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Media hotlineAn information summary for supporters of international rice research In this issue: NEWS
PEOPLE
IRRI VISITORS
EVENTS, TRAINING, AND WORKSHOPS
NEWS
Council for Partnerships on Rice Research in Asia (CORRA)supports various initiatives in its 11th annual meeting
The Council for Partnerships on Rice Research in Asia (CORRA) held its 11th Annual Meeting at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences for Southern Vietnam (IASSV), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 4-6 September.
The meeting was attended by 16 regular members composed of the heads of government agencies and four observers from various Asian countries, including 10 International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) staff members and an FAO senior economist who served as resource persons
The opening program was graced by Bui Ba Bong, deputy minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Development (MARD) of Vietnam; Mangala Rai, secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and CORRA’s chair; and IRRI Director General (DG) Robert Zeigler.
The meeting featured several events and focused on important issues presented by IRRI scientists, such as training and orientation of the members on the details of policies and procedures of the new International Plant Genetic Resources (IPGR) Treaty and Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA), the progress of the International Network for Genetic Evaluation of Rice (INGER) for 2006; and the status of transgenic rice development.
This year’s meeting also featured a special presentation on The Global rice situation: its status and implications by Dr. David Dawe, FAO’s senior economist and a former IRRI economist. He clearly explained recent developments in the global rice situation; its production, prices, trade, and stocks; current domestic price trends; and its future outlook. He also gave an overview of the implications of contemporary issues of future water scarcity, climate variability, and the effect of biofuel demand on rice prices and growth in rural areas.
For the 12th meeting of the Council, it was agreed that it will be held in Japan after the first week of October 2008, with the president of JIRCAS serving as the new chair of CORRA for the next 2 years. ( Back to top )
Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute (CLRRI) celebrates 30 th anniversary
After the 11 th CORRA meeting, many participants proceeded to the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute (CLRRI) to participate in the celebration of CLRRI's 30th anniversary, during which six IRRI staff members were awarded with medals in recognition of their many contributions to rice research in Vietnam. The awardees were Grant Singleton, Abdelbagi Ismail, Darshan Brar, Robert Zeigler, Il-ryong Choi, and T.P. Tuong. Also during the celebration, IRRI DG Zeigler gave a presentation on "Rice research and food security: challenges for research in Asia." ( Back to top )
ISO 14001 certificate for ES EMS formally presented to IRRI
On 31 August, during a handover ceremony at the IRRI Harrar Hall Seminar Room, the IRRI Experiment Station (ES) Environmental Management System (EMS) ISO 14001 Certificate was officially presented to the IRRI community by Deputy Director General for Operations and Support Services William G. Padolina and Operations Head Terry Jacobsen. The ISO 14001 Certificate was awarded to ES on 22 June 2007.
“ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized standard for environmentally sustainable systems, and as such demonstrates IRRI’s commitment to environmental sustainability," said ES Manager Arnold Manza. "The award required strict environmental policies to be planned, implemented, and monitored for compliance.”
During the ceremony, Mr. Manza called up several representatives of the Experiment Station Environmental Management System team to be recognized for their efforts, pronouncing them “great, dedicated people.”
In striving for sustainability, the EMS team has notched up several considerable feats around the Experiment Station. Dr. K.L. Heong noted that pesticide use has decreased by 95% since the farm’s creation, resulting in a significant increase in the health and diversity of the farm. An improved cooling system and solar panels have been installed, resulting in a 52% reduction in energy consumption. There has also been a 70% reduction in waste volume; certain types of waste are now sold to recycling firms. ( Back to top )
The IRRI Board of Trustees (BOT) met in Vientiane, Laos, 19-22 September. It was the last BOT meeting presided over by Dr. Keijiro Otsuka, outgoing chair, who is a respected agricultural economist from Japan. He is stepping down after almost 4 years in the position.
Australian agricultural scientist Elizabeth Woods has been named the new BOT chair, effective 1 January 2008. A former Rhodes Scholar and winner of several honors in Australian agriculture, Dr. Woods is recognized as an expert in tropical and subtropical agriculture and agribusiness.
