Singapore  - Research giant Bayer has opened a lab aiming to create higher-yielding varieties of rice to help Asian countries cope with shortage and skyrocketing prices.

The 10-million-Singapore-dollar (7.4-million-US-dollar) facility will focus on creating strains that are 30 per cent more productive than current varieties and disease resistant, said spokesman Damien Plan.

The lab which opened on Friday, is currently staffed with five scientists, but plans for 15 within the next three years.

Researchers will use DNA analysis to determine the success of their cross breeding, a technique cutting out the lengthy process of planting, harvesting and testing rice.

"It's as good as traditional breeding methods, only much faster," The Straits Times quoted Plan as saying.

Bayer CropScience has commercial varieties of hybrid rice yielding between 20 per cent and 30 per cent growing in India, Vietnam, Brazil and four other countries. They are not disease-resistant, Bayer said.

Asia produces more than 90 per cent of the world's rice crops annually. The soaring prices have hit many poor communities hard, causing riots in some. (dpa)