Year of Life Looking Forward to International Year of Rice 2004

www.irri.org

International Rice Research Institute October 2003, Vol. 2 No. 2

Breeding for nutrition: More goodness from staple crops

Precious cargo: Seeds of Life for East Timor

Year of life Looking forward to International Year of Rice 2004

ISSN 1655-5422 contents Vol. 2, No. 2 Half of the world’sworld’s rice harvest NEWS...... 4 NEW BOOKS...... 31 Australia pledges $10.7 million to support IRRI adds four new titles to its inventory of publications is consumed by the farm families world's genebanks on rice research and related topics Spray reduction campaign expands into EVENTS ...... 32 Vietnam's Red River Delta that grew it. Higher crop productivity Conferences, meetings and workshops World Bank evaluates agricultural research group RICE FACTS...... The way forward for rice research in India 33 The monoculture myth helps improve their household New IR64 line tolerates acid soil Saving water in the Philippines GRAIN OF TRUTH...... 34 The truth about jasmine rice food security and livelihood RICE IN THE NEWS...... 8 Top scientifi c journals publish calls for more public funding of rice research 4 29 7 March of progress for enhanced nutrition SPECIAL SECTION: INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF RICE...... 10 Year of life: Anticipating International Year of Rice 2004, we revisit International Rice Year 1966 Year of events: Plans for celebrating 10 International Year of Rice A job begun but not done: How supporting rice research serves people, communities and the environment PRECIOUS CARGO...... 20 The Seeds of Life project in East Timor took root quickly as collaborators fl ew in carrying more than clean shirts and socks BREEDING FOR NUTRITION...... 24 Can new scientifi c advances help farmers grow food that is inherently more nutritious? DONORS CORNER ...... 27 The United States Agency for International 14 Development employs multiple strategies to assure impact PEOPLE...... 29 Remembering Derek Tribe, tireless advocate of 20 24 international agricultural research Economist elected IRRI board chair IRRI agronomist made member, Order of Australia

Cover photo Ariel Javellana International Rice Research Institute DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines Web (IRRI): www.irri.org; Web (Library): http://ricelib.irri.cgiar.org; Editor Peter Fredenburg Rice is Web (Riceweb): www.riceweb.org; Web (Rice Knowledge Bank): Art director Juan Lazaro IV www.knowledgebank.irri.org Contributing editors Duncan Macintosh, Gene Hettel, Bill Hardy Designer and production supervisor George Reyes Rice Today editorial Photo editor Ariel Javellana telephone (63-2) 580-5600 or (63-2) 844-3351 to 53, ext 2401; Printer Primex Printers, Inc. fax: (63-2) 580-5699 or (63-2) 845-0606; email: [email protected]

Rice Today is published by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the world’s sponsors projects that bring the results of agricultural research to rural communities, leading international rice research and training center. Based in the Philippines and with farmers and families in Africa, Latin America and Asia. offi ces in 11 other countries, IRRI is an autonomous, nonprofi t institution focused on Responsibility for this publication rests with IRRI. Designations used in this publication improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers, should not be construed as expressing IRRI policy or opinion on the legal status of any particularly those with low incomes, while preserving natural resources. IRRI is one of 16 country, territory, city or area, or its authorities, or the delimitation of its frontiers or Life Future Harvest centers funded by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural boundaries. Research (CGIAR), an association of public and private donor agencies. Rice Today welcomes comments and suggestions from readers. Potential contributors For more information, visit the Web sites of the CGIAR (www.cgiar.org) or Future are encouraged to query fi rst, rather than submit unsolicited materials. Rice Today Harvest Foundation (www.futureharvest.org). Future Harvest Foundation is a nonprofi t assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to unsolicited submissions, which should organization that builds awareness and supports food and environmental research for a be accompanied by suffi cient return postage. INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF RICE 2004 world with less poverty, a healthier human family, well-nourished children and a better environment. Future Harvest Foundation supports research, promotes partnerships and Copyright International Rice Research Institute 2003 contents Vol. 2, No. 2 Half of the world’sworld’s rice harvest NEWS...... 4 NEW BOOKS...... 31 Australia pledges $10.7 million to support IRRI adds four new titles to its inventory of publications is consumed by the farm families world's genebanks on rice research and related topics Spray reduction campaign expands into EVENTS ...... 32 Vietnam's Red River Delta that grew it. Higher crop productivity Conferences, meetings and workshops World Bank evaluates agricultural research group RICE FACTS...... The way forward for rice research in India 33 The monoculture myth helps improve their household New IR64 line tolerates acid soil Saving water in the Philippines GRAIN OF TRUTH...... 34 The truth about jasmine rice food security and livelihood RICE IN THE NEWS...... 8 Top scientifi c journals publish calls for more public funding of rice research 4 29 7 March of progress for enhanced nutrition SPECIAL SECTION: INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF RICE...... 10 Year of life: Anticipating International Year of Rice 2004, we revisit International Rice Year 1966 Year of events: Plans for celebrating 10 International Year of Rice A job begun but not done: How supporting rice research serves people, communities and the environment PRECIOUS CARGO...... 20 The Seeds of Life project in East Timor took root quickly as collaborators fl ew in carrying more than clean shirts and socks BREEDING FOR NUTRITION...... 24 Can new scientifi c advances help farmers grow food that is inherently more nutritious? DONORS CORNER ...... 27 The United States Agency for International 14 Development employs multiple strategies to assure impact PEOPLE...... 29 Remembering Derek Tribe, tireless advocate of 20 24 international agricultural research Economist elected IRRI board chair IRRI agronomist made member, Order of Australia

Rice Today is published by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the world’s sponsors projects that bring the results of agricultural research to rural communities, leading international rice research and training center. Based in the Philippines and with farmers and families in Africa, Latin America and Asia. offi ces in 11 other countries, IRRI is an autonomous, nonprofi t institution focused on Responsibility for this publication rests with IRRI. Designations used in this publication improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers, should not be construed as expressing IRRI policy or opinion on the legal status of any particularly those with low incomes, while preserving natural resources. IRRI is one of 16 country, territory, city or area, or its authorities, or the delimitation of its frontiers or Life Future Harvest centers funded by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural boundaries. Research (CGIAR), an association of public and private donor agencies. Rice Today welcomes comments and suggestions from readers. Potential contributors For more information, visit the Web sites of the CGIAR (www.cgiar.org) or Future are encouraged to query fi rst, rather than submit unsolicited materials. Rice Today Harvest Foundation (www.futureharvest.org). Future Harvest Foundation is a nonprofi t assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to unsolicited submissions, which should organization that builds awareness and supports food and environmental research for a be accompanied by suffi cient return postage. INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF RICE 2004 world with less poverty, a healthier human family, well-nourished children and a better environment. Future Harvest Foundation supports research, promotes partnerships and Copyright International Rice Research Institute 2003 NEWS Spray reduction campaign expands into Vietnam's Red River Delta McNamara Seminar in Japan Australia pledges $10.7 million to support world’s genebanks the proud position of being a major player in the international effort to conserve the Escalada, a communications professor at he Consulta- world’s crop diversity.” the Philippines’ Leyte State University, now Ttive Group Some 1,470 genebanks the world over seconded to IRRI; and Nguyen Huu Huan, on International house seed samples of crops and their wild the vice director general of Vietnam’s Plant Agricultural Re- relatives. Protection Department. Last year, the team search (CGIAR) “Many of these collections are seriously won the $25,000 Saint Andrews Prize for and the Tokyo of- underfunded, jeopardizing the ongoing se- Environment and pledged to use the money fice of the World curity of agriculture and the world’s ability to extend the pesticide-reduction effort to Bank held the to feed itself,” said Mr. Fischer. “These gene- the Red River Delta. second annual banks have proved invaluable in restoring Launched in 1994, the research and Robert S. McNa- agricultural production in war-torn coun- subsequent campaign clearly identified mara Seminar in tries such as Cambodia, Afghanistan and the damage caused by insecticide overuse, Tokyo on 2 July. East Timor by providing seeds originating which kills predator insects and so encour- This year’s in those countries to farmers for planting. ages the pests that they would otherwise seminar, which It is almost certain that genebanks holding help control, and developed new ways of attracted more samples of Iraqi materials will be called communicating this information to farm- than 300 people, upon to restore them to Iraq.”

ers. After persuading almost 2 million rice addressed the BANK WORLD “The conservation of crop diversity is a DR. OTSUKA in Tokyo. growers in the Mekong Delta to cut back on theme “The role little-known necessity for meeting the most insecticides, the partners launched in 2001 a of agriculture and agricultural research ARIEL JAVELLANA fundamental need of humankind — the need similar campaign in central Thailand’s Sing in generating growth and post-disaster ustralia confirmed its leading role in sources for Food and Agriculture, the trust for food,” said Geoffrey Hawtin, interim ex- PHU THANH STUDIO HCMC PHU THANH STUDIO Buri Province. reconstruction.” Mr. McNamara argued Abiodiversity conservation in May, had earlier received commitments totaling ecutive secretary of the Global Conservation TEAM MEMBERS (from right) Nguyen Huu Huan, M.M. The research team found that farmers forcefully for Japan to increase its fund- when the Australian Agency for Interna- $25 million from the governments of the Trust. “This globally significant conserva- Escalada, Vo Mai (Mr. Huan’s predecessor) and K.L. spray in early crop stages because of highly ing to the CGIAR. Former Japanese Prime tional Development pledged A$16.5 million U.S., Switzerland, Egypt and Colombia, tion effort is far more than a warehousing Heong seen with their Golden Rice Award 2002 from visible but yield-neutral damage caused Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto gave the key- (US$10.7 million) for the Global Conserva- and the UN and Gatsby Foundations. exercise. The whole purpose of carefully the Vietnamese government. by leaf-feeders, a practice encouraged by note address on Agriculture and Human tion Trust. Led by the Consultative Group The new pledge “indicates an unprec- collecting, documenting, studying and aggressive pesticide marketing that plays Security. The directors general of three on International Agricultural Research edented acknowledgment by Australia of conserving crop resources is to make them n award-winning campaign that to farmers’ often misplaced fears. “What CGIAR centers spoke, as did Keijiro Otsuka, and the Food and Agriculture Organiza- the importance of the world’s crop diver- easier to use and thus more useful. Gene- Apromises to help protect a million rice appeared to motivate farmers to spray who will become chair of IRRI’s Board of tion of the United Nations, the trust seeks sity collections,” said Tim Fischer, chair- banks distribute hundreds of thousands of farmers in the Red River Delta from need- insecticides during the early stages were Trustees in January (see page 29). to raise an endowment of $260 million to man of the Crawford Fund, an initiative of samples from their collections each year less exposure to insecticides was formally misconceptions and overestimations of The seminars acknowledge the contri- support crop diversity collections, includ- the Australian Academy of Technological upon request from scientists, breeders and inaugurated in Vietnam as part of World losses due to pests,” Dr. Heong explained, bution of Mr. McNamara, a founding father ing the Genetic Resources Center at IRRI, Sciences and Engineering. “A further farmers all over the world for their use in Environment Day 2004 in June. The cam- adding that the group set out to find ways, of the CGIAR and former U.S. secretary of in perpetuity. significant pledge from grain producers, research and crop improvement.” paign, jointly run by a team of Vietnamese, especially through mass media such as ra- defense (1961–68) and president of the Operating within the framework of the through the Grains Research and Devel- For more on the Global Conservation Philippine and Malaysian scientists, builds dio, to motivate farmers to spray less. World Bank (1968–81). International Treaty on Plant Genetic Re- opment Corporation, puts Australia in Trust, visit www.startwithaseed.org. on a groundbreaking effort that has al- “We got a group of actors to play out a ready sharply reduced pesticide misuse in series of brief comedies, using rustic situa- New IR64 line tolerates acid soil Saving water in the Philippines Vietnam’s Mekong Delta (see Rice Today tions and solid scientific facts to make the RRI and the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research ore than 600 farmers, irrigation Vol. 2, No. 1, page 5). audience laugh,” Dr. Heong explained. “We IInstitute (CLRRI) in Vietnam have used Mmanagers, local dignitaries, Depart- The team’s long-running collaborative were pleasantly surprised to find that these wide hybridization to transfer into popular ment of Agriculture personnel and extension effort in Vietnam is led by K.L. Heong, a Ma- simple, humorous messages fixed themselves variety IR64 the ability of Oryza rufipogon, agents descended on Paniqui, in the Philip- laysian senior entomologist at IRRI; M.M. in the minds of thousands of farmers.” a wild relative of cultivated rice, to grow in pine province of Tarlac, on 12 March as Sec- acid sulfate soils. A backcrossing program retary of Agriculture Luis P. Lorenzo, Jr., produced 460 breeding lines for selection in introduced IRRI’s aerobic rice technologies. acid sulfate and nontarget conditions through The aerobic rice project develops technolo- CLRRI’s yield-testing network. The Ministry gies to grow rice as a dry-field crop produc- of Agriculture and Rural Development has ing high, sustainable yields under favorable released one line as national variety AS996 conditions while using much less water. It is for commercial cultivation in Vietnam. a joint effort of farmers, the Philippine Rice “This variety resembles IR64 in most Research Institute (PhilRice), the National characteristics and is resistant to brown Irrigation Authority and IRRI. planthopper and blast disease,” said IRRI “Aerobic rice is just one technology we

plant breeder Darshan Brar. “Besides matur- hope will help rice farmers deal with this PARC ing 5–10 days earlier than IR64, it is suitable new challenge,” said IRRI Director General for moderately acid sulfate soils.” AS996 is Ronald Cantrell. He went on to explain that PLANNING IN PAKISTAN: Ren Wang, deputy director general for research (first row, fourth from right), led a popular with farmers and currently occupies IRRI’s host country is especially well placed delegation of IRRI scientists to Islamabad for the IRRI-Pakistan Work Plan Meeting in March. IRRI and the 100,000 ha in Vietnam. Recognizing the to exploit the latest water-saving technolo- Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) agreed to develop joint project proposals for competitive grants on rice research and to seek funding for a large national program of broadened partnerships. Also

TRAINING CENTER popularity of AS996 in less favorable areas, gies because some improved upland vari- agreed was a proposal to establish a country node of the Rice Knowledge Bank at the Directorate of Scien- the Vietnam Union of Science and Technol- eties developed by IRRI, the University of OPTIONS FOR DELIVERY: 38 participants from seven Asian countries received certificates in March for tific Information of the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) in Islamabad. Attending the meeting completing the course “Developing integrated nutrient management options for delivery.” Roland Buresh, ogy Association recently awarded CLRRI the the Philippines Los Baños and PhilRice are with Dr. Wang were PARC Chairman Badaruddin Soomro; NARC Director General N.I. Hashmi; M. Ashraf of IRRI soil scientist and course resource person (second row, sixth from right), said course activities included Vietnam Fund for Supporting Technological well adapted to aerobic production. These the Crop Sciences Division of PARC; M. Salim, PARC’s national coordinator for rice; directors of key PARC lectures, field visits, discussions and action-plan preparation. Creations (VIFOTEC) prize. include Apo and UPLR1-5. institutes; and IRRI scientists John Bennett, Abdelbagi Ismail and Parminder Virk.

4 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 5 NEWS Spray reduction campaign expands into Vietnam's Red River Delta McNamara Seminar in Japan Australia pledges $10.7 million to support world’s genebanks the proud position of being a major player in the international effort to conserve the Escalada, a communications professor at he Consulta- world’s crop diversity.” the Philippines’ Leyte State University, now Ttive Group Some 1,470 genebanks the world over seconded to IRRI; and Nguyen Huu Huan, on International house seed samples of crops and their wild the vice director general of Vietnam’s Plant Agricultural Re- relatives. Protection Department. Last year, the team search (CGIAR) “Many of these collections are seriously won the $25,000 Saint Andrews Prize for and the Tokyo of- underfunded, jeopardizing the ongoing se- Environment and pledged to use the money fice of the World curity of agriculture and the world’s ability to extend the pesticide-reduction effort to Bank held the to feed itself,” said Mr. Fischer. “These gene- the Red River Delta. second annual banks have proved invaluable in restoring Launched in 1994, the research and Robert S. McNa- agricultural production in war-torn coun- subsequent campaign clearly identified mara Seminar in tries such as Cambodia, Afghanistan and the damage caused by insecticide overuse, Tokyo on 2 July. East Timor by providing seeds originating which kills predator insects and so encour- This year’s in those countries to farmers for planting. ages the pests that they would otherwise seminar, which It is almost certain that genebanks holding help control, and developed new ways of attracted more samples of Iraqi materials will be called communicating this information to farm- than 300 people, upon to restore them to Iraq.”