Dr. Woods is currently Foundation Professor of Agribusiness at the School of Natural and Rural Systems Management at the University of Queensland in Australia. Her role there is to provide leadership in the areas of agribusiness and rural management to enhance the university’s service to tropical Australia and Asia. She previously chaired Australia’s Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
Commenting on the appointment, IRRI DG Robert Zeigler said the Institute was very fortunate to find a new board chair as talented, experienced, and competent as Dr. Woods. “IRRI has a long history of eminent and highly respected board chairs, and Dr. Woods is no exception,” Dr. Zeigler said. “We are excited about future developments under her leadership.”
Dr. Woods, who was elected to the IRRI board 2 years ago, takes over as chair at a time of unprecedented challenge and opportunity in rice research and production. “World food reserves, including those for rice, are low and cereal prices are high. In this context, my priorities will be to focus IRRI on its core mission ─ to improve the efficiency and sustainability of rice production,” Dr. Woods said.
“IRRI needs to continue to further strengthen its work with all its partners in the national agricultural systems around the world, as well as with other international research centers, to maintain its impact, especially in such important areas as adapting rice production to climate change.”
Dr. Woods said she would particularly encourage IRRI to focus on the needs of rice farmers and others in the rice supply chain, including the many women who are playing increasingly important roles in their family farms and professions.
( Back to top )
IRRI publication wins NAST award
The publication “The effectof different milling times on grain iron content and grain physical parameters associated with milling of eight genotypes of rice (Oryza sativa)” by Maria Elinor Grace (Meg) Sison, IRRI intern; Glenn B. Gregorio, IRRI senior scientist; and Merlyn Mendioro of UPLB won the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Philippines Outstanding Scientific Paper Award for 2007.
This award is given annually for papers published in Philippine scientific or technical journals within 5 years preceding the award. The awarding ceremony was held at the Manila Hotel on 12 July during the NAST 29th Annual Scientific Meeting.
Meg Sison was an intern at IRRI’s Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology Division (2004-05) who conducted her undergraduate thesis with the same title under Dr. Gregorio. ( Back to top )
Secretary Yap announces integrated approach for increasing farmers’ productivity
On 18-19 July, during the 5th National Grains Postproduction Conference at the Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City, Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap, keynote speaker, announced his integrated approach for increasing farmers’ productivity and profitability by improving the factors of production and linking agricultural produce to the market and the eventual consumers. He noted high postharvest losses and emphasized that if the concerted effort of the Philippine Rice Postproduction Consortium (PRPC) can reduce rice postharvest loss by 50%, the country will no longer import rice.
With the theme Biomass utilization for profitability and environmental sustainability, the conference focused on systems and technologies for biomass utilization and agricultural applications, including biomass power generation and nonpower generation technologies; a ‘clean development mechanism’ for mitigating climate change; the state of rice hull furnace technology in the Philippines; financing and enterprise development; and IRRI’s experience in rice hull furnace collaborative research and development. A dialogue with the various stakeholders was conducted after the technical sessions.
Organized by the PRPC and the Department of Agriculture’s GMA Rice Program – Region XI, the conference was attended by farmers, rice traders and millers, agricultural officers, researchers, academics, and other interested parties. ( Back to top )
Chinese rice researchers review increase in INGER participation
Collaborating scientists of INGER met in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, on 11-13 September, to review the activities of INGER and the Germplasm Utilization for Value Added (GUVA) projects in China and identified new opportunities for strengthening collaboration, both nationally and internationally.
Dr. Cheng Shihua, director of the China National Rice Research Institute, and Dr. Tang Shenxiang, INGER-China national coordinator, organized the event, which drew some 20 senior rice scientists from China’s major rice-producing provinces of Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Wenzhou, Yunnan, and Zhejiang. IRRI was represented by PBGB Division Head Darshan S. Brar, GUVA Coordinator Kyu Seong Lee, and INGER Coordinator Edilberto D. Redoña.
In his remarks, Dr. Cheng highlighted the major role that INGER has played in catalyzing China’s achievements in rice research, particularly through the infusion of diverse breeding lines, including those with novel restorer genes that spurred the development of hybrid rice technology in China.
