质含量、香气和潜在健康益处的品种。

该大学表示，目标是将对不断变化的生长条件的适应能力与消费者所期望的品质特性相结合。

“我希望培育出消费者喜爱的高品质大米品种，并最终为平衡韩国大米供需做出贡献，”秦先生说。

“我的目​​标是通过培育能够吸引国外消费者并具有强大出口潜力的多功能水稻品种来加强粮食安全，”他补充道。