4 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 5 NEWS

World Bank evaluates agricultural research group BAGGED IN KOREA: The way forward for rice research in India In a South Korean he Operations Evaluation Department donor-driven, and a shift in the system from supermarket, IRRI RRI Director General Ronald Cantrell focused on func- T(OED) of the World Bank released last producing global and regional public goods Director General Ivisited Delhi for 5 days in February tional-genomic spring a meta-evaluation of the Consultative toward providing national and local servic- Ronald Cantrell and March for discussions on the future approaches to Group on International Agricultural Research es.” It added: “Today, donors’ preferences inspects rice of IRRI’s partnership with India. Meeting tackling the (CGIAR), IRRI’s parent organization. The OED are largely determining resource allocations labeled free of with Ajit Singh, union agriculture minister, problems fac- concluded that “the CGIAR has been a unique independently of [the system’s] medium- genetically modi- and Mangala Rai, director general of the ing Indian rice instrument of international cooperation. Its and longer-term priority setting.” fied organisms. Indian Council of Agricultural Research farmers, such as productivity-enhancing research has had siz- The OED concluded: “The governance Dr. Cantrell was in CANTRELL PAM (ICAR) and secretary of the Department of drought. able impacts on reducing poverty by increasing of the CGIAR should be reconfigured to Korea in June with IRRI pathologist Hei Leung to Agricultural Research and Education, Dr. “Drought sign a 3-year funding memorandum of agreement employment, raising incomes, lowering food promote greater efficiency, tougher prior- Cantrell discussed the relevance of scientific and improved with the Rural Development Administration prices and releasing land from cropping.” ity setting, and scientific excellence without (RDA). Receiving Dr. Cantrell were Young-Wook developments in rice genomics, the science stress tolerance While observing that “further improve- sacrificing legitimacy and ownership. The Kim, RDA administrator; Hyun-Pal Moon, deputy of isolating gene function. are the highest ments in sustainable agricultural produc- strategic priorities of the CGIAR should re- administrator; Seok-Dong Kim, director general “India has a world-class rice research priorities of the tivity are critical to meet the international spond more actively to changes in the global for research and development; and Dae-Geun sector very professionally led by ICAR,” rice researchers community’s millennium development goal research context, giving more prominence Oh, International Technical Cooperation Center Dr. Cantrell said. “If you combine this in functional of halving poverty by 2015,” the report noted to basic plant breeding and germplasm director. At the RDA’s National Crop Experiment expertise with the latest tools becoming genomics,” Dr. that “overall CGIAR funding has stagnated improvement, and reshaping natural re- Station, H.G. Hwang, Rice Genetics and Breeding available via functional genomics, then Cantrell ex- in nominal terms, declined in real terms, source management research in the areas Division director, discussed strengthening pest the Indian rice sector can look forward to plained. “ICAR, JK LADHA and become increasingly restricted over the of the CGIAR’s comparative advantage to and disease resistance in premium japonica rice some very exciting developments over the especially under AN INDIAN FARMER presents a token of friendship to IRRI’s director general. varieties. Drs. Cantrell and Leung also visited the past decade.” focus tightly on productivity enhancement next few years.” the new leader- National Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology The OED recognized that the changing and sustainable use of natural resources for of the RDA, where Director General Ho-Il Kim Building on last year’s historic sequenc- ship of Dr. Rai, is focused on the challenges.” on Rice Functional Genomics that will nature of funding has driven a “transforma- the benefit of developing countries.” described the institute’s participation in the ing of the rice genome, the Indian rice re- Dr. Cantrell reported that activities un- coordinate research in India and develop a tion of the CGIAR’s authorizing environ- The evaluation is available online at International Rice Genome Sequencing Project. search community has moved quickly to der way in collaboration with IRRI include database of donor rice varieties highlighting ment from being science-driven to being www.worldbank.org/oed/cgiar. further develop collaborative partnerships the setting up of a National Consortium traits of agronomic importance. Briefly Briefly Briefly Briefly Briefly Briefly $31 million for African rice ence Institute. Mercy Sombilla of IRRI agreement. All genebanks in the Consulta- genomics activities would remain in the Filipiniana holdings of libraries in the organizations. A summit declaration called The African Development Bank approved coordinates the project in collaboration tive Group on International Agricultural India. The institute’s Board of Trustees was Philippines. Started in 1999 by the Ayala for a new National Small Rice Farmers’ in July US$31 million in loans and grants, with Lucy Lapar of ILRI. Research started using it on 1 May. expected to respond to the controversial rec- Foundation, the site has evolved from a Council and the declaration of National reported IRINnews Africa, to further the ommendation in September. simple online search facility into a portal Rice Day in May. New Rices for Africa (NERICA) program Functional genomics online Tungro quelled in Iloilo for Filipiniana materials and libraries. led by the West Africa Rice Development The International Rice Participatory research has helped farm- Breeders receive plaque With the addition of IRRI, LibraryLink Iran-IRRI work plan agreed Association (WARDA) – The Africa Rice Functional Genomics ers overcome tungro infestation in Iloilo The Philippine National Seed Industry (www.librarylink.org.ph) now searches The Agricultural Research and Education Center. High-yielding upland rice varieties Consortium launched Province of the Philippines. In February, Council, Philippine Rice Research Insti- through the Filipiniana catalogs of 65 in- Organization of the Iranian Ministry of are forecast to raise rice production in its Web site in May. The Dapitsaka Program Coordinator Elias tute, and Rice Technical Working Group stitutions. Jihad-e-Agriculture and IRRI signed a col- seven West African countries enough to consortium, modeled on Sandig said the 2,000 ha of paddy that had presented a plaque of appreciation to IRRI’s laborative work plan for 2003–04 in March. reduce their food imports by $100 million the International Rice been infested with tungro 4 years ago now Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biochemistry Doi Moi in demand The parties agreed to collaborate in the ar- per year. The new funds are for small Genome Sequencing Proj- show no sign of the disease. The Dapitsaka Division for five rice varieties released in The Vietnamese National Assembly ordered eas of rice breeding (for drought, salinity, loans to farmers to enable them to buy ect, chose in January IRRI Program began in 2000 when IRRI and 2002. The presentation took place during 100 copies, for distribution to deputies, of heat and cold tolerance), mechanization, seed. Meanwhile, WARDA unveiled a plan pathologist Hei Leung to the Philippine Rice Research Institute the annual rice varietal improvement group the Vietnamese-language version of the crop-loss reduction, water management, for a phased return to its headquarters in chair an interim steering committee of responded to requests for help from the meeting in April, to which division head Da- book Doi Moi in the Mountains, which soil nutrient management, pest and disease Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, which it evacuated scientists representing 18 institutions in 10 provincial governor following severe tungro vid Mackill led the IRRI delegation. Two of reports on research conducted in Bac Kan control, training and exchange of scientists, in September 2002 because of civil war. countries, including IRRI and the Interna- infestation. The institutes recommended 12 the released varieties are for irrigated fields, Province by the IRRI-supported Mountain and to continue cooperating through the In- tional Center for Tropical Agriculture. The varieties for farmers to try in affected towns. two are hybrids and one is a stop-gap variety Agrarian Systems Program. “They said it is ternational Network for Genetic Evaluation Crop-livestock collaboration URL is www.iris.irri.org/IRFGC. The new strains introduced on pilot farms for tungro hot spots (see item opposite). relevant to the priorities set by the National of Rice. Project coordinator for IRRI is Ab- IRRI and the International Livestock Re- are tungro-resistant wide hybridizations of Assembly for the mountainous areas of Viet- delbagi M. Ismail. Iran has committed fund- search Institute (ILRI), together with the Interim agreement in force IR64 that retain the popular cultivar’s high New library links nam and, more broadly, to the government’s ing support for the approved work plan. national agricultural research and exten- Bringing germplasm exchange in line with yield and good eating quality. At a meeting on Global Knowledge Sharing poverty alleviation efforts,” reported Jean- sion systems of five countries in Southeast the forthcoming International Treaty on held in Washington, D.C., in March, library Christophe Castella, coeditor of the book, Communicators elect board Asia, are undertaking a collaborative proj- Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Ag- Crops into Africa? and information services in the Consulta- which is also available in English (visit ACE Philippines, the newly constituted ect on “Sustainable food-feed systems and riculture took a step forward recently with An external program and management tive Group on International Agricultural [email protected]). affiliate of the U.S.-based Association for improved livelihoods of the poor in rainfed the implementation of an interim material review has recommended that the Inter- Research (CGIAR) agreed to collaborate to Communication Excellence in Agriculture, lowland areas.” Collaborators include the transfer agreement (MTA) for the distribu- national Crops Research Institute for the broaden the dissemination of knowledge Philippine National Rice Summit Natural Resources, and Life and Human Sci- Cambodian Agricultural Institute; the tion of in-trust germplasm. As the treaty’s Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) move its created by the CGIAR and its partners. IRRI participated in May in the Philippines’ ences (ACE), recently elected its first Board Research Institute for Rice and Research future governing body will likely take several headquarters from India to Africa to help Representatives signed a memorandum of first-ever National Rice Summit in Quezon of Directors. President of the seven-member Institute for Animal Production in Indone- years to develop a new standard MTA, the focus its research on the problems of that understanding to create the CGIAR Librar- City. Sponsored by the Philippine Peasants board is Roger Barroga of the Philippine sia; the Philippine Rice Research Institute Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) continent. The review panel said that ies and Information Services Consortium Institute, the summit brought together 150 Rice Research Institute, and vice president and Central Luzon State University; Khon Commission on Genetic Resources for Food “ICRISAT must find a way of accomplish- combining the 16 centers and secretariat. farmers, 32 speakers from IRRI and other is Kathy Lopez of IRRI. The mission of ACE Kaen University in Thailand; and Cantho and Agriculture revised the old FAO MTA ing the same successes in Africa as it has Meanwhile, the IRRI library in June joined research institutions, and 88 representa- Philippines is to enhance professionalism University and Vietnam Agricultural Sci- to produce a broadly acceptable stop-gap achieved in Asia.” Plant breeding and LibraryLink, an online union catalog of tives of government and nongovernmental and skills.

6 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 7 NEWS

6 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 7 RICE IN THE NEWS Two top scientific journals publish calls March of progress for enhanced nutrition for more public funding of rice research ast March saw of eight other authors. “It could have signifi cant benefi ts for the 3.5 the publication billion people in the world who have iron-defi cient diets.” Lof at least two Several of the same authors, including the two Drs. Datta, he leading scientifi c journals Nature cies, “perhaps eager to find shortcuts to for the coming decades is to fi nd ways to reach papers in scientific produced a paper that appeared in the March 2003 issue of Plant and Science both published calls in development, have tended to shift funding these farmers with improved technologies,” journals detailing ma- Biotechnology Journal (Vol. 1, No. 2, pages 81–90). The paper, Tearly May urging renewed financial away from agricultural research and toward they write. “For many, future green revolu- jor progress in re- entitled Bioengineered ‘golden’ indica rice cultivars with beta- support for IRRI. other priorities.” tions hold out the best, and perhaps the only, search to improve the carotene metabolism in the endosperm with hygromycin and “Despite rumors to the contrary, the role The articles in both journals recount hope for an escape from poverty. micronutrient content mannose selection systems, offi cially announces IRRI’s develop- of the International Rice Research Institute is the successes of publicly funded agricultural “Yet the prospects for continued green of rice through bio- ment of indica varieties rich in provitamin A-rich Golden Rice as important as ever,” begins an editorial in research, especially the high-yielding modern revolutions are mixed,” they continue. “On fortifi cation. Bioforti- adapted for the tropics. the 1 May issue of Nature (Vol. 423) entitled crop varieties at the heart of the Green Revo- the one hand, the research pipeline for the fication, the focus of Swapan Datta reports that IRRI scientists have in fact bioen- Rice Institute Needs Strong Support. How- lution. Drs. Evenson and Gollin point out that plant sciences is full. Basic science has gener- a challenge program gineered several Asian indica varieties with genes for beta-carotene ever, it adds, “In the three years from 2001 to the contributions made by modern varieties ated enormous advances in our understand- recently launched by biosynthesis. Selected 2003, IRRI’s annual core funding dropped by (MVs) have increased over time. ing of plant growth and morphology, stress the Consultative Group lines — including 26%, and similar “Gains from MVs were larger in the tolerance, pathogen resistance, and many on International Agri- genotypes of IR64 cuts are expected 1980s and 1990s than in the preceding two other fi elds of science. This understanding cultural Research (see (the most popular va- in the future.” decades — despite popular perceptions that should lead in due course to improvements page 24), combines riety in Asia), BR29 (a “It is es- the Green Revolution was effectively over by in agricultural technologies. But, on the other molecular techniques popular Bangladeshi sential that sup- this time,” they write. “Overall, the produc- hand, IARCs and NARS [national agricultural and conventional variety), and Mot port for IRRI tivity data suggest that the Green Revolution research systems] are faced with numerous plant breeding to cre- Bui and Nang Hong be mobilized,” is best understood not as a one-time jump challenges to their survival” in terms of cur- ate crops with heightened micronutrient content that can help Cho Dao (popular states the Nature in production, occurring in the late 1960s, tailed funding. alleviate nutritional disorders. Vietnamese varieties) editorial. “Re- but rather as a long-term increase in the Nature picks up the thread regarding The world’s most prevalent nutritional disorder is anemia. — show expression searchers there, trend growth rate of productivity. This was how the recent sequencing of the rice genome, This debilitating condition is caused by a lack of iron in the diet of beta-carotene, the where research because successive generations of MVs were detailing the genetic heritage that guides the — in which, for more than two-thirds of humanity, rice is the single precursor of vitamin that spurred the developed, each contributing gains over pre- plant’s development, affords new opportuni- largest source of calories. Although brown rice is generally high in A, in otherwise nor- Green Revolu- vious generations. […] The end result … is ties to rice scientists working to crack such iron, the polishing removes the outer layers of the grain and causes mal plants. He adds tion was carried out, sometimes hear their that virtually all consumers in the world have daunting challenges as drought tolerance. considerable loss of iron and other micronutrients. that they did so us- success in producing abundant, high-yielding benefi ted from lower food prices.” “Researchers hope to tap the secrets The journal Plant Science published in its March 2003 issue ing a non-antibiotic rice as a justifi cation for cutting their budget, Had there been no Green Revolu- of the rice genome to meet these challenges (Vol. 164, No. 3, pages 371–378) a paper entitled Enhanced iron marker gene. as if to say ‘your job is over.’ But the institute’s tion, the authors add, “prices would have — a good bet, and zinc accumulation in transgenic rice with the ferritin gene. “This is signifi- job is not over — it has just begun.” remained constant or risen modestly.” As considering the In it, IRRI researchers and their collaborators in Japan report that cant if further prog- In the same a result, “caloric intake per capita in the de- unexplored bio- they have introduced an iron-enhancing ferritin gene to indica ress is to be made in week, the 2 May veloping world would have been 13.3 to 14.4 diversity in the rice in such a way that it expresses itself in the rice endosperm. developing nutritious rice, including bioengineered high-iron rice,” issue of Science percent lower, and the proportion of children rice germ stocks,” Thus, after polishing, the rice grains contain 3 times more iron says Dr. Datta, citing negative perceptions on the use of antibiotic (Vol. 300) ran malnourished would have been from 6.1 to the editorialist than usual. resistance genes in transgenic plants. Public acceptance will likely be a broader look 7.9 percent higher. Put in perspective, this writes, recapitu- “This is the most signifi cant increase in iron ever achieved in an more forthcoming, he says, for foods made from transgenic plants at the Green suggests that the Green Revolution succeeded lating a 3-page indica rice variety,” said IRRI plant biotechnologist Swapan Datta, developed with non-antibiotic marker genes. Revolution and in raising the health status of 32 to 42 million news feature in rice crop leader of the Challenge Program on Biofortifi cation, the A pprogramrogram ooff ssafetyafety andand bioavailabilitybioavailability teststests meansmeans thatthat indicaindica the role played preschool children. Infant and child mortal- the week-earlier, paper’s corresponding author and husband of Karabi Datta, one Golden Rice is still some 4–6 years away from release to farmers. by IRRI and the ity would have been considerably higher in 24 April, issue other 15 inter- developing countries as well.” of Nature (Vol. national agricul- The Nature editorialist concedes that 422). “But there • IRRI was featured in a 2-part series entitled ASIA: Poverty tural research “there is now more than enough rice to go are signifi cant obstacles to bringing genomic Also… and Rice on Radio Australia Asia Pacific Program. Interviewer centers (IARCs) around” following a 2.5-fold improvement science to bear on farmers’ practices. IRRI, study reported in Science (Vol. 299) shows that a surprisingly high Kanaha Sabapathy presented the program, which is available online at in the Consultative Group on International in rice yield per hectare since the 1960s. But whose rice lines have been bred into over a A percentage of the improvement in U.S. crop yields over the last 2 www.abc.net.au/ra/asiapac/programs/s895266.htm. Agricultural Research. In summarizing the the writer goes on to report that the “eastern third of the new lines produced worldwide decades was due to climate change, not to farm management. The • A profi le of the IRRI Library and Documentation Service ap- fi ndings of their book Assessing the Impact regions of India, suffering fl oods and soil since the 1960s, is well positioned to take up fi nding suggests that food production in the U.S. — and perhaps else- peared in the December 2002 issue of Asia Library News (delayed until of the Green Revolution, 1960 to 2000, R.E. alkalinity, struggle to meet their own needs that challenge.” where — may be more vulnerable to shifts in climate than was previously May 2003), the offi cial journal of the Bangkok-based Asia Library & Evenson and D. Gollin write that “the IARCs despite the abundance of rice produced in the In the news feature, entitled A Recipe for suspected. The article quotes Ken Cassman, an agronomist formerly at Information Virtual Association. IRRI and now at the University of Nebraska, observing that “yield trends • The government of Myanmar announced in April that it would will have an important role to play in gen- well-irrigated Punjab region. Telling people Revolution?, David Cyranoski, the journal’s in the U.S. have global implications” for food security. soon stop buying paddy directly from farmers. The liberalized policy, erating and sustaining future advances in to redistribute rice won’t help much. Local Asian-Pacifi c correspondent, reports that a • The New York Times published on 20 July an 1,800-word editorial part of a shift toward a market-oriented economy, frees farmers to sell agricultural technology for the developing growers need to be able to look after them- central obstacle to progress in “the tricky task by Andrés Martinez entitled Harvesting Poverty: The Rigged Trade their whole crop to the highest bidder and opens the way for Myanmar world.” selves — for them, research into productivity of turning our new knowledge of the rice ge- Game that is a searing indictment of Western agricultural subsidies to resume exports of rice. The Science authors add, “The budgets continues to play an essential role.” nome into agricultural and economic gains” and trade barriers. • The project director of the Directorate of Rice Research in Hyder- of many IARCs, not to mention many of Drs. Evenson and Gollin agree with the is that “genome researchers and breeders • The University of Queensland received a grant worth A$1 mil- abad, India, in May reportedly called upon rice researchers to refrain their national program counterparts, have Nature editorial about the need to extend the are speaking different languages.” He adds, lion (US$600,000) to carry out research aimed at developing varieties from transgenic research on basmati rice. In a press release, B. Mishra declined sharply in real terms over the past benefi ts of the Green Revolution to those who “IRRI … hopes to play a key role in bridging of drought-tolerant rice for rainfed areas of Cambodia, Laos and expressed fear that tinkering with the high-value grain would jeopardize decade.” This has come about, the authors have been left behind because they inhabit thethe gapgap betweenbetween genomegenome researchersresearchers andand Thailand, Agence France Presse reported in late April. national interests. surmise, in part because development agen- fragile agroecological zones. “The challenge plantplant breeders.”breeders.”