Dr. Brar discussed the latest advances in rice breeding and the need to integrate conventional breeding with genomics. Dr. Lee described the progress in cold tolerance and japonica rice breeding in Korea and under the GUVA Project. ( Back to top )
PEOPLE Honoring great science, from Farrer to the future
The 2007 Farrer Memorial Medal, which honors distinguished service in Australian agricultural science, was presented earlier today (14 August) to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO) Plant Industry Honorary Fellow and IRRI Board Member Dr. Tony Fischer, at a ceremony at CSIRO's Discovery Centre in Canberra.
At the ceremony, Dr. Fischer gave the 2007 Farrer Oration, “Improvement in wheatyield: Farrer, physiology and functional genomics,” which discussed the past successes of Australian wheat breeding and the challenges of the future. "Dr. Fischer is well known internationally as a wheat cropping scientist," says CSIRO Plant Industry Chief, Dr. Jeremy Burdon.
"He is rightly recognized as a preeminent Australian crop physiologist who has made an outstanding contribution to agricultural research in Australia, particularly here at CSIRO Plant Industry, as director of the Wheat Program at the International Center for the Improvement of Maize and Wheat (CIMMYT) in Mexico, as an influential research manager at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), and now again as an Honorary Fellow with CSIRO Plant Industry."
Dr. Fischer has published more than 120 scientific publications, including several papers drawing on data from his own property in southern NSW, where he kept crop, soil, and climatic records for more than 40 years. ( Back to top )
PhilRice honors Ren Wang with plaque of appreciation
On 12 July, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), led by Executive Director Leocadio Sebastian, honored IRRI Deputy Director General for Research Ren Wang with a plaque of appreciation for helping strengthen the partnership of IRRI and PhilRice toward a responsive and dynamic rice research and development (R&D) agenda.
Dr. Wang was also recognized for leading the R&D prioritization thrust of IRRI that helped national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES), such as PhilRice, to develop a more focused rice R&D agenda; for upscaling R&D activities, championing the generation of more resources, and promoting the sharing of expertise among R&D workers for the benefit of PhilRice and other members of the NARS; for motivating the Philippine rice R&D sector to make best use of IRRI’s technologies and expertise, thereby optimizing the proximity of IRRI; and for dedicating himself to rice science, invigorating the hopes of the rice farmers and consumers in many parts of world. PhilRice also gave Dr. Wang a portrait as a token. ( Back to top )
Dave Mackill elected as Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy
David J. Mackill, IRRI Program Leader for Rainfed Environments (Program 1) and plant breeder in IRRI’s Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology Division, has been elected as a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) for 2007.
Before rejoining IRRI in April 2001, Dr. Mackill was a research geneticist and adjunct professor at the University of California, Davis, and worked for the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service. His recent research has included identification of submergence tolerance genes and development of rice germplasm for rainfed lowland conditions.
Submergence is a major constraint to rice production in South and Southeast Asia, causing annual losses of more than US$1 billion. Dr. Mackill and his team, in collaboration with scientists at the University of California at Davis and Riverside, cloned the Sub1 gene, as reported last year in Nature. The team successfully transferred Sub1 into five popular rice varieties using marker-assisted selection. Cultivation of newly converted varieties can provide protection against submergence and help resource-poor rice farmers. “Fellow” is the highest recognition bestowed by the ASA; up to 0.3% of the active and emeritus members may be elected as Fellows.
Dr. Mackill will receive his award during the ASA annual meeting to be held 4-8 November 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana. ( Back to top )
IRRI DG recognizes contributions of Board Chair Keijiro Otsuka
IRRI DG Robert Zeigler recognized the very important contributions made by the outgoing board chair: “Dr. Keijiro Otsuka led the Institute through a very significant and important period that included the development and implementation of a new strategic plan and the opening of the Institute’s newest office in Africa. We will miss his intelligence and experience, but we are very fortunate to be able to call on someone like Dr. Woods to replace him,” Dr. Zeigler added.
