Among the two cultivated rice species, Oryza glaberrima is known for its potential in diseases resistance and wide adaptability to abiotic factors. In Benin, most of local varieties are been replaced by varieties of O. sativa hence keeping the species in its NUS status. This project is designed to fill the gap of knowledge related to O. glaberrima that will help exploiting in maximum its potential for the improvement of the country’s rice productivity to combat food insecurity.