8 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 9 RICE IN THE NEWS Two top scientific journals publish calls March of progress for enhanced nutrition for more public funding of rice research ast March saw of eight other authors. “It could have signifi cant benefi ts for the 3.5 the publication billion people in the world who have iron-defi cient diets.” Lof at least two Several of the same authors, including the two Drs. Datta, he leading scientifi c journals Nature cies, “perhaps eager to find shortcuts to for the coming decades is to fi nd ways to reach papers in scientific produced a paper that appeared in the March 2003 issue of Plant and Science both published calls in development, have tended to shift funding these farmers with improved technologies,” journals detailing ma- Biotechnology Journal (Vol. 1, No. 2, pages 81–90). The paper, Tearly May urging renewed financial away from agricultural research and toward they write. “For many, future green revolu- jor progress in re- entitled Bioengineered ‘golden’ indica rice cultivars with beta- support for IRRI. other priorities.” tions hold out the best, and perhaps the only, search to improve the carotene metabolism in the endosperm with hygromycin and “Despite rumors to the contrary, the role The articles in both journals recount hope for an escape from poverty. micronutrient content mannose selection systems, offi cially announces IRRI’s develop- of the International Rice Research Institute is the successes of publicly funded agricultural “Yet the prospects for continued green of rice through bio- ment of indica varieties rich in provitamin A-rich Golden Rice as important as ever,” begins an editorial in research, especially the high-yielding modern revolutions are mixed,” they continue. “On fortifi cation. Bioforti- adapted for the tropics. the 1 May issue of Nature (Vol. 423) entitled crop varieties at the heart of the Green Revo- the one hand, the research pipeline for the fication, the focus of Swapan Datta reports that IRRI scientists have in fact bioen- Rice Institute Needs Strong Support. How- lution. Drs. Evenson and Gollin point out that plant sciences is full. Basic science has gener- a challenge program gineered several Asian indica varieties with genes for beta-carotene ever, it adds, “In the three years from 2001 to the contributions made by modern varieties ated enormous advances in our understand- recently launched by biosynthesis. Selected 2003, IRRI’s annual core funding dropped by (MVs) have increased over time. ing of plant growth and morphology, stress the Consultative Group lines — including 26%, and similar “Gains from MVs were larger in the tolerance, pathogen resistance, and many on International Agri- genotypes of IR64 cuts are expected 1980s and 1990s than in the preceding two other fi elds of science. This understanding cultural Research (see (the most popular va- in the future.” decades — despite popular perceptions that should lead in due course to improvements page 24), combines riety in Asia), BR29 (a “It is es- the Green Revolution was effectively over by in agricultural technologies. But, on the other molecular techniques popular Bangladeshi sential that sup- this time,” they write. “Overall, the produc- hand, IARCs and NARS [national agricultural and conventional variety), and Mot port for IRRI tivity data suggest that the Green Revolution research systems] are faced with numerous plant breeding to cre- Bui and Nang Hong be mobilized,” is best understood not as a one-time jump challenges to their survival” in terms of cur- ate crops with heightened micronutrient content that can help Cho Dao (popular states the Nature in production, occurring in the late 1960s, tailed funding. alleviate nutritional disorders. Vietnamese varieties) editorial. “Re- but rather as a long-term increase in the Nature picks up the thread regarding The world’s most prevalent nutritional disorder is anemia. — show expression searchers there, trend growth rate of productivity. This was how the recent sequencing of the rice genome, This debilitating condition is caused by a lack of iron in the diet of beta-carotene, the where research because successive generations of MVs were detailing the genetic heritage that guides the — in which, for more than two-thirds of humanity, rice is the single precursor of vitamin that spurred the developed, each contributing gains over pre- plant’s development, affords new opportuni- largest source of calories. Although brown rice is generally high in A, in otherwise nor- Green Revolu- vious generations. […] The end result … is ties to rice scientists working to crack such iron, the polishing removes the outer layers of the grain and causes mal plants. He adds tion was carried out, sometimes hear their that virtually all consumers in the world have daunting challenges as drought tolerance. considerable loss of iron and other micronutrients. that they did so us- success in producing abundant, high-yielding benefi ted from lower food prices.” “Researchers hope to tap the secrets The journal Plant Science published in its March 2003 issue ing a non-antibiotic rice as a justifi cation for cutting their budget, Had there been no Green Revolu- of the rice genome to meet these challenges (Vol. 164, No. 3, pages 371–378) a paper entitled Enhanced iron marker gene. as if to say ‘your job is over.’ But the institute’s tion, the authors add, “prices would have — a good bet, and zinc accumulation in transgenic rice with the ferritin gene. “This is signifi- job is not over — it has just begun.” remained constant or risen modestly.” As considering the In it, IRRI researchers and their collaborators in Japan report that cant if further prog- In the same a result, “caloric intake per capita in the de- unexplored bio- they have introduced an iron-enhancing ferritin gene to indica ress is to be made in week, the 2 May veloping world would have been 13.3 to 14.4 diversity in the rice in such a way that it expresses itself in the rice endosperm. developing nutritious rice, including bioengineered high-iron rice,” issue of Science percent lower, and the proportion of children rice germ stocks,” Thus, after polishing, the rice grains contain 3 times more iron says Dr. Datta, citing negative perceptions on the use of antibiotic (Vol. 300) ran malnourished would have been from 6.1 to the editorialist than usual. resistance genes in transgenic plants. Public acceptance will likely be a broader look 7.9 percent higher. Put in perspective, this writes, recapitu- “This is the most signifi cant increase in iron ever achieved in an more forthcoming, he says, for foods made from transgenic plants at the Green suggests that the Green Revolution succeeded lating a 3-page indica rice variety,” said IRRI plant biotechnologist Swapan Datta, developed with non-antibiotic marker genes. Revolution and in raising the health status of 32 to 42 million news feature in rice crop leader of the Challenge Program on Biofortifi cation, the A pprogramrogram ooff ssafetyafety andand bioavailabilitybioavailability teststests meansmeans thatthat indicaindica the role played preschool children. Infant and child mortal- the week-earlier, paper’s corresponding author and husband of Karabi Datta, one Golden Rice is still some 4–6 years away from release to farmers. by IRRI and the ity would have been considerably higher in 24 April, issue other 15 inter- developing countries as well.” of Nature (Vol. national agricul- The Nature editorialist concedes that 422). “But there • IRRI was featured in a 2-part series entitled ASIA: Poverty tural research “there is now more than enough rice to go are signifi cant obstacles to bringing genomic Also… and Rice on Radio Australia Asia Pacific Program. Interviewer centers (IARCs) around” following a 2.5-fold improvement science to bear on farmers’ practices. IRRI, study reported in Science (Vol. 299) shows that a surprisingly high Kanaha Sabapathy presented the program, which is available online at in the Consultative Group on International in rice yield per hectare since the 1960s. But whose rice lines have been bred into over a A percentage of the improvement in U.S. crop yields over the last 2 www.abc.net.au/ra/asiapac/programs/s895266.htm. Agricultural Research. In summarizing the the writer goes on to report that the “eastern third of the new lines produced worldwide decades was due to climate change, not to farm management. The • A profi le of the IRRI Library and Documentation Service ap- fi ndings of their book Assessing the Impact regions of India, suffering fl oods and soil since the 1960s, is well positioned to take up fi nding suggests that food production in the U.S. — and perhaps else- peared in the December 2002 issue of Asia Library News (delayed until of the Green Revolution, 1960 to 2000, R.E. alkalinity, struggle to meet their own needs that challenge.” where — may be more vulnerable to shifts in climate than was previously May 2003), the offi cial journal of the Bangkok-based Asia Library & Evenson and D. Gollin write that “the IARCs despite the abundance of rice produced in the In the news feature, entitled A Recipe for suspected. The article quotes Ken Cassman, an agronomist formerly at Information Virtual Association. IRRI and now at the University of Nebraska, observing that “yield trends • The government of Myanmar announced in April that it would will have an important role to play in gen- well-irrigated Punjab region. Telling people Revolution?, David Cyranoski, the journal’s in the U.S. have global implications” for food security. soon stop buying paddy directly from farmers. The liberalized policy, erating and sustaining future advances in to redistribute rice won’t help much. Local Asian-Pacifi c correspondent, reports that a • The New York Times published on 20 July an 1,800-word editorial part of a shift toward a market-oriented economy, frees farmers to sell agricultural technology for the developing growers need to be able to look after them- central obstacle to progress in “the tricky task by Andrés Martinez entitled Harvesting Poverty: The Rigged Trade their whole crop to the highest bidder and opens the way for Myanmar world.” selves — for them, research into productivity of turning our new knowledge of the rice ge- Game that is a searing indictment of Western agricultural subsidies to resume exports of rice. The Science authors add, “The budgets continues to play an essential role.” nome into agricultural and economic gains” and trade barriers. • The project director of the Directorate of Rice Research in Hyder- of many IARCs, not to mention many of Drs. Evenson and Gollin agree with the is that “genome researchers and breeders • The University of Queensland received a grant worth A$1 mil- abad, India, in May reportedly called upon rice researchers to refrain their national program counterparts, have Nature editorial about the need to extend the are speaking different languages.” He adds, lion (US$600,000) to carry out research aimed at developing varieties from transgenic research on basmati rice. In a press release, B. Mishra declined sharply in real terms over the past benefi ts of the Green Revolution to those who “IRRI … hopes to play a key role in bridging of drought-tolerant rice for rainfed areas of Cambodia, Laos and expressed fear that tinkering with the high-value grain would jeopardize decade.” This has come about, the authors have been left behind because they inhabit thethe gapgap betweenbetween genomegenome researchersresearchers andand Thailand, Agence France Presse reported in late April. national interests. surmise, in part because development agen- fragile agroecological zones. “The challenge plantplant breeders.”breeders.”

8 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 9 Special section: INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF RICE Anticipating "Rice is life" International Year of Rice 2004, we revisit the first year ever dedicated to a crop: Year of life International Rice Year 1966

AGS_0077

he mid-Sixties put Asia through changes. Late 1965 ruining harvests and rocketing international rice prices and choreographed strife would convulse the world’s most suffi cient food to feed the region’s rapidly rising brought the onset of seemingly endless upheaval in to 10-year highs. In January 1966, as New Delhi installed populous country — and largest producer and consumer of populations. Asia, once a net exporter of food, the site of Indonesia during which President Suharto unseated Indira Gandhi as prime minister, the U.S. “Central rice — for a decade. Meanwhile, the war in Vietnam, with some of the world’s lushest rice bowls and wheat lands, President Sukarno — a memorable backdrop to the Intelligence Agency forecast ‘widespread starvation’ in 8 years to go, escalated as U.S. planes started bombing home of some of the world’s most skilled and industrious TMel Gibson movie The Year of Living Dangerously. In India,” reports Nick Cullather of Indiana University's Hanoi and Haiphong. farmers, is a food-defi cit region, literally dependent on the the Philippines, the 2-day-old presidency of Ferdinand Department of History. “The pope appealed to the world In this sea of political turmoil, the big Asian news West to stay alive.” Marcos bounced into New Year's Day 1966 on the knee of for help as students rioted in Bengal and Communist story of 1966 was hunger. The year, reported the Far Noting that the U.S. shipped nearly a quarter of its its campaign slogan, “Progress is a grain of rice.” unions paralyzed Calcutta with a general strike.” Eastern Economic Review 1967 Year Book, “brought wheat crop to India in 1966, the Review lamented “the In the South Pacifi c, El Niño stirred from half a In China, Chairman Mao launched his Great into sudden and sharp focus the fact that the largely seriousness and permanence of these food defi cits” and century of slumber. Monsoon rains failed across Asia, Proletarian Cultural Revolution, whose mélange of chaotic agricultural economies of Asia are failing to produce declared, “The food surpluses produced by the West’s

10 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 11 Special section: INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF RICE Anticipating "Rice is life" International Year of Rice 2004, we revisit the first year ever dedicated to a crop: Year of life International Rice Year 1966

AGS_0077

10 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 11 A job begun but not done farmers provide the rising populations coined 2 years later by William How supporting rice research serves people, communities and the with their only real hope of being fed Images of life S. Gaud, administrator of the environment. for the rest of the 20th century.” U.S. Agency for International • Most of the world’s poor live in rice-producing Asia. Many are The modern photos illustrating this special The Review continued: “The Development (USAID, see page poor rice farmers, and even more are poor rural rice consumers who section, by IRRI photographer Ariel Javellana, are either landless or raise other crops. Rice is so central to their daily tragedy of the food situation in Asia represent only a small fraction of the rice- 27). “The institute advertised lives that any solution to global poverty must include rice research. was underlined by the fact that, in related images by him and others that will IR8 as a cosmopolitan rice, • The poorest of the poor in Asia spend 20–40% of their income the year dedicated by FAO [Food soon be available from AsianGrain.Com. After able to produce high yields on rice. Making rice cheaper will lighten this burden and free up rural and Agriculture Organization of the 31 October, visit www.AsianGrain.com and throughout tropical Asia,” search by photographer or subject — or go funds for job creation in dynamic, diversifi ed rural economies. United Nations] as International Rice straight to the fi le number printed beside writes Dr. Cullather in Miracles • Rice typically earns half of the income of Asian rice-farming Year, grave shortages of rice supplies each photo. of Modernization: The Green households. Rice research that increases yields directly improves the developed. […] Asia this year has had Revolution and the Apotheosis productivity of these poor households, paving a sustainable path out to struggle hard to fi ll its rice bowls. of Technology, scheduled for of poverty. […] The only heartening development on the Asian food publication in Diplomatic History early next year. • Rice provides more than half of the calories and protein scene was the appearance of some positive signs that the “‘IR8 was to tropical rices what the Model T Ford was in the diets of most Asian poor. Making rice more nutritious will offi cial agencies responsible are willing to change their to automobiles,’ a pamphlet later explained, ‘a rugged help to alleviate hidden hunger in the world’s most malnourished approach and give agriculture the priority that it deserves variety that could go almost anywhere.’” communities. in the war on poverty.” Other events contributed to making 1966 a red- • Rice farming is the dominant land use in Asia, occupying more than 30% of agricultural cropped area in nearly all subregions and The “fi rst draft of history” (as the late Washington letter year for rice — albeit one in which traces of more than 60% in many of the poorest countries. Rice research to Post publisher, Philip Graham, described journalism) International Rice Year are inconspicuous. Diffi cult improve effi ciency in the use of fertilizers and pesticides offers major rarely gets everything right, especially when gazing into to gauge 37 years later is the extent to which the year benefi ts to the environment. a crystal ball. In the event, almost all Asian countries designation focused people’s attention on rice and regained the ability to feed themselves long before the helped to set in motion the Green Revolution. end of the century, thanks largely to the “heartening The objective of International Rice Year was the facts established the preeminent position of rice as development” of a greater focus on agriculture — and in no to encourage concerted efforts to promote rice and human food; and as thinking people reviewed the world small way to a related occurrence reported in the Review's improve understanding of the world’s most widely eaten food position and determined to exploit every possibility to cautiously upbeat assessment of the Philippines. grain, especially in the context of its role in furthering encourage more food production, all resistance to the idea the UN’s existing Freedom From Hunger campaign. of declaring an International Rice Year disappeared.” Promising factor “When the idea of declaring an International Navalpakkan Parthasarathy — FAO rice improvement “The most promising factor behind rising hopes for a Rice Year was fi rst proposed, a number of the specialist for the Far East, executive secretary of the vastly increased rice harvest in the next several years was representatives of national governments … expressed IRC, and IRRI board member in 1966–69 — observed the discovery of a new variety of rice called IR8-288-3 by some reluctance to putting a ‘year tag’ on any one crop,” to the commission meeting “a signifi cant coincidence” the International Rice Research Institute at Los Baños,” said O.E. Fischnich, assistant director general of FAO, that International Rice Year was embracing several it stated. “This ‘Miracle Rice’ was found to outyield all in an address to the International Rice Commission major scientifi c gatherings worldwide. These included other varieties in the tropics. […] Since this variety could (IRC) meeting in New Delhi, which set aside 5 the meetings of the IRC’s three technical working be harvested in 120 days, in irrigated farms it could be October 1966 for a day-long Special International Rice parties, concurrent with the inaugural session of its Rice planted 3 times a year.” Year Program. “Never before had any agricultural Committee for the Americas, on 23–28 July at Lake IRRI’s offi cial launch of IR8 on 28 November marked commodity been [designated] as the ‘crop of the year.’ Charles, Louisiana; a conference on Mechanization and

1966 as the start in Asia of the Green Revolution, a term However, as the proposal was more fully discussed; as AGS_0070 the World’s Rice, organized by Massey-Ferguson Ltd. at its

RICE IN THE NEWS. The cover of the Far Eastern Economic Review 1967 Year Book, covering 1966, showed a hungry Asian child holding out his empty, broken rice bowl for more. On the cover of the bumper special rice number of Indian Farming in September 1966, a woman inspected a panicle of high- yielding, lodging-resistant but disease- susceptible Taichung Native 1, described by Robert Chandler as “a half sister of INTERNATIONAL RICE YEAR 1966. The year tag took its IR8.” M.S. Swaminathan, director of the theme from the UN’s existing Freedom From Hunger Indian Agricultural Research Institute, campaign. Delegates to the FAO ad hoc Conference on convener of the National Committee Agricultural Extension in Asia and the Far East in Tokyo for International Rice Year and, later, in November 1966 posed during a postconference tour IRRI director general (1982–88), as of Kubota Iron and Machinery Works in Osaka. he appeared in the March 1967 Indian Farming announcement of his Padma 12

FAO Shri Award for service to agriculture. A job begun but not done farmers provide the rising populations coined 2 years later by William How supporting rice research serves people, communities and the with their only real hope of being fed Images of life S. Gaud, administrator of the environment. for the rest of the 20th century.” U.S. Agency for International • Most of the world’s poor live in rice-producing Asia. Many are The modern photos illustrating this special The Review continued: “The Development (USAID, see page poor rice farmers, and even more are poor rural rice consumers who section, by IRRI photographer Ariel Javellana, are either landless or raise other crops. Rice is so central to their daily tragedy of the food situation in Asia represent only a small fraction of the rice- 27). “The institute advertised lives that any solution to global poverty must include rice research. was underlined by the fact that, in related images by him and others that will IR8 as a cosmopolitan rice, • The poorest of the poor in Asia spend 20–40% of their income the year dedicated by FAO [Food soon be available from AsianGrain.Com. After able to produce high yields on rice. Making rice cheaper will lighten this burden and free up rural and Agriculture Organization of the 31 October, visit www.AsianGrain.com and throughout tropical Asia,” search by photographer or subject — or go funds for job creation in dynamic, diversifi ed rural economies. United Nations] as International Rice straight to the fi le number printed beside writes Dr. Cullather in Miracles • Rice typically earns half of the income of Asian rice-farming Year, grave shortages of rice supplies each photo. of Modernization: The Green households. Rice research that increases yields directly improves the developed. […] Asia this year has had Revolution and the Apotheosis productivity of these poor households, paving a sustainable path out to struggle hard to fi ll its rice bowls. of Technology, scheduled for of poverty. […] The only heartening development on the Asian food publication in Diplomatic History early next year. • Rice provides more than half of the calories and protein scene was the appearance of some positive signs that the “‘IR8 was to tropical rices what the Model T Ford was in the diets of most Asian poor. Making rice more nutritious will offi cial agencies responsible are willing to change their to automobiles,’ a pamphlet later explained, ‘a rugged help to alleviate hidden hunger in the world’s most malnourished approach and give agriculture the priority that it deserves variety that could go almost anywhere.’” communities. in the war on poverty.” Other events contributed to making 1966 a red- • Rice farming is the dominant land use in Asia, occupying more than 30% of agricultural cropped area in nearly all subregions and The “fi rst draft of history” (as the late Washington letter year for rice — albeit one in which traces of more than 60% in many of the poorest countries. Rice research to Post publisher, Philip Graham, described journalism) International Rice Year are inconspicuous. Diffi cult improve effi ciency in the use of fertilizers and pesticides offers major rarely gets everything right, especially when gazing into to gauge 37 years later is the extent to which the year benefi ts to the environment. a crystal ball. In the event, almost all Asian countries designation focused people’s attention on rice and regained the ability to feed themselves long before the helped to set in motion the Green Revolution. end of the century, thanks largely to the “heartening The objective of International Rice Year was the facts established the preeminent position of rice as development” of a greater focus on agriculture — and in no to encourage concerted efforts to promote rice and human food; and as thinking people reviewed the world small way to a related occurrence reported in the Review's improve understanding of the world’s most widely eaten food position and determined to exploit every possibility to cautiously upbeat assessment of the Philippines. grain, especially in the context of its role in furthering encourage more food production, all resistance to the idea the UN’s existing Freedom From Hunger campaign. of declaring an International Rice Year disappeared.” Promising factor “When the idea of declaring an International Navalpakkan Parthasarathy — FAO rice improvement “The most promising factor behind rising hopes for a Rice Year was fi rst proposed, a number of the specialist for the Far East, executive secretary of the vastly increased rice harvest in the next several years was representatives of national governments … expressed IRC, and IRRI board member in 1966–69 — observed the discovery of a new variety of rice called IR8-288-3 by some reluctance to putting a ‘year tag’ on any one crop,” to the commission meeting “a signifi cant coincidence” the International Rice Research Institute at Los Baños,” said O.E. Fischnich, assistant director general of FAO, that International Rice Year was embracing several it stated. “This ‘Miracle Rice’ was found to outyield all in an address to the International Rice Commission major scientifi c gatherings worldwide. These included other varieties in the tropics. […] Since this variety could (IRC) meeting in New Delhi, which set aside 5 the meetings of the IRC’s three technical working be harvested in 120 days, in irrigated farms it could be October 1966 for a day-long Special International Rice parties, concurrent with the inaugural session of its Rice planted 3 times a year.” Year Program. “Never before had any agricultural Committee for the Americas, on 23–28 July at Lake IRRI’s offi cial launch of IR8 on 28 November marked commodity been [designated] as the ‘crop of the year.’ Charles, Louisiana; a conference on Mechanization and

1966 as the start in Asia of the Green Revolution, a term However, as the proposal was more fully discussed; as AGS_0070 the World’s Rice, organized by Massey-Ferguson Ltd. at its

FAO Shri Award for service to agriculture. school in Warwickshire, U.K., on 26 September–1 October; was among four recipients of India’s and an ad hoc Conference on Agricultural Extension in International Rice Year Awards Asia and the Far East on 7–12 November in Tokyo. and the only scientist selected from “International Rice Year provides an opportunity for overseas. a fresh look at centuries-old problems and the ways in “His own personal qualities as a which they should be tackled,” commented Sayed Mekki scientist and a dynamic leader have Abbas, FAO assistant director general, at the Warwickshire been primarily responsible for the conference. emergence of the International Rice In September, the month before the IRC meeting in Research Institute as the fi nest rice New Delhi, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research research center in the world within brought out a bumper “special rice number” of its 4 years,” said the announcement, periodical Indian Farming. The issue’s 156 pages made it counting IRRI’s tender years from its 3 times normal size but left the editor promising that “a AGS_0104 operational gearing up in 1962 rather few articles” that hadn’t made the cut “owing to pressure than its founding 2 years earlier. on space” would be published in later issues. “His contributions, therefore, lie “We in India are determined to bring about a not only in the practical application technological revolution in our paddy fi elds,” wrote Prime of science for human welfare but AGS_0312 Minister Gandhi in a message at the front of the issue. “We in the evolution of a pattern of are glad that in this endeavor we have the cooperation of research administration conducive to the international community.” B.R. Sen, director-general science becoming an instrument of social progress in the He felt that IRRI was accepted. For us, the symposium was of FAO, noted ominously that the 8 million ton (20%) developing nations.” the highlight of International Rice Year.” slump in India’s 1966 rice harvest was 1 million tons Dr. Chandler must have relished this particular The IRC published 18 technical papers from the greater than the world’s total commercial rice surplus. (On AGS_0121 accolade in the wake of a seminal event at the far end of symposium in a special issue of its Newsletter at the 8 November, the cabinet of Thailand, a key commercial Asia; the IRC’s Symposium on Problems in Development beginning of 1967. At 173 pages, the publication was more supplier, would ban rice exports until prices stabilized.) and Ripening of Rice Grain, presented at the 11th Pacifi c than four times its usual size. M.S. Swaminathan, director of the Indian Agricultural Science Congress, was sponsored by Japan’s Ministry Size matters nowhere more than in the great American Research Institute, convener of the National Committee of Agriculture and Forestry and took place at Tokyo state of Texas, and the Texan who cast the longest shadow for International Rice Year, and chair of the National University on 22 August–3 September. over the Sixties soon choppered into Los Baños. At high Committee for the Coordination of Nationwide noon on 26 October 1966, the day after conducting a Agricultural Demonstrations, reported that the 1,000 Acid test conference in Manila with America’s allies in Vietnam, national demonstrations of rice planned for 1966 “This was the acid test for IRRI,” recalls Bienvenido O. U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson alit at IRRI with represented a 7-fold increase over 1965 and had a yield Juliano, then an associate chemist at the institute, who his wife, Lady Bird, and the Philippine fi rst couple. AGS_0075 target of 5–7 tons per ha. (Dr. Swaminathan would receive AGD_0013 both presented a paper and presided at the symposium. “Striding onto the experimental rice fi eld beside the fi rst World Food Prize in 1987 while serving as IRRI “There had been a lot of criticism, especially in Japan, Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, Johnson crouched and director general, 1982–88.) about the choice of IRRI staff because many of us were sampled the soil with his fi ngers,” writes Dr. Cullather. Representing IRRI in Indian Farming were a paper young and not specialists in rice — me included. The “‘Drawing on your experiments, your new rice strains, the by Mano D. Pathak on new methods of pest control and symposium was the fi rst formal introduction of IRRI technical training you are giving,’ he told IRRI’s staff and another by founding Director General Robert F. Chandler, senior staff presenting their work in Japan. Dr. Chandler a global television audience, ‘we can escalate the war on Jr., introducing high-yielding IR8-288-3. Dr. Chandler was very happy at how warmly our papers were received. hunger. That is the only war in which we seek escalation.’” AGS_0044

RICE ON THE AGENDA. The Symposium on Prob- RICE ON THE TONGUE. lems in Development and Ripening of Rice Grain Thailand, Japan and in Tokyo in August and September 1966 was the Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) ”acid test” for IRRI’s acceptance by Japanese issued commemorative researchers, according to Bienvenido Juliano, stamps, and Dahomey an associate chemist at the young institute; at (Benin), United Arab a symposium reception (center, from left), K. Republic (Egypt) and Yasumatsu of Takeda Chemical Industries, Dr. the U.S. planned to do Juliano, Director Tatsuo Tani of the Food Research the same. Institute in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and unidentifi ed. Eighteen papers from the symposium comprised a special issue of the IRC Newsletter. A wooden, hand-operated rice transplanter developed by the Overseas Liaison Unit of the Institute of Agricultural Engineer- ing in Silsoe, Bedfordshire, was part of the U.K. contribution to International Rice Year, presented at the conference Mechanization and the World’s Rice. 15 KENICHI TAKAOKA school in Warwickshire, U.K., on 26 September–1 October; was among four recipients of India’s and an ad hoc Conference on Agricultural Extension in International Rice Year Awards Asia and the Far East on 7–12 November in Tokyo. and the only scientist selected from “International Rice Year provides an opportunity for overseas. a fresh look at centuries-old problems and the ways in “His own personal qualities as a which they should be tackled,” commented Sayed Mekki scientist and a dynamic leader have Abbas, FAO assistant director general, at the Warwickshire been primarily responsible for the conference. emergence of the International Rice In September, the month before the IRC meeting in Research Institute as the fi nest rice New Delhi, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research research center in the world within brought out a bumper “special rice number” of its 4 years,” said the announcement, periodical Indian Farming. The issue’s 156 pages made it counting IRRI’s tender years from its 3 times normal size but left the editor promising that “a AGS_0104 operational gearing up in 1962 rather few articles” that hadn’t made the cut “owing to pressure than its founding 2 years earlier. on space” would be published in later issues. “His contributions, therefore, lie “We in India are determined to bring about a not only in the practical application technological revolution in our paddy fi elds,” wrote Prime of science for human welfare but AGS_0312 Minister Gandhi in a message at the front of the issue. “We in the evolution of a pattern of are glad that in this endeavor we have the cooperation of research administration conducive to the international community.” B.R. Sen, director-general science becoming an instrument of social progress in the He felt that IRRI was accepted. For us, the symposium was of FAO, noted ominously that the 8 million ton (20%) developing nations.” the highlight of International Rice Year.” slump in India’s 1966 rice harvest was 1 million tons Dr. Chandler must have relished this particular The IRC published 18 technical papers from the greater than the world’s total commercial rice surplus. (On AGS_0121 accolade in the wake of a seminal event at the far end of symposium in a special issue of its Newsletter at the 8 November, the cabinet of Thailand, a key commercial Asia; the IRC’s Symposium on Problems in Development beginning of 1967. At 173 pages, the publication was more supplier, would ban rice exports until prices stabilized.) and Ripening of Rice Grain, presented at the 11th Pacifi c than four times its usual size. M.S. Swaminathan, director of the Indian Agricultural Science Congress, was sponsored by Japan’s Ministry Size matters nowhere more than in the great American Research Institute, convener of the National Committee of Agriculture and Forestry and took place at Tokyo state of Texas, and the Texan who cast the longest shadow for International Rice Year, and chair of the National University on 22 August–3 September. over the Sixties soon choppered into Los Baños. At high Committee for the Coordination of Nationwide noon on 26 October 1966, the day after conducting a Agricultural Demonstrations, reported that the 1,000 Acid test conference in Manila with America’s allies in Vietnam, national demonstrations of rice planned for 1966 “This was the acid test for IRRI,” recalls Bienvenido O. U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson alit at IRRI with represented a 7-fold increase over 1965 and had a yield Juliano, then an associate chemist at the institute, who his wife, Lady Bird, and the Philippine fi rst couple. AGS_0075 target of 5–7 tons per ha. (Dr. Swaminathan would receive AGD_0013 both presented a paper and presided at the symposium. “Striding onto the experimental rice fi eld beside the fi rst World Food Prize in 1987 while serving as IRRI “There had been a lot of criticism, especially in Japan, Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, Johnson crouched and director general, 1982–88.) about the choice of IRRI staff because many of us were sampled the soil with his fi ngers,” writes Dr. Cullather. Representing IRRI in Indian Farming were a paper young and not specialists in rice — me included. The “‘Drawing on your experiments, your new rice strains, the by Mano D. Pathak on new methods of pest control and symposium was the fi rst formal introduction of IRRI technical training you are giving,’ he told IRRI’s staff and another by founding Director General Robert F. Chandler, senior staff presenting their work in Japan. Dr. Chandler a global television audience, ‘we can escalate the war on Jr., introducing high-yielding IR8-288-3. Dr. Chandler was very happy at how warmly our papers were received. hunger. That is the only war in which we seek escalation.’” AGS_0044

Project Spread Word went out that any Filipino farmer who visited IRRI could pick up, free of charge, his own 2-kg bag of seed, attracting 2,359 farmers from 48 of the country’s 56 provinces before year’s end. A special seed-multiplication program provided much more seed for dissemination through the Philippine government’s USAID-funded Project Spread. “As the August harvest came in, the Philippines was gripped by a modern tulipomania,” reports Dr. Cullather. “IR8 was sold in the lobbies of banks and fashionable department stores, and harvested grain was too costly to eat. […] Marcos set up a coordinating council … to direct the supply of seed, chemicals, loans and machinery, enabling the government to control prices and supply at AGS_0437 r i c e i s l i f e r i c e i s l i f e r i c e i s l i f e r i c e i s l i f e r i c e i s l i f e r i c e i s l i f e r i c e i s l i f e r i c e i s l i f e

16 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 17 After giving Dr. and Mrs. Chandler an inscribed cigarette box and a “splendid likeness” of himself, the president skipped lunch, cancelled an afternoon excursion to Corregidor Island and fl ew to Vietnam, where, before the day was out, he would drop in on U.S. troops at Cam Ranh Bay. “Naturally we were pleased and honored to have the presidential party here, even though his sudden decision to visit South Vietnam made it impossible to have lunch here,” Dr. Chandler wrote on 3 November to J. George Harrar, president of the Rockefeller Foundation and former IRRI Board of Trustees chair. “At the time of the visit, we were unaware of why he had to ‘move along’ to the next stop. Within a few hours we learned over the radio that the president had gone to Vietnam. On Thursday, the 27th, I talked with both President and Mrs. Johnson by telephone. I thought it was most gracious of them to call and extend their apologies for ‘walking out’ on the luncheon.” President Marcos had visited IRRI before — on 3 June, 5 months into his term — to see for himself the institute’s experimental semidwarf “miracle rice,” as the press would soon dub IR8-288-3. He came on short notice, fi nding Associate Director A. Colin McClung the acting director general in Dr. Chandler’s absence. “Colin phoned and told me to put my results on an easel and a live plant of IR8-288-3 in a pot,” recalls former IRRI agronomist Surajit K. De Datta, now at Virginia Tech. “For comparison, we planted the traditional variety Peta in a second pot and tied it up with a string so it wouldn’t lodge. I introduced IR8-288-3 to President Marcos, and Mano Pathak put together another display on improved pesticide placement. On 11 June, Dr. Chandler was summoned to Malacañang Palace, where he ceremonially presented a couple of kilos of IR8-288-3 seed to the president.”

16 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 17 Year of events 2004 Events: director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of As 1966 predates newsroom computerization by 2 and R. Sahoo of the Central Rice Research the United Nations (FAO) offi cially launches International Year of Rice decades, there is no way, short of combing newspaper Institute at Cuttack, Orissa, India, analyzed at the 58th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on 31 October 2003, with Global Contest on Rice announcement; permanent morgues around the world, to unearth descriptions of the upland soils; and Finis T. Wratten, professor, exhibit opens in the FAO atrium in Rome in January; launch gala in hundreds of planned national events: farmer fi eld days, and Macon D. Faulkner, associate professor, Rome in February; events dedicated to gender and rice on International production competitions, postharvest demonstrations, of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Women’s Day on 8 March; MTV Asia Rock for Rice concerts in Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia in June; concluding celebration cooking classes and cultural programs. A couple of Stations at Crowley, described a new system in Bangladesh for Livelihood Improvement Through Ecology project examples must suffi ce. IRC delegates from the U.S., one for drying rice. These papers and one of the under Poverty Elimination Through Rice Research Assistance (PETRRA) of at least 16 countries committed to declaring a National two entries selected for commendation — in June; at IRRI in Los Baños, Philippines, Farmers Open Day in June, Stakeholders Open Day in July, Philippine Government Open Day Rice Week, reported that newspapers had marked it by D.N. Srivastava and Y.R. Rao, of the Indian in August; REDBIO 2004 celebration in Dominican Republic in July; publishing articles recounting the history of American rice, Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi, International Cooperation Festival in Tokyo to include IRRI exhibit on offering recipes for rice dishes and discussing the culinary on bacterial blight disease — appeared in fi rst weekend of October; events and information booth onWorld Food Day in Rome on 16 October and awarding of winners in Global Contest on differences between rice types. the March 1968 issue of International Rice Rice; launch of the radio drama series to encourage reduced insecticide Among the most colorful observances were likely Commission Newsletter (Vol. 17, No. 1). use in Laos and Vietnam as part of Three Reductions workshop and St. those in Thailand. The kingdom scheduled National Lavish funding supported a special aid Andrew’s Prize workshop (see page 4).

AGS_0438 Rice Week for 9–14 May, and National Farmers’ Day for program for Thai rice farmers. Individual Meetings: FAO organizing committee meets with informal 12 May, to coincide with the annual Plowing Ceremony farmers received, at cost and on credit, a AGS_0419 international working group in Rome in November 2003 (and again every step of cultivation.” Running Project Spread in the presided over by the king and queen on a fi eld near the total of $750,000 worth of fertilizer. Farmer in 2005 to discuss achievements and follow-up plan); Turin Conference on Rice in Italy in April; celebration during Regional Rice Research rice bowl province of Tarlac, where he had been governor Grand Palace in Bangkok. At the ceremony, the four groups, associations and land cooperatives shared $500,000 worth of pumps Review meeting in sub-Saharan Africa in Bamako, Mali, on 6–8 April; in the fi rst half of the decade, was President Marcos’ regional winners of rice quality and yield contests received and tractors offered at half price on a 3-year payment plan. Farmer groups Wild Rice Symposium in Osaka on 8 August; international conference political archrival, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino. certifi cates and prizes from the royal couple. There were received $250,000 for purchasing sprayers, insecticides and fungicides. on Integrated Crop Management Design and Delivery in Indonesia in September; Annual General Meeting of Consultative Group on IRRI’s contribution to International Rice Year also three winners of the essay contest on the topic “The A newly organized Agricultural Credit Bank opened its doors, and the International Agricultural Research in last week of October; 25th included a 26-minute color fi lm called Harvest of Energy. economic importance of rice to Thailand.” A rice exhibit government set price supports for paddy. International Rice Research Conference with Japan International Depicting “the potential of the rice plant as an effi cient — jointly sponsored by the Ministries of Agriculture, Today, Web searches for International Rice Year 1966 turn up little more Research Center for Agricultural Sciences Symposium in Tokyo in November, to include presentation of 2004 Senadhira Award for Rice converter of solar energy into calories for man,” the National Development and Economic Affairs; the Offi ce than commemorative postage stamps from Ceylon (issued on 25 October), Scientists in Asia; adoption of a special rice agenda at ASEAN Plus 3 fi lm (now lost) premiered before the IRC in New Delhi of the Prime Minister; the Rice Miller Association; farmer Japan (21 November) and Thailand (scheduled for 1 November) — a less- (China, Japan, South Korea) Summit in Laos in November; IRRI-hosted on 5 October 1966 and played at FAO headquarters in groups and various commercial fi rms — occupied the site than-impressive marketing legacy. Yet 1966 truly was International Rice Year. rice breeding conference in second half of 2004; workshop on disease control through interplanting in Chengdu, China, organized by Sichuan Rome the following 24 July. The U.S. rice industry and from the day before the Plowing Ceremony until the end of Year-tagged conferences and events played a role, now largely forgotten, in Provincial Department of Agriculture and Yunnan Agricultural University Department of Agriculture jointly made a 15-minute the month. making it so. The release of IR8 as the fi rst modern rice variety, and other with IRRI as resource institute; policy-oriented workshop in Dhaka promotional short entitled The Story of American Rice, achievements in the salad days of publicly funded international rice research, organized by Seed Health Improvement project under PETRRA; Asian Science Congress in Brisbane, Australia; side events at FAO Council and fi lms about rice were said to be in production in Research competition left indelible marks. Serendipity such as President Johnson’s visit, apparently in Rome on 27 November 2003, joint session of Inter-Governmental Ceylon, France, Italy, Korea, Portugal and Thailand. The Thai government offered US$1,000 in prize money passing without a mention of the year tag, usefully drew public attention to Group on Grains and Inter-Governmental Group on Rice in Rome on “Details of some 30 national plans have been reported for an International Rice Research Competition, jointly IRRI’s work. 12 February, African Regional Conference in Johannesburg on 1–5 March, Near East Regional Conference in Doha on 13–17 March, Latin to FAO,” Dr. Fischnich told the IRC delegates. “They judged by FAO and IRRI (whose staff were excluded). In the end, though, it was drought that wrote rice into the headlines of America and the Caribbean Regional Conference in Guatemala City show an abundance of enthusiasm, energy and ideas and The competition attracted 31 entries from 13 countries. 1966. A year of living dangerously, teetering at the brink of mass famine, on 26–30 April, European Regional Conference in Montpellier on 5–7 generally direct particular attention to the importance of Someone apparently ponied up another $200 because galvanized policymakers and “foundation grantslingers” (Dr. Cullather’s May, Asia and Pacifi c Regional Conference in Beijing on 17–21 May; preparation of 21st session of the International Rice Commission in strengthening the link between research scientists and three entries each earned their authors $400. Y.L. Nene, phrase) to take the bold steps that launched the Green Revolution. Whatever the context of International Year of Rice in Peru in April 2005. practicing paddy farmers.” associate professor of plant pathology in the Agricultural branded 1966 as International Rice Year, its legacies today are lasting University of Pantnagar, Nainital, India, studied improvements in rice farmers’ productivity and poor rice consumers’ diets. It Publications: IRRI to double frequency of Rice Today with special editions in January, April, July and October; FAO to publish International khaira disease; S. Patnaik, A.K. Bandyopadhya will be interesting to see how International Year of Rice 2004 measures up. Year of Rice Newsletter in March, June, September and December; launch of integrated crop management training manual in June; National Institute of Genetics, Japan, to publish Rice Genetics Newsletter, Vol. 20; IRRI scientists Gurdev Khush and Parminder RICE OF PRESIDENTS. Newly President Lyndon Virk to publish book elected Philippine Presi- Johnson. They viewed on IRRI varieties; launch of IRRI book dent Ferdinand Marcos vis- IR8 with (left photo, on rice science ited IRRI in June 1966 to from left) Varietal Im- and extension in see for himself the results provement Department Greater Mekong of research conducted by Head Peter Jennings, subregion; The Art the half-decade-old insti- Henry Beachell (Dr. of Rice: Spirit and tute. S.K. De Datta (center Jennings’ successor Sustenance in Asia published by Fowler Museum in California in early photo) explained fertilizer in 1967) and Director November; coffee-table book on rice by Lonely Planet Publications in responsiveness in IR8, and General Robert Chandler Australia; special issue of International Rice Research Notes. Mano Pathak (right photo) in a fi eld of the Long- Web: Reciprocal links to tie FAO International Year of Rice Web demonstrated improved Term Continuous Crop- site (www.rice2004.org) to IRRI Home, Riceweb, Graindell and other pesticide placement. ping Experiment, then IRRI sites; Riceworld site to refocus on Riceworld Learning Center and President Marcos returned under its 12th crop, new Riceworld shop; Rice Library site to highlight world’s largest rice in October with U.S. now under its 119th. library and Rice Literature Update and Rice Bibliography databases as essential research tools.

19 URBITO ONGLEO URBITO URBITO ONGLEO URBITO URBITO ONGLEO URBITO Year of events 2004 Events: director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of As 1966 predates newsroom computerization by 2 and R. Sahoo of the Central Rice Research the United Nations (FAO) offi cially launches International Year of Rice decades, there is no way, short of combing newspaper Institute at Cuttack, Orissa, India, analyzed at the 58th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on 31 October 2003, with Global Contest on Rice announcement; permanent morgues around the world, to unearth descriptions of the upland soils; and Finis T. Wratten, professor, exhibit opens in the FAO atrium in Rome in January; launch gala in hundreds of planned national events: farmer fi eld days, and Macon D. Faulkner, associate professor, Rome in February; events dedicated to gender and rice on International production competitions, postharvest demonstrations, of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Women’s Day on 8 March; MTV Asia Rock for Rice concerts in Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia in June; concluding celebration cooking classes and cultural programs. A couple of Stations at Crowley, described a new system in Bangladesh for Livelihood Improvement Through Ecology project examples must suffi ce. IRC delegates from the U.S., one for drying rice. These papers and one of the under Poverty Elimination Through Rice Research Assistance (PETRRA) of at least 16 countries committed to declaring a National two entries selected for commendation — in June; at IRRI in Los Baños, Philippines, Farmers Open Day in June, Stakeholders Open Day in July, Philippine Government Open Day Rice Week, reported that newspapers had marked it by D.N. Srivastava and Y.R. Rao, of the Indian in August; REDBIO 2004 celebration in Dominican Republic in July; publishing articles recounting the history of American rice, Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi, International Cooperation Festival in Tokyo to include IRRI exhibit on offering recipes for rice dishes and discussing the culinary on bacterial blight disease — appeared in fi rst weekend of October; events and information booth onWorld Food Day in Rome on 16 October and awarding of winners in Global Contest on differences between rice types. the March 1968 issue of International Rice Rice; launch of the radio drama series to encourage reduced insecticide Among the most colorful observances were likely Commission Newsletter (Vol. 17, No. 1). use in Laos and Vietnam as part of Three Reductions workshop and St. those in Thailand. The kingdom scheduled National Lavish funding supported a special aid Andrew’s Prize workshop (see page 4).

19 URBITO ONGLEO URBITO URBITO ONGLEO URBITO URBITO ONGLEO URBITO t was probably the most excess baggage I’d ever carried in my life. In November 2000, I represented IRRI at the fi rst Iplanning and site-selection meeting for the Seeds of Life project in Dili, the capital of newly independent East Timor. I and the representatives of four other centers in the Consultative Pby Edwin rJavier ecious cargo Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) were so eager to start our work that we hand-carried the planting materials with which we would begin helping East Timorese farmers reestablish their vital agricultural sector. My excess baggage from Manila to Dili included 135 kg of seed for fi eld trials of 48 rice varieties. improved rice varieties in East Timor. Three years later, East Timor is Of course, IRRI was more than happy still the youngest independent state to participate in the project. Four in the world. Besides the eastern half other CGIAR centers also agreed to of the island of Timor, the country work under Dr. Piggin’s leadership includes an enclave called Ocussi- and in collaboration with the Ministry Ambeno on the north coast of the of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Indonesian province of West Timor (MAFF) of the government of the and two small islands, Autaro and The Seeds of Life project for reviving agriculture in Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Jaco. The mostly Roman Catholic war-torn East Timor took root quickly as collaborators to use the country’s offi cial name. Our nation has a population of about flew in for their first meeting carrying much more in project was thus unique in bringing 800,000, more than 90% of whom their luggage than clean shirts and socks together the expertise of fi ve CGIAR depend on subsistence agriculture. centers from three continents. After more than 450 years as Philippine-based IRRI would a Portuguese colony, East Timor REPLANTING IN PEACE, farmers transplant into a large rice be responsible for rice, the Mexico- declared independence in November paddy (main photo) seedlings grown from seed carried in based International Maize and 1975, only to be invaded 9 days later by hand (inset). Author Edwin Javier (bottom left photo) Wheat Improvement Center (Spanish by Indonesian forces. In August 1999, takes notes in a ripening fi eld of rice and more notes top( acronym CIMMYT) for maize, the right photo, right) as Claudino Nabais, a researcher in the after nearly a quarter century of Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, consults Peru-based International Potato unrest, the East Timorese opted for with a farmer. Farmers in East Timor (small photos, left to Center (Spanish acronym CIP) for independence in a United Nations- right) preparing a rice paddy, displaying peanuts, harvest- sweet potato and Irish potato, the supervised popular referendum. The ing maize and hefting sweet potatoes. Colombia-based International Center immediate result, however, was to for Tropical Agriculture (Spanish infl ame civil strife between those acronym CIAT) for cassava and beans, who favored independence and pro-integrationist militias. Many food crops were insuffi cient, and — had by the 1980s left that Southeast traditional varieties lost during the and the India-based International people died or became refugees, the seed stocks available were badly Asian country in ruins. Like the East upheavals, the partners reintroduced Center for Research in the Semi- infrastructure was ruined, and commingled and lacked vigor. Many Timorese today, Cambodians needed and redistributed seed multiplied Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for peanuts. agricultural and market activities of the planting materials that aid to rebuild their agricultural sector from samples held in trust in the With coordination and funding suffered disruption. The UN organizations had brought in during from scratch. Fortunately, expert and Genetic Resources Center at IRRI. The from ACIAR, the project would Transitional Administration for the crisis years of 1999 and 2000 committed help was on the way. project also trained Cambodian staff promote the return to East Timor of East Timor succeeded in quelling were ill-adapted to East Timorese to assume greater responsibility as well-balanced nutrition, including civil strife, and East Timor received conditions and lacked purity. Multifaceted partnership expatriate specialists were gradually carbohydrates from cereals and root international recognition as an Correcting these problems led The Cambodia–IRRI–Australia Project withdrawn and to continue research crops and protein from legumes. independent state in May 2002. to the development of the Seeds combined IRRI, the Australian Agency and extension after the project drew to Upon our arrival in Dili for the As the East Timorese set about of Life project, to be modeled on a for International Development and a close at the end of 2001. fi rst planning meeting in November rebuilding their nation, the most remarkable precedent in Cambodia. many nongovernmental organizations In September 2000, Colin 2000, we were welcomed by Dr. immediate need was to revive Decades of terrible hardship — fi rst (NGOs) in a multifaceted partnership Piggin of the Australian Centre Piggin, MAFF staff and our NGO agriculture and restore food security. war, then brutal repression and to introduce, test, multiply and for International Agricultural partners Catholic Relief Services, The fi rst problem identifi ed was the economic mismanagement under the distribute to Cambodian farmers Research (ACIAR) contacted IRRI World Vision International and inadequacy of planting materials. Khmer Rouge, and fi nally military improved rice seed (see Rice Today, management regarding the urgent Australian Volunteers International. Supplies of seed for planting staple occupation and diplomatic isolation Vol. 1, No. 1). Or, in the case of need to introduce, test and distribute Our enthusiasm received a boost

20 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 21 t was probably the most excess baggage I’d ever carried in my life. In November 2000, I represented IRRI at the fi rst Iplanning and site-selection meeting for the Seeds of Life project in Dili, the capital of newly independent East Timor. I and the representatives of four other centers in the Consultative Pby Edwin rJavier ecious cargo Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) were so eager to start our work that we hand-carried the planting materials with which we would begin helping East Timorese farmers reestablish their vital agricultural sector. My excess baggage from Manila to Dili included 135 kg of seed for fi eld trials of 48 rice varieties. improved rice varieties in East Timor. Three years later, East Timor is Of course, IRRI was more than happy still the youngest independent state to participate in the project. Four in the world. Besides the eastern half other CGIAR centers also agreed to of the island of Timor, the country work under Dr. Piggin’s leadership includes an enclave called Ocussi- and in collaboration with the Ministry Ambeno on the north coast of the of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Indonesian province of West Timor (MAFF) of the government of the and two small islands, Autaro and The Seeds of Life project for reviving agriculture in Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Jaco. The mostly Roman Catholic war-torn East Timor took root quickly as collaborators to use the country’s offi cial name. Our nation has a population of about flew in for their first meeting carrying much more in project was thus unique in bringing 800,000, more than 90% of whom their luggage than clean shirts and socks together the expertise of fi ve CGIAR depend on subsistence agriculture. centers from three continents. After more than 450 years as Philippine-based IRRI would a Portuguese colony, East Timor REPLANTING IN PEACE, farmers transplant into a large rice be responsible for rice, the Mexico- declared independence in November paddy (main photo) seedlings grown from seed carried in based International Maize and 1975, only to be invaded 9 days later by hand (inset). Author Edwin Javier (bottom left photo) Wheat Improvement Center (Spanish by Indonesian forces. In August 1999, takes notes in a ripening fi eld of rice and more notes top( acronym CIMMYT) for maize, the right photo, right) as Claudino Nabais, a researcher in the after nearly a quarter century of Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, consults Peru-based International Potato unrest, the East Timorese opted for with a farmer. Farmers in East Timor (small photos, left to Center (Spanish acronym CIP) for independence in a United Nations- right) preparing a rice paddy, displaying peanuts, harvest- sweet potato and Irish potato, the supervised popular referendum. The ing maize and hefting sweet potatoes. Colombia-based International Center immediate result, however, was to for Tropical Agriculture (Spanish infl ame civil strife between those acronym CIAT) for cassava and beans, who favored independence and pro-integrationist militias. Many food crops were insuffi cient, and — had by the 1980s left that Southeast traditional varieties lost during the and the India-based International people died or became refugees, the seed stocks available were badly Asian country in ruins. Like the East upheavals, the partners reintroduced Center for Research in the Semi- infrastructure was ruined, and commingled and lacked vigor. Many Timorese today, Cambodians needed and redistributed seed multiplied Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for peanuts. agricultural and market activities of the planting materials that aid to rebuild their agricultural sector from samples held in trust in the With coordination and funding suffered disruption. The UN organizations had brought in during from scratch. Fortunately, expert and Genetic Resources Center at IRRI. The from ACIAR, the project would Transitional Administration for the crisis years of 1999 and 2000 committed help was on the way. project also trained Cambodian staff promote the return to East Timor of East Timor succeeded in quelling were ill-adapted to East Timorese to assume greater responsibility as well-balanced nutrition, including civil strife, and East Timor received conditions and lacked purity. Multifaceted partnership expatriate specialists were gradually carbohydrates from cereals and root international recognition as an Correcting these problems led The Cambodia–IRRI–Australia Project withdrawn and to continue research crops and protein from legumes. independent state in May 2002. to the development of the Seeds combined IRRI, the Australian Agency and extension after the project drew to Upon our arrival in Dili for the As the East Timorese set about of Life project, to be modeled on a for International Development and a close at the end of 2001. fi rst planning meeting in November rebuilding their nation, the most remarkable precedent in Cambodia. many nongovernmental organizations In September 2000, Colin 2000, we were welcomed by Dr. immediate need was to revive Decades of terrible hardship — fi rst (NGOs) in a multifaceted partnership Piggin of the Australian Centre Piggin, MAFF staff and our NGO agriculture and restore food security. war, then brutal repression and to introduce, test, multiply and for International Agricultural partners Catholic Relief Services, The fi rst problem identifi ed was the economic mismanagement under the distribute to Cambodian farmers Research (ACIAR) contacted IRRI World Vision International and inadequacy of planting materials. Khmer Rouge, and fi nally military improved rice seed (see Rice Today, management regarding the urgent Australian Volunteers International. Supplies of seed for planting staple occupation and diplomatic isolation Vol. 1, No. 1). Or, in the case of need to introduce, test and distribute Our enthusiasm received a boost

20 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 21 SEEDS OF LIFE staff pose with the future president (top photo, left to right): (seated) Jose Abel, East Timor Divi- sion of Agricultural Affairs; Dineen Tupa, World Vision; Edwin Javier, IRRI; (standing) Clodagh McCumiskey, Catholic Relief Services; Fernando González, CIMMYT; A VARIED DIET harvested from a research station in the highlands at Aileu includes (drawings, left to right) Patrick Kapuka, World Vision; Brian Palmer, ACIAR; cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, peanuts and rice. (Bottom photos, from left) President Gusmão addresses the Xanana Gusmão, now president of East Timor; Colin United Nations General Assembly in 2002; East Timorese women sift and clean rice; one of them tends beans. Piggin, ACIAR, head of Seeds of Life project; Damarsetti Yadagiri, ICRISAT; Reinhardt Howeler, CIAT; Alfonso de Oliveira, Catholic Relief Services; Upali Jayasinghe, CIP. when Xanana Gusmão, then president month rainy season. We agreed that varieties perform in farmers’ fi elds, which will be increased further in IRRI headquarters and another two of the National Council for Resistance the CGIAR centers should assemble allow farmers to select the varieties local villages under the management trainees in the institute’s Integrated in Timor and now president of diverse germplasm sets and test them best suited to their management of farmer seed producers. Having a Pest Management Course. Next Announcement the country, highly praised the in a wide range of environments in practices, and obtain feedback from seed-production and -distribution year, we plan to conduct in-country commencement of collaborative work East Timor. farmers regarding these varieties. system at the village level should training in seed production for MAFF The Institute of Agriculture and between the national program and The project’s fi rst annual technical In addition, the project serves as ensure quick delivery of seed to staff members, who will train in turn Food Research and Technology (IRTA) is a research institution international organizations. meeting in Dili in October 2001 a source of pure, vigorous seed for farmers. village farmer seed producers. with several locations in Catalonia, The Seeds of Life team took a attracted all the key players, as did the farmers, and the trials double as One key objective is to develop On-farm farmer participatory Spain. We conduct basic and applied fi eld trip around East Timor, looking second such meeting in October 2002. demonstration fi elds for other farmers the technical capability of MAFF staff varietal testing and seed production research in the fi elds of agriculture, for sites to conduct variety trials. In In both meetings, bolstered by words to see. Results of the researcher- in germplasm evaluation, production were critical components of the aquaculture, animal production and its modest 19,000 sq km, East Timor of encouragement from Estanislau da managed and on-farm farmer and distribution. For starters, we highly successful Cambodia–IRRI– food technology. packs considerable diversity of land Silva, minister of MAFF, we discussed participatory variety trials guide conducted a 2-day training course Australia Project. I believe that the We have a research position and soil formations and climate. First, the results of researcher-managed the national program in identifying on general management practices Seeds of Life project, combining opening in rice agronomy at our we traveled around the south coast, variety trials and identifi ed for each varieties for release. for each target crop and on how the strengths of fi ve CGIAR centers fi eld station in Amposta, Tarragona, where the rainy season sees 1,000– crop the best materials to include to conduct variety trials. Some 35 and applying strategies proven to Spain. We offer competitive salaries and a dynamic research environment. 1,500 mm of rainfall distributed over in our on-farm farmer participatory High-quality seed newly appointed district agricultural be effective in Cambodia, will be 6 months, starting in December. In variety trials set to begin in the During our upcoming third annual offi cers, district crop production instrumental in helping East Timor Knowledge of Catalan or Spanish is not a requirement. We ask candidates contrast, the north coast receives 2002–03 cropping season. technical meeting in October 2003, offi cers and NGO technicians succeedsucceed inin reinvigoratingreinvigorating itsits farmsfarms to visit our Web site (www.irta.es, considerably less rainfall, 800–1,000 In farmer participatory variety we will discuss how best to deliver participated, and we were pleased and villages. available in three languages) and mm in a wet season that lasts only 3–4 trials, farmers grow one to three to farmers high-quality seed of the with the enthusiasm they showed. to send their CV to Dr. Tomàs Fosch months. We also visited some sites in promising materials under their own best-adapted cultivars. This will Early this year, the project Dr. Javier, an IRRI plant breeder and coordinator ([email protected]). the hilly central part of the country, management and using their own probably entail the government sponsored the participation of of the International Network for Genetic Evaluation Deadline for applications is the which receives a lot of rainfall, totaling resources. Through these trials, we setting up a seed farm for initial two East Timorese in the Rice of Rice, worked on the Cambodia‒IRRI‒Australia end of October 2003. 1,500–2,000 mm during the 6–8 hope to discover how well promising seed multiplication, the output of Production Training Course at Project in 1993‒98.

22 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 23 SEEDS OF LIFE staff pose with the future president (top photo, left to right): (seated) Jose Abel, East Timor Divi- sion of Agricultural Affairs; Dineen Tupa, World Vision; Edwin Javier, IRRI; (standing) Clodagh McCumiskey, Catholic Relief Services; Fernando González, CIMMYT; A VARIED DIET harvested from a research station in the highlands at Aileu includes (drawings, left to right) Patrick Kapuka, World Vision; Brian Palmer, ACIAR; cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, peanuts and rice. (Bottom photos, from left) President Gusmão addresses the Xanana Gusmão, now president of East Timor; Colin United Nations General Assembly in 2002; East Timorese women sift and clean rice; one of them tends beans. Piggin, ACIAR, head of Seeds of Life project; Damarsetti Yadagiri, ICRISAT; Reinhardt Howeler, CIAT; Alfonso de Oliveira, Catholic Relief Services; Upali Jayasinghe, CIP. when Xanana Gusmão, then president month rainy season. We agreed that varieties perform in farmers’ fi elds, which will be increased further in IRRI headquarters and another two of the National Council for Resistance the CGIAR centers should assemble allow farmers to select the varieties local villages under the management trainees in the institute’s Integrated in Timor and now president of diverse germplasm sets and test them best suited to their management of farmer seed producers. Having a Pest Management Course. Next Announcement the country, highly praised the in a wide range of environments in practices, and obtain feedback from seed-production and -distribution year, we plan to conduct in-country commencement of collaborative work East Timor. farmers regarding these varieties. system at the village level should training in seed production for MAFF The Institute of Agriculture and between the national program and The project’s fi rst annual technical In addition, the project serves as ensure quick delivery of seed to staff members, who will train in turn Food Research and Technology (IRTA) is a research institution international organizations. meeting in Dili in October 2001 a source of pure, vigorous seed for farmers. village farmer seed producers. with several locations in Catalonia, The Seeds of Life team took a attracted all the key players, as did the farmers, and the trials double as One key objective is to develop On-farm farmer participatory Spain. We conduct basic and applied fi eld trip around East Timor, looking second such meeting in October 2002. demonstration fi elds for other farmers the technical capability of MAFF staff varietal testing and seed production research in the fi elds of agriculture, for sites to conduct variety trials. In In both meetings, bolstered by words to see. Results of the researcher- in germplasm evaluation, production were critical components of the aquaculture, animal production and its modest 19,000 sq km, East Timor of encouragement from Estanislau da managed and on-farm farmer and distribution. For starters, we highly successful Cambodia–IRRI– food technology. packs considerable diversity of land Silva, minister of MAFF, we discussed participatory variety trials guide conducted a 2-day training course Australia Project. I believe that the We have a research position and soil formations and climate. First, the results of researcher-managed the national program in identifying on general management practices Seeds of Life project, combining opening in rice agronomy at our we traveled around the south coast, variety trials and identifi ed for each varieties for release. for each target crop and on how the strengths of fi ve CGIAR centers fi eld station in Amposta, Tarragona, where the rainy season sees 1,000– crop the best materials to include to conduct variety trials. Some 35 and applying strategies proven to Spain. We offer competitive salaries and a dynamic research environment. 1,500 mm of rainfall distributed over in our on-farm farmer participatory High-quality seed newly appointed district agricultural be effective in Cambodia, will be 6 months, starting in December. In variety trials set to begin in the During our upcoming third annual offi cers, district crop production instrumental in helping East Timor Knowledge of Catalan or Spanish is not a requirement. We ask candidates contrast, the north coast receives 2002–03 cropping season. technical meeting in October 2003, offi cers and NGO technicians succeedsucceed inin reinvigoratingreinvigorating itsits farmsfarms to visit our Web site (www.irta.es, considerably less rainfall, 800–1,000 In farmer participatory variety we will discuss how best to deliver participated, and we were pleased and villages. available in three languages) and mm in a wet season that lasts only 3–4 trials, farmers grow one to three to farmers high-quality seed of the with the enthusiasm they showed. to send their CV to Dr. Tomàs Fosch months. We also visited some sites in promising materials under their own best-adapted cultivars. This will Early this year, the project Dr. Javier, an IRRI plant breeder and coordinator ([email protected]). the hilly central part of the country, management and using their own probably entail the government sponsored the participation of of the International Network for Genetic Evaluation Deadline for applications is the which receives a lot of rainfall, totaling resources. Through these trials, we setting up a seed farm for initial two East Timorese in the Rice of Rice, worked on the Cambodia‒IRRI‒Australia end of October 2003. 1,500–2,000 mm during the 6–8 hope to discover how well promising seed multiplication, the output of Production Training Course at Project in 1993‒98.

22 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 23 Nearly 4 decades into the Green and easy access to the Internet in Revolution, feeding the poor is one developing countries as well as thing, adequately nourishing them is developed ones, which has become a another. reality only recently.” In 1994, a handful of innovative Conventional plant breeding has scientists began asking whether made some progress toward realizing advances in agricultural and biofortifi ed crops, notably in IRRI’s nutritional science could be brought work to develop and test rice rich to bear to help end all hunger — not in iron and zinc. Biofortifi cation just the obvious, grinding hunger also capitalizes on biotechnology, manifest in gaunt children, but also which speeds scientists’ efforts to GOOD NUTRITION FOR ALL is a puzzle that needs the hidden hunger that undermines identify genes that intensify nutrient every piece in place. Varied diets, vitamin and apparently healthy children by density and to insert them in target mineral supplements, and conventional fortifi ca- hindering their cognitive growth, crops. In the case of transgenic tion with additives have proven value. Now crippling their immune systems and crops, biotechnology makes possible biofortifi cation, or breeding for nutrition, may eventually stealing their eyesight. combinations that could not be bring the puzzle closer to completion. As hidden hunger continues to achieved through conventional affl ict over 2 billion in the developing breeding but are of potential benefi t world, the next green revolution, to billions of consumers. Scientifi c advances the scientists reasoned, should make staple foods more nutritious. Channels for delivery have helped farmers However, such an ambitious For decades, the community of undertaking would require new scientists focused on human nutrition the world over grow science and new partnerships, has worked tirelessly to identify observed Howarth Bouis, director channels for effective delivery of more food. Can new of the Biofortifi cation Challenge nutrients. Vitamin capsules and Program of the Consultative Group on mineral supplements are critical advances help them International Agricultural Research interventions for arresting severe (CGIAR). malnutrition. Conventional grow food that is “Biofortifi cation” is a new term fortifi cation with additives has been coined to describe an approach successful in reducing some forms inherently more to breeding food crops that loads of micronutrient defi ciency in some vitamins and minerals into the edible places; iodized salt, for example, has nutritious? portions of seeds, roots or tubers. reduced the incidence of goiter and In essence, biofortifi ed crops fortify cretinism. themselves with micronutrients. But what about the millions of

ARIEL JAVELLANA These crops offer higher nutrient poor who lack access to the health levels straight from the fi eld, giving clinics that dispense supplements and poor farmers and sharecroppers, the markets that sell conventionally and the urban populations they fortifi ed foods? Other options are supply, access to more nutritious food needed to reach the millions that early 70% of the world’s without relying on processing with remain beyond the reach of existing poor and malnourished fortifying additives. methods of nutritional intervention. live in Asia, where rice is “Inducing plants to fortify Biofortifi cation of crops may be another the staple food. In some themselves with vitamins and piece in the solution to this puzzle. Nof the poorest areas, particularly minerals, and then in South Asia, two-thirds of all delivering them to calories consumed come from rice. the poor, requires In Bangladesh, where preschool an interdisciplinary Breeding 80% children derive up to 76% of their alliance of research 17% calories from rice, 56% of them are and implementing 3% underweight. What is worse, 73% of institutions all over young children in Bangladesh suffer the globe,” Dr. Bouis iron-defi ciency anemia, challenging said. “Coordinating their cognitive development. Half of such an alliance for nutrition all pregnant women in that country became possible Staples Nonstaple plant Animal and fi sh by Bonnie McClafferty face the same affl iction, complicating only with the advent childbirth. of widespread Share of energy intake in rural Bangladesh.

24 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 25 Nearly 4 decades into the Green and easy access to the Internet in Revolution, feeding the poor is one developing countries as well as thing, adequately nourishing them is developed ones, which has become a another. reality only recently.” In 1994, a handful of innovative Conventional plant breeding has scientists began asking whether made some progress toward realizing advances in agricultural and biofortifi ed crops, notably in IRRI’s nutritional science could be brought work to develop and test rice rich to bear to help end all hunger — not in iron and zinc. Biofortifi cation just the obvious, grinding hunger also capitalizes on biotechnology, manifest in gaunt children, but also which speeds scientists’ efforts to GOOD NUTRITION FOR ALL is a puzzle that needs the hidden hunger that undermines identify genes that intensify nutrient every piece in place. Varied diets, vitamin and apparently healthy children by density and to insert them in target mineral supplements, and conventional fortifi ca- hindering their cognitive growth, crops. In the case of transgenic tion with additives have proven value. Now crippling their immune systems and crops, biotechnology makes possible biofortifi cation, or breeding for nutrition, may eventually stealing their eyesight. combinations that could not be bring the puzzle closer to completion. As hidden hunger continues to achieved through conventional affl ict over 2 billion in the developing breeding but are of potential benefi t world, the next green revolution, to billions of consumers. Scientifi c advances the scientists reasoned, should make staple foods more nutritious. Channels for delivery have helped farmers However, such an ambitious For decades, the community of undertaking would require new scientists focused on human nutrition the world over grow science and new partnerships, has worked tirelessly to identify observed Howarth Bouis, director channels for effective delivery of more food. Can new of the Biofortifi cation Challenge nutrients. Vitamin capsules and Program of the Consultative Group on mineral supplements are critical advances help them International Agricultural Research interventions for arresting severe (CGIAR). malnutrition. Conventional grow food that is “Biofortifi cation” is a new term fortifi cation with additives has been coined to describe an approach successful in reducing some forms inherently more to breeding food crops that loads of micronutrient defi ciency in some vitamins and minerals into the edible places; iodized salt, for example, has nutritious? portions of seeds, roots or tubers. reduced the incidence of goiter and In essence, biofortifi ed crops fortify cretinism. themselves with micronutrients. But what about the millions of

24 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 25 What exactly does it take to turn a clever idea like this into a successful technology and public good? We know that scientists can load such essential micronutrients as iron, zinc and provitamin A into staple crops, but can nutrient levels achieve suffi cient density to have a signifi cant impact on human health? Will farmers take up biofortifi ed crops? Will malnourished consumers welcome them? How much benefi cial impact will these innovations fi nally have on public health? What partnerships do we need to accomplish this monumental BREEDING FOR NUTRITION has potential application across a broad range of staple crops. The Biofortifi cation Challenge task? Program coordinates these efforts to bring health benefi ts to the world's poor. We address the last question fi rst. Success will demand the combined efforts of focus delivery of the technology to the committing valuable resources to agronomists, plant breeders and people who need it most and measure achieve a common goal. geneticists from advanced research its impact. Answers to the other questions institutes, national research systems regarding the concept’s prospects in developing countries, and Broad alliance will become known as biofortifi ed universities in both the developed Nongovernmental organizations and products become available to farmers and developing world. Nutritionists extension specialists based primarily and consumers. working both in modern laboratories in the developing world will facilitate The International Center and in the fi eld will formulate precise adoption and evaluation. Partnerships for Tropical Agriculture and the objectives and evaluate the safety of with the private sector will provide International Food Policy Research new crops and the bioavailability of access to patented technologies, Institute are the two CGIAR sister nutrients in the bodies of consumers. regulate their use for the common centers that share leadership of the Sociologists and economists will good, and disseminate the technology Biofortifi cation Challenge Program. where it can be They are joining forces with IRRI most effective. and other CGIAR centers and — by Communications sharing materials, methods and and social information related to breeding marketing for nutrition — ensuring that the specialists will program will have the broadest build support for possible impact. this innovative Immediately, the program is approach among overseeing expansion of existing the donor breeding programs. Because of community and the progress already made, high-iron rice public. In short, and high-beta carotene (provitamin success will require A) orange-fl esh sweet potato will a broad alliance likely be the fi rst biofortifi ed products of disciplines and out the door. IRRI’s high-iron organizations with variety IR68144 (a nontransgenic complementary rice) is already in large-scale human areas of expertise feeding trials to test how effectively it — an inclusive alleviates anemia. collaboration Bonnie McClafferty is the coordinator of com- that depends on munications for the Biofortifi cation Challenge all participants Program.

26 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 27 DONORS CORNER

What exactly does it take to turn a clever idea like this into a successful technology Multiple strategies assure impact and public good? We know by Franklin Moore that scientists can load such essential micronutrients as iron, zinc and provitamin A into staple crops, but he United States Agency 2002. Beginning even earlier in can nutrient levels achieve for International 1967, other sections of USAID suffi cient density to have a Development (USAID) in Washington and numerous Tbelieves that meeting three country missions have provided signifi cant impact on human health? Will farmers take fundamental needs of developing additional restricted funding, up biofortifi ed crops? Will nations — ensuring food security, focused on specifi c countries malnourished consumers facilitating long-term economic or research targets, totaling welcome them? How much growth, and improving the lot more than $38 million by 2002. of the rural and urban poor — Overall USAID support for IRRI benefi cial impact will these requires the best that science can to date thus exceeds $162 million. innovations fi nally have offer. We must apply agricultural We see a strong continuing on public health? What science to maintain current levels need for IRRI’s leadership in partnerships do we need to of agricultural productivity in advancing scientifi c research and ICRISAT accomplish this monumental the face of worsening biological applying discoveries to fi eld-level BREEDING FOR NUTRITION has potential application across a broad range of staple crops. The Biofortifi cation Challenge task? Program coordinates these efforts to bring health benefi ts to the world's poor. and natural resource challenges problems. We address the last and, additionally, increase question fi rst. Success will productivity where possible Global benefi ts demand the combined efforts of focus delivery of the technology to the committing valuable resources to to keep pace with expanding IRRI’s current research goals agronomists, plant breeders and people who need it most and measure achieve a common goal. food demand and to stimulate are both demanding and highly geneticists from advanced research its impact. Answers to the other questions agricultural and economic CHUCK PATALIVE/USAID promising. Some, like drought- growth. Both goals rely heavily tolerant rice varieties, could institutes, national research systems regarding the concept’s prospects Mr. Moore is director of the Offi ce of Environment and Science Policy in on advances in science and USAID’s Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade. greatly help some of the world’s in developing countries, and Broad alliance will become known as biofortifi ed technology based on research. poorest farmers. Intensive aerobic universities in both the developed Nongovernmental organizations and products become available to farmers Agricultural research takes Group on International Agricultural (dry fi eld) rice systems may offer global and developing world. Nutritionists extension specialists based primarily and consumers. many forms, ranging from cutting-edge Research (CGIAR), and national environmental benefi ts by saving water and working both in modern laboratories in the developing world will facilitate The International Center science in advanced institutes to structured agricultural research systems. CABIO also fuel. Nutrient-rich high-iron and Golden and in the fi eld will formulate precise adoption and evaluation. Partnerships for Tropical Agriculture and the variety trials across a wide range of has regional projects in Africa and national Rice promise improved health for hundreds objectives and evaluate the safety of with the private sector will provide International Food Policy Research environments — and even simple trial activities there and in other regions. of millions of people. IRRI’s partnerships new crops and the bioavailability of access to patented technologies, Institute are the two CGIAR sister and error by individual farmers. USAID Although USAID is largely a bilateral with advanced research institutions nutrients in the bodies of consumers. regulate their use for the common centers that share leadership of the increasingly emphasizes partnerships organization, we also pursue partnerships around the world further the new science Sociologists and economists will good, and disseminate the technology Biofortifi cation Challenge Program. with a wide range of public organizations, with other bilateral donors and of functional genomics, unlocking the where it can be They are joining forces with IRRI facilitating public-private research international organizations. The CGIAR enormous genetic diversity of cereal crops collaboration and the participation of is a prominent example. Our Bureau for to fi nd new solutions for poor farm families. most effective. and other CGIAR centers and — by nongovernmental organizations, to produce Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade Central as it may be to improving Communications sharing materials, methods and knowledge-based public goods of benefi t (EGAT) supports international research productivity and nutritional quality, and social information related to breeding nationally and, more importantly as programs involving U.S. universities and research is not the whole story. Maximizing marketing for nutrition — ensuring that the knowledge spills over borders, regionally or developing-country institutions through, its impact on agricultural communities specialists will program will have the broadest even globally. IRRI occupies the crossroads for example, the Collaborative Research and economic development requires build support for possible impact. of this dynamic international process. Support Program. USAID funds an array of complementary action. USAID’s new this innovative Immediately, the program is regional collaborative research networks in agricultural strategy therefore focuses on approach among overseeing expansion of existing New opportunities Africa, some involving CGIAR centers. Our three related areas: (1) expanding domestic the donor breeding programs. Because of Research frontiers such as biotechnology country missions in 79 countries around and international trade opportunities and community and the progress already made, high-iron rice provide exciting new opportunities, making the world conduct a range of development the ability of farmers and rural industries to public. In short, and high-beta carotene (provitamin possible agricultural breakthroughs and programs that build on an array of existing respond to them, (2) promoting sustainable speeding the development of other useful foundations, including the CGIAR and agriculture and improved management success will require A) orange-fl esh sweet potato will technologies. USAID’s new Collaborative CABIO. of natural resources, and (3) bridging a broad alliance likely be the fi rst biofortifi ed products Agricultural Biotechnology Initiative USAID has long viewed IRRI as a the knowledge gap through training and of disciplines and out the door. IRRI’s high-iron (CABIO) facilitates increased support for cornerstone of the CGIAR because of its education, outreach, and adaptive research. organizations with variety IR68144 (a nontransgenic technological innovation while ensuring enormous contributions to global food In any effort to provide public goods, complementary rice) is already in large-scale human safety for consumers and the environment. security, especially in Asia. USAID started needs greatly exceed means, at the global areas of expertise feeding trials to test how effectively it Two global CABIO projects — the providing core (unrestricted) funding level and especially in the poorest nations. — an inclusive alleviates anemia. Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project to IRRI in 1970, before the CGIAR was CGIAR centers such as IRRI play a major collaboration at Cornell University and the Program in established. This support, handled centrally role in ensuring that the global research Bonnie McClafferty is the coordinator of com- Biosafety Systems — use partnerships with through EGAT, has continued, reaching a systemsystem makesmakes thethe mostmost ofof availableavailable that depends on munications for the Biofortifi cation Challenge IRRI, its sister centers in the Consultative cumulative total of nearly $124 million in fi nancial and human resources. ARIEL JAVELLANA all participants Program.

26 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 27 PEOPLE Lost Tribe Agricultural Exchange Association, CGIAR, and the governments IRRI agronomist Economist elected IRRI board chair of Australia and other countries. As executive director of the erek Tribe, a tireless International Development Program (1980–86), he encouraged and made member, eijiro Otsuka, a Dadvocate of international supported Sir John Crawford in his successful effort to establish the Order of Australia Krespected agricultural agricultural research, passed Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. economist in Japan, was se- away on 19 April in Melbourne, Among his many honors were the Silver Medal of the Austra- lected in May to become chair Australia. As the first executive lian Institute of Agricultural Science (1969) and appointment as of the IRRI Board of Trustees. director of the Crawford Fund a foundation fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological In January 2004, Dr. Otsuka (1987–96), he wrote and lob- Sciences and Engineering (1975), an officer of the Order of the Brit- will replace Angeline Kamba, bied passionately on the theme ish Empire (1977) and an officer in the Order of Australia (1993). a public service commissioner of Doing Well by Doing Good In 2000, the Crawford Fund established the Derek Tribe Award from Zimbabwe, who will step (the title of his first book, pub- (given this year to Luis Salazar; see page 30). down after almost 2 years in lished in 1991) and the role ● B.P. Ghildyal, former IRRI liaison scientist for India (1986– the post. IRRI’s independent, of international agricultural 95) who initiated many collaborative activities between IRRI and 15-member Board of Trustees research in alleviating poverty the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and other national meets once a year to set the CRAWFORD FUND CRAWFORD and achieving food security. partners, died on 27 February. institute’s policies and review In 1972, Prof. Tribe led the international task force assembled ● David MacKenzie, formerly of IRRI and the International its research agenda. by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement, and board chair of the Dr. Otsuka is a professor (CGIAR) to look into establishing the International Livestock Centre for International Potato Center since 1998, died on 23 October 2002. at Japan’s National Graduate Africa (now reorganized as the International Livestock Research Insti- ● Clarence William Bockhop, former head of the then Agri- Institute for Policy Studies and tute of the CGIAR) and served on its Board of Trustees (1973–80). cultural Engineering Department at IRRI (1980–86), died in Corpus IRRI the director of the graduate He undertook consultancies for the Rockefeller Foundation, Christi, Texas, on 16 May at the age of 82. arold John Nesbitt was appointed a program of the Foundation for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ● Nuth Sakhan, director of the Agronomy Department of the Hmember of the Order of Australia (AM) Advanced Studies on Interna- (UNESCO), World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, died on the Queen’s Birthday 2003 Honors List, tional Development. The foun- UN, International Development Research Centre, International on 28 March. released in June. The appointment was for dation conducts development “service to agriculture as project manager research in Asia and Africa and and agronomist for the Cambodia–Inter- offers educational and training Keeping up with IRRI staff T.P. Tuong became in February the new head of Crop, Soil ARIEL JAVELLANA and Water Sciences. He had served as acting head of the division national Rice Research Institute–Australia programs for aspiring develop- ohn Bennett was appointed in April since early last year. Dr. Tuong, who joined IRRI in 1991, heads Project [CIAP] and, through this project, to ment professionals from Japan, other Asian “There’s no doubt that this is a very Jleader of Theme 1 (Improving Water IRRI’s Project 5 (Enhancing water productivity in rice-based pro- the community of Cambodia.” countries and Africa. exciting time in rice research, and many Productivity) of the CGIAR Challenge duction systems). Dr. Nesbitt, an agronomist, joined IRRI An expert in agricultural economics, new opportunities lie just ahead,” Dr. Program on Water and Food. Dr. Ben- Swapan Datta was appointed in August rice crop leader of in November 1988 as team leader of CIAP Dr. Otsuka was a visiting scientist at IRRI Otsuka said, noting as well that recent fund- nett brings to the position a wealth of sci- the CGIAR Biofortification Challenge Program (see page 24). As and IRRI representative in Cambodia, posi- (1986–89) and a visiting research fellow at the ing shortfalls require IRRI to make the most entific experience in drought tolerance, one of six crop leaders in the program, Dr. Datta will coordinate a tions he held until the project’s completion International Food Policy Research Institute of these opportunities with a curtailed staff improvement of crop water productivity multidiscipline research team and serve on the program’s general in December 2001 (see Rice Today, Vol. 1, (1993–98), one of IRRI’s sister centers in the roster and research program. “I am deter- and project management. IRRI is one of planning committee. He leads IRRI’s effort to develop a tropical No. 1). He now lives in Perth, providing con- Consultative Group on International Agri- mined to work with IRRI’s management

IRRI five centers leading the program. version of provitamin A-rich Golden Rice (see page 9). sultancy services and running a real estate cultural Research. His past research subjects team to keep the institute focused on its Renee Lafitte replaced Dr. Bennett in May as team leader David Dawe was the only Westerner among 20 “Asian hero” development company. include the effect of the Green Revolution most important goals and challenges. These of Project 7 (Genetic enhancement for improving productivity and nominees culled from 10,000 entries for a special report in the Dr. Nesbitt was scheduled to receive on income distribution in Asia; how land include how to help rice workers and farm- human nutrition in fragile environments). Dr. Lafitte has extensive 28 April issue of Time magazine. Dr. Dawe, an economist, was the award and medal from the governor of tenancy, land tenure and natural resource ers climb out of the terrible poverty in which experience in the areas of plant physiology and crop improvement nominated without his knowledge by a national colleague in IRRI's Western Australia, Lieutenant General John management affect farmer efficiency and so many of them remained trapped, and how for tolerance of abiotic stresses and is active in facilitating and co- Social Sciences Division. Always a dark horse, he tied for 16th place Sanderson, in an investiture ceremony on 12 equity in Asia and Africa; and gender issues to do this in a sustainable, environmentally ordinating the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments. with 0.3% of the vote. September at Government House in Perth. in inheritance and schooling investment. friendly way.”

Award-a-BRAC alleviation program that engages 3.6 million K.L. Heong, deputy head of IRRI’s Hei Leung, plant pathologist in Crop Science Society of America for 2003. poor households, a health program that ben- Entomology and Plant Pathology Division EPPD, was selected as a fellow by the In addition to two stints at IRRI (1982–91, azle Hasan efits 31 million people, and 34,000 primary (EPPD), received the inaugural Award of American Phytopathological Society Awards 2001–present) Dr. Mackill has been a FAbed, found- schools for 1.1 million poor children. The Excellence in plant protection from the and Honors Committee for his outstanding research geneticist and adjunct professor er and chair of largest private development organization Malaysian Plant Protection Society. Dr. contributions in plant pathology. at the University of California, Davis, and the Bangladesh in the world, BRAC started programs in Heong, a life member of the society, which Vethaiya Balasubramanian, an worked for the U.S. Department of Agricul- Rural Advance- Afghanistan last year. Past winners of the he helped to found in 1976, received its Out- agronomist in the IRRI Training Center, ture–Agricultural Research Service. ment Commit- award include Nelson Mandela (1993). standing Contributions Award in 1986 and received in May the 2003 International Kenneth G. Cassman, head of the tee (BRAC) and The following month, Mr. Abed received was elected president in the following year. Fertilizer Industry Association Interna- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture member of the an honorary doctorate of education from The Award of Excellence is the society’s tional Award, which recognizes research at the University of Nebraska, was named in IRRI Board of the University of Manchester in the U.K., highest, given every 4 years to a person who efforts leading to improved fertilizer use April the University of Hawaii’s 2003 Col- IRRI

Trustees, in whose citation read: “If you want to know has made significant scientific contributions CASIANA VERA CRUZ efficiency and environmental sustainability. lege of Tropical Agriculture and Human April received the Gleitsman Foundation the state of the art in providing sustainable to plant protection. to spread blight-resistant rice varieties over Dr. Balasubramanian’s development and Resources Outstanding Alumnus. Dr. Cass- International Activist Award for 2003 microfinance and services to the poor and Tom Mew (pictured opposite, right), millions of hectares in the Philippines and promotion of the leaf color chart over the man, who was head of IRRI’s Agronomy, on Eradication of Poverty, which annu- how to reach and assist the ultrapoor or how head of EPPD, received in May the Philip- other Asian countries. His work on manag- past 7 years has helped thousands of farmers Plant Physiology and Agroecology Division ally honors individuals who have inspired to help oppressed women achieve their hu- pine Phytopathological Society Achievement ing rice seed health and seed-associated apply fertilizers more efficiently. (1991–96), has achieved international rec- change and motivated others in the realm man rights, you have to look at BRAC, its Award for his contributions to rice pathol- microorganisms for rice disease manage- David J. Mackill, head of IRRI’s ognition for his contributions to sustainable of social activism. Under Mr. Abed’s ideas and its systematic approach to learn- ogy and crop protection. Dr. Mew, a world ment has been adopted as a key component Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biochemistry food production in developing countries. leadership, BRAC operates a poverty- ing from experience.” authority on rice bacterial blight, has worked of integrated pest management. Division, has been selected as a fellow of the continued on page 30

28 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 29 PEOPLE Lost Tribe Agricultural Exchange Association, CGIAR, and the governments IRRI agronomist Economist elected IRRI board chair of Australia and other countries. As executive director of the erek Tribe, a tireless International Development Program (1980–86), he encouraged and made member, eijiro Otsuka, a Dadvocate of international supported Sir John Crawford in his successful effort to establish the Order of Australia Krespected agricultural agricultural research, passed Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. economist in Japan, was se- away on 19 April in Melbourne, Among his many honors were the Silver Medal of the Austra- lected in May to become chair Australia. As the first executive lian Institute of Agricultural Science (1969) and appointment as of the IRRI Board of Trustees. director of the Crawford Fund a foundation fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological In January 2004, Dr. Otsuka (1987–96), he wrote and lob- Sciences and Engineering (1975), an officer of the Order of the Brit- will replace Angeline Kamba, bied passionately on the theme ish Empire (1977) and an officer in the Order of Australia (1993). a public service commissioner of Doing Well by Doing Good In 2000, the Crawford Fund established the Derek Tribe Award from Zimbabwe, who will step (the title of his first book, pub- (given this year to Luis Salazar; see page 30). down after almost 2 years in lished in 1991) and the role ● B.P. Ghildyal, former IRRI liaison scientist for India (1986– the post. IRRI’s independent, of international agricultural 95) who initiated many collaborative activities between IRRI and 15-member Board of Trustees research in alleviating poverty the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and other national meets once a year to set the CRAWFORD FUND CRAWFORD and achieving food security. partners, died on 27 February. institute’s policies and review In 1972, Prof. Tribe led the international task force assembled ● David MacKenzie, formerly of IRRI and the International its research agenda. by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement, and board chair of the Dr. Otsuka is a professor (CGIAR) to look into establishing the International Livestock Centre for International Potato Center since 1998, died on 23 October 2002. at Japan’s National Graduate Africa (now reorganized as the International Livestock Research Insti- ● Clarence William Bockhop, former head of the then Agri- Institute for Policy Studies and tute of the CGIAR) and served on its Board of Trustees (1973–80). cultural Engineering Department at IRRI (1980–86), died in Corpus IRRI the director of the graduate He undertook consultancies for the Rockefeller Foundation, Christi, Texas, on 16 May at the age of 82. arold John Nesbitt was appointed a program of the Foundation for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ● Nuth Sakhan, director of the Agronomy Department of the Hmember of the Order of Australia (AM) Advanced Studies on Interna- (UNESCO), World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, died on the Queen’s Birthday 2003 Honors List, tional Development. The foun- UN, International Development Research Centre, International on 28 March. released in June. The appointment was for dation conducts development “service to agriculture as project manager research in Asia and Africa and and agronomist for the Cambodia–Inter- offers educational and training Keeping up with IRRI staff T.P. Tuong became in February the new head of Crop, Soil ARIEL JAVELLANA and Water Sciences. He had served as acting head of the division national Rice Research Institute–Australia programs for aspiring develop- ohn Bennett was appointed in April since early last year. Dr. Tuong, who joined IRRI in 1991, heads Project [CIAP] and, through this project, to ment professionals from Japan, other Asian “There’s no doubt that this is a very Jleader of Theme 1 (Improving Water IRRI’s Project 5 (Enhancing water productivity in rice-based pro- the community of Cambodia.” countries and Africa. exciting time in rice research, and many Productivity) of the CGIAR Challenge duction systems). Dr. Nesbitt, an agronomist, joined IRRI An expert in agricultural economics, new opportunities lie just ahead,” Dr. Program on Water and Food. Dr. Ben- Swapan Datta was appointed in August rice crop leader of in November 1988 as team leader of CIAP Dr. Otsuka was a visiting scientist at IRRI Otsuka said, noting as well that recent fund- nett brings to the position a wealth of sci- the CGIAR Biofortification Challenge Program (see page 24). As and IRRI representative in Cambodia, posi- (1986–89) and a visiting research fellow at the ing shortfalls require IRRI to make the most entific experience in drought tolerance, one of six crop leaders in the program, Dr. Datta will coordinate a tions he held until the project’s completion International Food Policy Research Institute of these opportunities with a curtailed staff improvement of crop water productivity multidiscipline research team and serve on the program’s general in December 2001 (see Rice Today, Vol. 1, (1993–98), one of IRRI’s sister centers in the roster and research program. “I am deter- and project management. IRRI is one of planning committee. He leads IRRI’s effort to develop a tropical No. 1). He now lives in Perth, providing con- Consultative Group on International Agri- mined to work with IRRI’s management

28 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 29 PEOPLE NEW BOOKS Partners in progress Nations (FAO) as deputy regional representative for Africa. In 1999, RRI has added three new titles to its 231 pages) identifi es the problems that he became chief of FAO’s Research and Technology Development inventory of more than 100 books agronomists will need to solve to ensure uis Salazar, head of the Crop Service and FAO constitutional observer to the ISNAR Board of Icurrently available on rice research, that production under rice and wheat LProtection Department of the Trustees, of which he was a former member (1984–88). From 2000 and a fourth title that’s a “fi rst” (see crop rotation continues to increase at the International Potato Center in until his retirement last year, he was assistant director-general of sidebar). Check the IRRI online publica- rate necessary to sustain the world food Lima, Peru, is the recipient of the the Sustainable Development Department of FAO. Meanwhile, tions catalog at www.irri.org/pubcat/ supply, while at the same time preserving 2003 Crawford Fund Derek Tribe Mohammed Motlubor Rahman retired in June after 27 months pubcontents.htm for pricing and order- natural resources for future generations. Award. Dr. Salazar, a Peruvian, is at IRRI as ISNAR representative in Asia. ing information on these and other titles The rice-wheat system accounts for one- a world leader in research on po- Keiji Kainuma, senior advisor to the Japanese Ministry and for announcements about other new third of the area of both rice and wheat tato and sweet potato pathogens. of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and former member of the books as they become available. and feeds about 20% of the world’s popu- His contributions include studies CGIAR Technical Advisory Committee (1995–98), received from Rice lation. This book serves as an excellent of pathogen populations and new Emperor Akihito Japan’s national decoration (Shiju-hosho) for his Science: In- reference for policymakers and those who A brave new world called detection and clean-up methodolo- scientifi c achievements. novations conduct research involving both crops. gies. A virus clean-up technology B. Mishra, project director of the Directorate of Rice Research and Impact CIP for sweet potato he developed with in Hyderabad, India, and his associate R.K. Singh won in July the for Livelihood GRAINDELL Chinese partners on both sides of the Taiwan Strait is credited with biennial Hari Om Ashram Trust Award of the Indian Council of (edited by T.W. bringing US$550 million in economic benefi t to Chinese farms and Agricultural Research. Drs. Mishra and Singh were chosen in recog- Mew et al; co- For more than 40 years, IRRI has published villages since 1997. Dr. Salazar will visit Australia in the last quarter nition of their genetic studies and breeding and development of rice published with its rice research fi ndings in scientifi c books of 2003 to receive the award and speak at various national institu- varieties tolerant of saline and sodic soils, which they carried out at the Chinese for researchers worldwide. Now there is tions about his work. the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute at Karnal, Haryana. Academy of a compelling reason for the institute to venture into publishing for a new audience William D. Dar, director general of the International Crops Howarth Bouis, an agricultural economist in the Interna- Engineering — children — to instill in them the value Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, was elected in May tional Food Policy Research Institute, has been appointed program and the Chi- of rice to farmers and consumers (including chairman of the Governing Board of the Future Harvest Foundation. director of the CGIAR Biofortifi cation Challenge Program (see page nese Academy themselves) and to teach them about its Dr. Dar, who is also chair of the Public Awareness and Resource 24). Dr. Bouis is a pioneer in developing the concept of breeding of Agricultural impact on Asian cultures, the environment Mobilization Committee of the Consultative Group on International staple crops with augmented nutritional value. Sciences; 1,022 pages) is the proceedings and human health. Agricultural Research (CGIAR), succeeds Hubert Zandstra, direc- Jan Laarman has been named World Agroforestry Centre of the 24th International Rice Research Graindell (by acclaimed Filipino children’s tor general of the International Potato Center. The appointment is deputy director general for programs. Dr. Laarman is a forest and Conference, held as part of the 1st Inter- author R.O. Villanueva and illustrated by R.A. for 2 years. The 16 centers of the CGIAR created the Future Harvest natural resource policy economist most recently at the International national Rice Congress in Beijing, 16–20 Abos; 30 pages) is IRRI’s fi rst storybook for Foundation in 1998 to catalyze action for a world with less poverty, Resource Group, where he led the program support unit of the September 2002. Dedicated to Gurdev young people and the fi rst of a planned series a better environment and food security. Dr. Dar recently received Egyptian Environmental Policy Program. Previously, he led the Re- Khush, whose work with many collabora- of books that will reach out to both urban and rural children — starting in the Philippines an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Mariano Marcos State gional Environmental Program for Central America (1996–2001). tors has provided more rice for millions, and then extending across Asia and to the University in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The center also named Mohamed Bakarr director of strategic the volume contains selected papers world beyond. Jacques Eckebil began in July a 1-year term as interim direc- initiatives. Dr. Bakarr was vice president for research in the Center presented at the conference, along with Rice-Feeding Insects and Selected The story is about two young boys, Abu tor general of the International Service for National Agricultural for Applied Biodiversity Science of Conservation International. Chinese President Jiang Zemin’s opening Natural Enemies in West Africa (by E.A. and Thor, who live on a tiny, poor planetoid Research (ISNAR). Dr. Eckebil has held a number of director and Mutsuo Iwamoto was appointed in April president of Japan address and some keynote speeches. The Heinrichs and A.T. Barrion; illustrated by called Graindell, where it is diffi cult to grow head-of-program positions in his native Cameroon and served as International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences. Dr. Iwa- papers report on the latest in cutting-edge C. dela Cruz and J.R. Adorada; edited by food. The two friends share a dream to improve deputy director general for international cooperation of the In- moto, who had been director-general of the Agriculture, Forestry rice research conducted by some of the G.P. Hettel; co-published with the West life on Graindell, which they ultimately ternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture (1988–95). In 1995, and Fisheries Research Council Secretariat, replaced Takahiro world’s most distinguished agricultural Africa Rice Development Association achieve. The book captures IRRI’s goal for all he joined the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Inoue, who retired. scientists. [WARDA] – The Africa Rice Center; 240 the children of the world — that is, to make their home a better place to live. Im- pages) provides the fi rst comprehensive A parallel educational Graindell Web continued from page 29 bal, Lizzel Llorca and collaborating part- The M.S. Swaminathan Outstanding proving the taxonomic keys to West African rice-feed- site (www.Graindell.com) serves as a point of Gurdev S. Khush, IRRI consultant ners from the National Irrigation Administra- Research Award went in July to the paper Productivity ing insects and their natural enemies. convergence for children and their stewards and former principal plant breeder, re- tion and Philippine Rice Research Institute Marker-aided pyramiding of bacterial and Sustain- West African rice farmers face many — parents, teachers, storywriters and ceived in March a Doctor of Science degree are the coauthors. The society’s Outstanding blight resistance to genes in maintainer ability of constraints in their quest to increase rice illustrators, and other concerned citizens. (honoris causa) from ND University of Ag- Regional Chapter Award went to Region IV, lines of hybrid rice, by IRRI scientists Rice-Wheat production. As cropping intensity and cul- The site is a developing knowledge bank on riculture and Technology, Faizabad, India. whose president is Eugenio Castro, Jr., Hei Leung and Casiana Vera Cruz, Systems: tural practices change to meet production rice geared to young people, taking in science, In May, Dr. Khush was one of 12 biotechnol- IRRI assistant scientist and engineer. Lucia Briones of Leyte State University, Issues and needs in the region, it will be important food and nutrition, arts and culture, literacy, ogy pioneers recognized by the Council for Peter Fredenburg, writer/editor in Edilberto Redoña of Philippine Rice Impacts to avoid the problem of increased pest and community participation. Biotechnology Information for innovations IRRI’s Visitors and Information Services, Research Institute, Marina Natural of (edited by pressure. With 600 hand-drawn illustra- spanning the last 20 years. won the Association for Communication University of the Philippines Los Baños, and J.K. Ladha et tions, the book describes the presence and Domingo Tabbal, Sr., IRRI associ- Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Re- Brad Porter and Frank White of Kansas al; co-pub- abundance of important insects and spi- ate scientist, was named a fellow in April sources, and Life and Human Sciences State University, all of whom collaborate un- lished with ders in the various climatic zones and rice at the 53rd Annual National Convention (ACE) 2003 Gold Award in the category der the Asian Rice Biotechnology Network. the Ameri- ecosystems of West Africa. This collabora- of the Philippines Society of Agricul- writing for magazines for his Rice Today The poster Expression analysis of can Soci- tive work combines the unique knowledge tural Engineers. IRRI water scientist Bas feature Lost Horizons Restored (Vol. 1, stress-related genes in resistant and sus- ety of Agronomy and the International and expertise of two sister CGIAR centers, Bouman was elected honorary member for No. 1, April 2002, or visit www.aceweb.org/ ceptible rice phenotypes in response to Maize and Wheat Improvement Center; IRRI and WARDA. the year. The IRRI paper Technology transfer homepage/ace_cd2003). Juan Lazaro blast challenge won second prize in the for water savings (TTWS) in Central Luzon, IV, graphic artist in IRRI’s Communica- Best Poster category of the Federation of Philippines: preliminary results and impli- tion and Publications Services, and Gene Crop Science Societies of the Philippines Did you know…? ARIEL JAVELLANA As part of the National Children’s Book Day IRRI Library and Documentation Service provides instant delivery of requested rice cations was acclaimed the best technical pa- Hettel, the unit’s camera-wielding head, conference in April. Bin Liu, Ramil celebration on 15 July, IRRI Director General per in the energy systems, water management shared the ACE 2003 Silver Award in the Mauleon, Marichu Bernardo, Violeta literature by pdf attached to email messages, through the Internet-based document Ronald Cantrell and author R.O. Villanueva sign and environmental management category. category of graphic design for covers, for Bartolome, Alexander Cosico and Hei delivery system Ariel. Visit http://ricelib.irri.cgiar.org or email [email protected] to copies of Graindell during the book’s national Ruben Lampayan, Dr. Bouman, Mr. Tab- the third edition of Rice Almanac. Leung are the authors. learn more. launch at the Museo Pambata in Manila.

30 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 31 PEOPLE NEW BOOKS Partners in progress Nations (FAO) as deputy regional representative for Africa. In 1999, RRI has added three new titles to its 231 pages) identifi es the problems that he became chief of FAO’s Research and Technology Development inventory of more than 100 books agronomists will need to solve to ensure uis Salazar, head of the Crop Service and FAO constitutional observer to the ISNAR Board of Icurrently available on rice research, that production under rice and wheat LProtection Department of the Trustees, of which he was a former member (1984–88). From 2000 and a fourth title that’s a “fi rst” (see crop rotation continues to increase at the International Potato Center in until his retirement last year, he was assistant director-general of sidebar). Check the IRRI online publica- rate necessary to sustain the world food Lima, Peru, is the recipient of the the Sustainable Development Department of FAO. Meanwhile, tions catalog at www.irri.org/pubcat/ supply, while at the same time preserving 2003 Crawford Fund Derek Tribe Mohammed Motlubor Rahman retired in June after 27 months pubcontents.htm for pricing and order- natural resources for future generations. Award. Dr. Salazar, a Peruvian, is at IRRI as ISNAR representative in Asia. ing information on these and other titles The rice-wheat system accounts for one- a world leader in research on po- Keiji Kainuma, senior advisor to the Japanese Ministry and for announcements about other new third of the area of both rice and wheat tato and sweet potato pathogens. of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and former member of the books as they become available. and feeds about 20% of the world’s popu- His contributions include studies CGIAR Technical Advisory Committee (1995–98), received from Rice lation. This book serves as an excellent of pathogen populations and new Emperor Akihito Japan’s national decoration (Shiju-hosho) for his Science: In- reference for policymakers and those who A brave new world called detection and clean-up methodolo- scientifi c achievements. novations conduct research involving both crops. gies. A virus clean-up technology B. Mishra, project director of the Directorate of Rice Research and Impact CIP for sweet potato he developed with in Hyderabad, India, and his associate R.K. Singh won in July the for Livelihood GRAINDELL Chinese partners on both sides of the Taiwan Strait is credited with biennial Hari Om Ashram Trust Award of the Indian Council of (edited by T.W. bringing US$550 million in economic benefi t to Chinese farms and Agricultural Research. Drs. Mishra and Singh were chosen in recog- Mew et al; co- For more than 40 years, IRRI has published villages since 1997. Dr. Salazar will visit Australia in the last quarter nition of their genetic studies and breeding and development of rice published with its rice research fi ndings in scientifi c books of 2003 to receive the award and speak at various national institu- varieties tolerant of saline and sodic soils, which they carried out at the Chinese for researchers worldwide. Now there is tions about his work. the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute at Karnal, Haryana. Academy of a compelling reason for the institute to venture into publishing for a new audience William D. Dar, director general of the International Crops Howarth Bouis, an agricultural economist in the Interna- Engineering — children — to instill in them the value Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, was elected in May tional Food Policy Research Institute, has been appointed program and the Chi- of rice to farmers and consumers (including chairman of the Governing Board of the Future Harvest Foundation. director of the CGIAR Biofortifi cation Challenge Program (see page nese Academy themselves) and to teach them about its Dr. Dar, who is also chair of the Public Awareness and Resource 24). Dr. Bouis is a pioneer in developing the concept of breeding of Agricultural impact on Asian cultures, the environment Mobilization Committee of the Consultative Group on International staple crops with augmented nutritional value. Sciences; 1,022 pages) is the proceedings and human health. Agricultural Research (CGIAR), succeeds Hubert Zandstra, direc- Jan Laarman has been named World Agroforestry Centre of the 24th International Rice Research Graindell (by acclaimed Filipino children’s tor general of the International Potato Center. The appointment is deputy director general for programs. Dr. Laarman is a forest and Conference, held as part of the 1st Inter- author R.O. Villanueva and illustrated by R.A. for 2 years. The 16 centers of the CGIAR created the Future Harvest natural resource policy economist most recently at the International national Rice Congress in Beijing, 16–20 Abos; 30 pages) is IRRI’s fi rst storybook for Foundation in 1998 to catalyze action for a world with less poverty, Resource Group, where he led the program support unit of the September 2002. Dedicated to Gurdev young people and the fi rst of a planned series a better environment and food security. Dr. Dar recently received Egyptian Environmental Policy Program. Previously, he led the Re- Khush, whose work with many collabora- of books that will reach out to both urban and rural children — starting in the Philippines an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Mariano Marcos State gional Environmental Program for Central America (1996–2001). tors has provided more rice for millions, and then extending across Asia and to the University in Batac, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The center also named Mohamed Bakarr director of strategic the volume contains selected papers world beyond. Jacques Eckebil began in July a 1-year term as interim direc- initiatives. Dr. Bakarr was vice president for research in the Center presented at the conference, along with Rice-Feeding Insects and Selected The story is about two young boys, Abu tor general of the International Service for National Agricultural for Applied Biodiversity Science of Conservation International. Chinese President Jiang Zemin’s opening Natural Enemies in West Africa (by E.A. and Thor, who live on a tiny, poor planetoid Research (ISNAR). Dr. Eckebil has held a number of director and Mutsuo Iwamoto was appointed in April president of Japan address and some keynote speeches. The Heinrichs and A.T. Barrion; illustrated by called Graindell, where it is diffi cult to grow head-of-program positions in his native Cameroon and served as International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences. Dr. Iwa- papers report on the latest in cutting-edge C. dela Cruz and J.R. Adorada; edited by food. The two friends share a dream to improve deputy director general for international cooperation of the In- moto, who had been director-general of the Agriculture, Forestry rice research conducted by some of the G.P. Hettel; co-published with the West life on Graindell, which they ultimately ternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture (1988–95). In 1995, and Fisheries Research Council Secretariat, replaced Takahiro world’s most distinguished agricultural Africa Rice Development Association achieve. The book captures IRRI’s goal for all he joined the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Inoue, who retired. scientists. [WARDA] – The Africa Rice Center; 240 the children of the world — that is, to make their home a better place to live. Im- pages) provides the fi rst comprehensive A parallel educational Graindell Web continued from page 29 bal, Lizzel Llorca and collaborating part- The M.S. Swaminathan Outstanding proving the taxonomic keys to West African rice-feed- site (www.Graindell.com) serves as a point of Gurdev S. Khush, IRRI consultant ners from the National Irrigation Administra- Research Award went in July to the paper Productivity ing insects and their natural enemies. convergence for children and their stewards and former principal plant breeder, re- tion and Philippine Rice Research Institute Marker-aided pyramiding of bacterial and Sustain- West African rice farmers face many — parents, teachers, storywriters and ceived in March a Doctor of Science degree are the coauthors. The society’s Outstanding blight resistance to genes in maintainer ability of constraints in their quest to increase rice illustrators, and other concerned citizens. (honoris causa) from ND University of Ag- Regional Chapter Award went to Region IV, lines of hybrid rice, by IRRI scientists Rice-Wheat production. As cropping intensity and cul- The site is a developing knowledge bank on riculture and Technology, Faizabad, India. whose president is Eugenio Castro, Jr., Hei Leung and Casiana Vera Cruz, Systems: tural practices change to meet production rice geared to young people, taking in science, In May, Dr. Khush was one of 12 biotechnol- IRRI assistant scientist and engineer. Lucia Briones of Leyte State University, Issues and needs in the region, it will be important food and nutrition, arts and culture, literacy, ogy pioneers recognized by the Council for Peter Fredenburg, writer/editor in Edilberto Redoña of Philippine Rice Impacts to avoid the problem of increased pest and community participation. Biotechnology Information for innovations IRRI’s Visitors and Information Services, Research Institute, Marina Natural of (edited by pressure. With 600 hand-drawn illustra- spanning the last 20 years. won the Association for Communication University of the Philippines Los Baños, and J.K. Ladha et tions, the book describes the presence and Domingo Tabbal, Sr., IRRI associ- Excellence in Agriculture, Natural Re- Brad Porter and Frank White of Kansas al; co-pub- abundance of important insects and spi- ate scientist, was named a fellow in April sources, and Life and Human Sciences State University, all of whom collaborate un- lished with ders in the various climatic zones and rice at the 53rd Annual National Convention (ACE) 2003 Gold Award in the category der the Asian Rice Biotechnology Network. the Ameri- ecosystems of West Africa. This collabora- of the Philippines Society of Agricul- writing for magazines for his Rice Today The poster Expression analysis of can Soci- tive work combines the unique knowledge tural Engineers. IRRI water scientist Bas feature Lost Horizons Restored (Vol. 1, stress-related genes in resistant and sus- ety of Agronomy and the International and expertise of two sister CGIAR centers, Bouman was elected honorary member for No. 1, April 2002, or visit www.aceweb.org/ ceptible rice phenotypes in response to Maize and Wheat Improvement Center; IRRI and WARDA. the year. The IRRI paper Technology transfer homepage/ace_cd2003). Juan Lazaro blast challenge won second prize in the for water savings (TTWS) in Central Luzon, IV, graphic artist in IRRI’s Communica- Best Poster category of the Federation of Philippines: preliminary results and impli- tion and Publications Services, and Gene Crop Science Societies of the Philippines Did you know…? ARIEL JAVELLANA As part of the National Children’s Book Day IRRI Library and Documentation Service provides instant delivery of requested rice cations was acclaimed the best technical pa- Hettel, the unit’s camera-wielding head, conference in April. Bin Liu, Ramil celebration on 15 July, IRRI Director General per in the energy systems, water management shared the ACE 2003 Silver Award in the Mauleon, Marichu Bernardo, Violeta literature by pdf attached to email messages, through the Internet-based document Ronald Cantrell and author R.O. Villanueva sign and environmental management category. category of graphic design for covers, for Bartolome, Alexander Cosico and Hei delivery system Ariel. Visit http://ricelib.irri.cgiar.org or email [email protected] to copies of Graindell during the book’s national Ruben Lampayan, Dr. Bouman, Mr. Tab- the third edition of Rice Almanac. Leung are the authors. learn more. launch at the Museo Pambata in Manila.

30 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 31 EVENTS RICE FACTS

CGIAR ANNUAL MEETING IN NAIROBI OTHER CONFERENCES, MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Event Contact Date/Location Consultative Group on International Agricul- 2003 International Conference on [email protected] 12–15 Oct / Houston, USA tural Research (CGIAR) will take place at the Agricultural Science and Technology The monoculture myth Workshop on donor relations and resource [email protected] 13–18 Oct / Pretoria, South United Nations Offi ce in the Nairobi Confer- mobilization in agricultural research Africa by DAVID DAWE ence Center in Kenya on 27–31 October. Host- Entomological Society of America [email protected]; www.entsoc.org 26–30 Oct / Cincinnati, USA Economist ed by the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture, the Annual Meeting AGM will feature on 27 October Members Day, World Agroforestry Centre 25th www.worldagroforestrycentre.org 1–5 Nov / Nairobi, Kenya Anniversary Celebrations and The Green Revolution neither monopolized farmers’ fi elds nor impoverished nutrition an opportunity for meetings, discussions and Agroforestry Science Forum dialogue between CGIAR members and cen- Challenge Program on Water and Food www.cgiar.org/iwmi 2–6 Nov / Nairobi, Kenya 0.70 ters and an offi cial reception in the evening; on — baseline conference led by IWMI lmost everyone acknowledges beginning of the 28 October stakeholder fi eld visits to farmers, Annual Meeting of the American Society www.agronomy.org 2–6 Nov / Denver, USA that the Green Revolution Green Revolution. 0.60 community projects and research institutes; of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of has substantially increased A widely used 1970 America, Soil Science Society of America A 2001 and on 29–30 October CGIAR stakeholder Invasive Plants in Natural and Managed http://esa.org/ipinams-emapi7 3–7 Nov / Ft. Lauderdale, USA the yield and supply of cereals in measure of 0.50 discussions. An exhibition including displays Systems: Linking Science and Management the developing world during the concentration is and 7th International Conference on the from each of the 16 international agricultural past 30 years. However, some critics the Hirschmann– 0.40 research centers supported by the CGIAR and Ecology and Management of Alien Plant Invasions British Crop Protection Council International www.bcpc.org 10–12 Nov / Glasgow, UK maintain that these improvements in Herfi ndahl many partner organizations will be open on Congress — Crop Science & Technology productivity perversely encouraged index, in which 1 0.30 27–30 October. Highlights will include the 1st European Conference on the Co- www.agrsci.dk/GMCC-03 13–14 Nov / Helsingor, farmers to specialize in growing equals absolute International Food Policy Research Institute’s existence of Genetically Modifi ed Crops Denmark cereals at the expense of other, uniformity and 0.20 biennial report State of the World’s Food; the with Conventional and Organic Crops Research on Water in Agricultural Production [email protected] 25–28 Nov / Phnom Penh, Crawford Lecture presented by Susan Whelan, more nutritious crops. The Green lower decimals 0.10 in Asia for the 21st Century Cambodia Revolution, they say, worsened the indicate greater minister for international cooperation, Cana- 7th International Conference on Plant www.anpp.asso.fr/calendrier.htm 3–5 Dec / Tours, France da; a ministerial roundtable and presentation nutritional status of people living in diversity. Applied 0.00 Diseases. Tomorrow: A New Perspective for Bangladesh China India Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam by the Earth Institute’s Jeffrey Sachs; and Plant Protection developing countries. to cropping presentation of the CGIAR Science Awards. In American Society for Cell Biology 43rd www.ascb.org/meetings 13–17 Dec / San Francisco, While the availability of modern systems, it shows Fig. 1. Hirschmann–Herfi ndahl index of cropping uniformity. Annual Meeting USA the inaugural Innovation Marketplace on 29 British Society for Plant Pathology www.bspp.org.uk 15–18 Dec / Nottingham, UK rice varieties may have encouraged that farmers in October, African civil society organizations will Presidential Meeting some farmers to specialize in growing most Asian countries plant a 2004 be invited to submit program proposals that rice, there is no evidence that such wider variety of different crops 19.3% demonstrate innovative approaches to collab- International Advances in Pesticide http://aab.org.uk/meetings/ 5–7 Jan / London, UK 26.1% specialization has been widespread. today than was the case in 1970 11.6% orative work leading to adoption or adaptation Application 2004 mtgs2004/pest2004.htm Plant and Animal Genome XII Conference www.intl-pag.org/pag 10–14 Jan / San Diego, USA Rice harvested area (hectares under (Figure 1). of CGIAR and national institute research. Also 43.0% Hawaii International Conference on Sciences www.hicsciences.org 15–18 Jan / Honolulu, USA rice multiplied by the number of The bottom line, however, featured in the Innovation Marketplace will 2004 Fertilizer Marketing Business Meeting vbrown@tfi .org; www.tfi .org 1–3 Feb / New Orleans, USA be the conferring of the US$20,000 People’s 7th International Bielefeld Conference 2004 [email protected]; 3–5 Feb / Bielefeld, Germany croppings per year) has declined as is not what farmers grow but Choice Award. www.ub.uni-bielefeld.de a percentage of total crop harvested the nutritional value of the food Weed Science Soc. of Am. Annual Meeting www.wssa.net 7–11 Feb / Kansas City, USA area in nearly all Asian rice-growing people eat. Despite some critics’ American Association for the Advancement www.aaas.org/meetings 12–17 Feb / Seattle, USA National per capita calorie supply Women’s status MODERN RICE FARMING of Science Annual Meeting economies since 1970 (Table 1). impression that malnutrition The International Conference on Modern Rice Crop Protection in Northern Britain www.cpnb.org 24–25 Feb / Dundee, UK Thus, if some farmers increasingly in developing countries has Women’s education Access to safe water Farming will take place on 14–16 October at 11th International Symposium on [email protected] 5–8 May / Beijing, China specialized in rice, others must have worsened, the incidence of Fig. 2. Contributions of various factors to reduction in Alor Setar, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia. Analytical Chemistry 15th International Plant Protection Congress [email protected]; 11–16 May / Beijing, China diversifi ed into other crops — and child malnutrition, at any child malnutrition in developing countries, 1970–95. Co-organized by Malaysian Agricultural www.ipmchina.cn.net/ippc/index.htm done so over a larger harvested area. rate, actually declined in these Research and Development Institute, IRRI, BIO 2004 International Biotechnology www.bio.org 6–9 Jun / San Francisco, USA Despite a near doubling of the total countries between 1970 and 1995, Convention and Exhibition Muda Agricultural Development Authority rice harvest, rice is now less dominant according to a recent study by Agricultural Economics,1 also shows and Malaysian Plant Protection Society, the in Asian agriculture than it was before Lisa Catherine Smith and Lawrence that the greater availability of calories conference will consider a broad range of top- 2004 IRRI GROUP TRAINING COURSES (TENTATIVE LISTING) ics, from land leveling to marketing. For details the Green Revolution. Haddad of the International Food at the national level — a direct Course Duration Target date Coordinator(s)/ visit www.mardi.my. (wk) course facilitator Overall cropping diversity — the Policy Research Institute. While consequence of the Green Revolution Two-Week Rice Production, 1st offering 2 Jan V. Balasubramanian variety of different crops planted — the incidence of child malnutrition — contributed greatly to the easing of ART OF RICE Integrated Nutrient Management 2 Feb R. Buresh also seems to have increased since the still stood at a dismal 31% in 1995, child malnutrition during this period. On 5 October, the UCLA Fowler Museum of Rice Breeding 3 Feb G. Atlin this refl ected The authors credit more calories per Integrated Pest Management 3 Mar K. Heong Cultural History will open an exhibition in Los a reduction capita with one-fourth of the total Oryza 2000 (Chia Agricultural University, China) Apr B. Bouman Table 1. Share of rice in total crop area harvested. Angeles, California, entitled The Art of Rice: Rodent Management 3 TBA G. Singleton / K. Heong of one-third reduction (Figure 2). The only factor Spirit and Sustenance in Asia. This traveling Two-Week Rice Production, 2nd offering 2 Sep V. Balasubramanian 1970 1985 2001 from the 46.5% making a greater contribution was Rice Breeding for Better Nutrition 1 TBA G. Gregorio exhibition examines the interplay between Bangladesh 0.78 0.72 0.75 recorded in improved education for women. This rice and culture through a study of an array Oryza2000 1 TBA B. Bouman English for Conversation* 2 TBA A. Arboleda China 0.24 0.23 0.18 1970. provided more mothers with the of visual art, including works from China, Basic and Conversational English* 8 TBA A. Arboleda India 0.23 0.24 0.25 The study, nutritional knowledge to make better Japan, India, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, Intensive English 1* 12 TBA A. Arboleda Philippines and other Asian countries. The Scientifi c Writing and Presentation 1 Oct A. Arboleda Indonesia 0.43 0.43 0.38 which appeared use of available food to safeguard exhibition, which runs until April 2004, brings Intensive English 2 3 Nov A. Arboleda Malaysia 0.25 0.16 0.12 in the journal their children’s health. e-Learning for Development 2 online A. Atkinson together the research and creativity of an in- Intro to IRRIStat 1 TBA G. McLaren / V. Bartolome Philippines 0.33 0.26 0.32 ternational group of more than 20 curators, Intro to SAS Version 8 for Windows 1 TBA G. McLaren / V. Bartolome Thailand 0.64 0.54 0.57 1 anthropologists and artists. For details, visit Leadership Course for Asian Women in Agricultural R & D 2 Nov T. Paris Smith LS, Haddad L. 2001. How important is improving food availability for Vietnam 0.75 0.66 0.62 reducing child malnutrition in developing countries? Agricultural Economics www.fmch.ucla.edu/Exhibits/exhibit.htm. TBA = to be arranged. * = after 5 pm classes only. For details, email [email protected]. 26:191-204.

32 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 33 EVENTS RICE FACTS

32 Rice Today October 2003 Rice Today October 2003 33 grain of truth The truth about jasminejasmine ricerice N.R. SACKVILLE HAMILTON Head, Genetic Resources Center

Banaue, Philippines simmering controversy boiled over a couple years protected all of its jasmine rice seed transfers with the ago when newspaper articles accused American plant standard CGRFA material transfer agreement (MTA). The breeders of seeking to undercut Thailand’s valuable MTA bars the recipient from taking out patents or any Aexport trade in aromatic jasmine rice. Fueling the debate other form of intellectual property protection on jasmine were inaccurate reports, misconceptions regarding interna- rice obtained from the GRC, or on any related information. tional agreements governing the exchange of rice seeds, and The GRC has distributed Khao Dawk Mali in this way on excessive fears over the implications for Thai rice farmers and 53 occasions to 50 distinct third parties in 18 countries. traders. My purpose here is to set the record straight. Thai offi cials were fully aware that such exchanges were Scientists began collecting jasmine rice seeds in Thailand taking place. and transferring them to IRRI in 1960, the year of the insti- Between 1985 (when seed distribution records were tute’s foundation. The process, repeated on many occasions, computerized) and the implementation of the CBD, the always complied with international GRC sent Khao Dawk Mali seed agreements, guidelines and codes 103 times to 70 distinct third of conduct pertaining at the time. The Genetic Resources Center parties in 22 countries, including Transfers took place in cooperation eight transfers to scientists in with the relevant Thai authorities, holds jasmine rice samples the USA. In accordance with the who agreed to the material being in trust under the auspices approved practice at that time, the distributed to researchers and sci- GRC distributed the seeds freely entists overseas. of the Food and Agriculture without an MTA. Jasmine rice consequently In 1995, an IRRI scientist became widely used in rice Organization of the United working outside the GRC, unaware research and breeding. The Nations. This FAO designation that recent changes in germplasm- Genetic Resources Center (GRC) exchange protocols applied to seeds at IRRI holds nine samples and means that the center is obliged in his research collection, sent derivatives of a form of jasmine jasmine rice seeds to colleagues rice known as Khao Dawk Mali to provide seeds to any party in the USA without the required collected between 1970 and 1982 that agrees to the legally binding MTA. This was regrettable but (samples collected before 1970 fully rectifi ed when the recipients did not survive). All nine are held terms set by the Commission on retroactively agreed to the terms of under the auspices of the Food the CGRFA MTA. To prevent recur- and Agriculture Organization of Genetic Resources for Food rence, IRRI implemented a training the United Nations in trust for and Agriculture program to bring IRRI scientists up the benefit of the international to speed on the CBD. It also insti- community. This FAO designation tuted regulations that make a single means that the GRC is obliged to provide seeds to any party laboratory operated by germplasm-exchange specialists the that agrees to the legally binding terms set by the Commis- single gateway for all seed transfers to or from IRRI. sion on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The How does this affect Thai rice farmers and traders? Not CGRFA, whose membership of 166 countries includes both much. Climate, soil and other factors combine to create a Thailand and the USA, is the leader in forging intergovern- unique environment in northeast Thailand for cultivating mental agreements on the exchange of germplasm (seeds this exceptional rice. Most plant breeders agree that, even if and other genetic material). It also ensures compliance with scientists in America or elsewhere succeed in developing their these agreements and handles disputes, including alleged own jasmine rice varieties, they still won’t be able to replicate infringements. Thai growing conditions. Therefore, they have little chance Since 1994, following the commission’s revision of of producing jasmine rice to match the aromatic harvest of germplasm exchange requirements to comply with the northeast Thailand, the delight of millions of people around Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the GRC has the world.

34 Rice Today October 2003 grain of truth The truth about jasminejasmine ricerice N.R. SACKVILLE HAMILTON Head, Genetic Resources Center

34 Rice Today October 2003 IRRI launches its first children’s storybook. . .

raindell — IRRI’s fi rst venture into the world of publishing for children — was G written by renowned Filipino children’s author Rene O. Villanueva. The book captures the institute’s goal for all children of the world, which is for them to be part of a progressive community where no one goes hungry. Through this story of friendship and goals achieved through hard work, IRRI introduces its future stakeholders to important issues and the concept that “Rice is life” at a very opportune time as the International Year of Rice approaches in 2004. Graindell, “a planetoid in another part of the galaxy,” tells the story of two friends, Abu and Thor, who share a common dream — to turn their home into a great place to live. This simple, yet moving, tale comes alive with the masterful and unforgettable illustrations of Redge Abos, a young and talented artist from Ilustrador ng Copies of Graindell can be obtained by writing to Division WB, CPS-Marketing and Distribution Unit, International Rice Research Institute, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Kabataan, a guild for illustrators of Philippine Philippines; Fax no.: (63-2) 761-2404, 761-2406; Email: [email protected] or through children's books. accessing IRRI’s online publications catalog at www.irri.org/publications/catalog. . . . and associated community via www.Graindell.com!

he members of the Graindell Community — children and their stewards, T including parents, teachers, scientists, children’s storywriters and illustrators, and other concerned citizens — can converge at IRRI’s new educational Web site, Graindell.com. It is here that the institute’s scientists and others are lending their expertise to build a popular knowledge bank on rice, against a backdrop of science, food and nutrition, environment, arts and culture, literacy, and community participation. The site strives to teach children to aspire, persevere and achieve through games, instructional materials and interactive learning exercises with other children, as well as their stewards. Visit www.graindell.com to sign up, get more information and contribute content to the site.