Dr. Otsuka said that one of his most important achievements as board chair was helping to reorient IRRI’s mission to focus more sharply on poverty reduction in poor rainfed areas in Asia, but also including sub-Saharan Africa. “This new focus is backed by a very strong commitment to rice research and the use of science to solve problems ─ something that has always been key to IRRI’s success,” he said. He went on to thank all those who have worked with him while he was at the helm.
Also leaving the board with Dr. Otsuka are Eun-Jong Lee from Korea and Achmad M. Fagi from Indonesia. Both of these board members have served diligently for 6 years, 2002-07.
In one of his final duties as board chair, Dr. Otsuka joined Dr. Zeigler in a courtesy call on Lao PDR Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh and Minister of Agriculture Sitaheng Rasphone to thank them for hosting the board meeting in Laos. ( Back to top )
Dirk De Waele to lead nematology research at IRRI
Professor Dirk De Waele has joined IRRI’s Crop and Experimental Sciences Division, on a part-time basis, to lead the nematology research at IRRI. He will be screening for resistance to Meloidogyne graminicola among isogenic lines of introgressed Oryza glaberrima into Oryza sativa; providing nematological assistance to understand the mechanism of yield decline of irrigated aerobic rice in Asia and the role of parasitic nematodes as yield-limiting factors in upland rice systems in Asia; writing proposals to enhance the finance, human resources, and research capacity of nematology at IRRI; and initiating degree and nondegree training in rice nematology.
Dirk is an expert on nematology and IRRI is lucky that he is offering his service to IRRI. He is a full-time professor at K.U. Leuven, Belgium and can only visit IRRI three times a year, each time for about 2–3 weeks to supervise the work of the nematology group and interact with other scientists at IRRI. ( Back to top )
IRRI photographer wins in international photo competition
Ariel Javellana, photographer in Communication and Publications Services in IRRI, won three awards in the 2007 Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) Photo Competition. These are: 4th place and Group Choice Award in the Nature's Bounty Category and 4th place in the People's Category. Nearly 600 photos were received from 38 countries around the world, from both amateur and professional photographers.
With the theme "Food and Agriculture," the photos were judged in four categories and were judged both on technical merit and on relevance to the theme. The other categories were "Cooking and Eating" and "Markets." A selection of the photos will be printed in the FOEI 2008 wall calendar, which will be available for order from www.foei.org.
The winning photos and many of the other outstanding photos from the competition will become part of a virtual exhibition on the Friends of the Earth International Web site later this year and will be featured in a cookbook to be released in 2008. ( Back to top )
IRRI VISITORS
Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, director general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), together with three other officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and UNIDO visited IRRI on 13 July.
The group was welcomed by Deputy Director General for Operations and Support Services William Padolina, who also led the discussion on IRRI’s research agenda. They also visited the International Rice Genebank, the Grain Quality, Nutrition and Postharvest Center, and the Rice Mill. ( Back to top )
Ayala Corporation CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II visits IRRI and delivers seminar on the role of business in dealing with social problems
Mr. Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II, chairman and CEO of Ayala Corporation, visited IRRI on 7 August, to have an overview of the Institute's research activities and facilities, and to deliver a seminar on "The role of business in dealing with social problems," at the Havener Auditorium.
He was welcomed by IRRI DG Robert Zeigler, DDG-OSS William Padolina, IRRI Spokesperson Duncan Macintosh, DPPC Mike Jackson, and IRRI Consultant Gelia Castillo.
Dr. Padolina presented and discussed IRRI’s impact in the Philippines and international research agenda, which focused on IRRI's achievements through the years, IRRI's strategic goals and medium-term plan for 2007-09, the Rice Knowledge Bank, conservation of rice genetic resources in the country, water-saving technologies, and hybrid rice seed production.
Dr. Zeigler gave a presentation on climate change, in which he emphasized the need to adapt to the world's fast-changing climate and how this would affect agriculture, specifically rice farming. He discussed the success of the Sub1 lines, which are tolerant of flooding.
Dr. Zeigler also mentioned IRRI's long-term experiments on continuous cropping, fertility, and the rice-maize crop rotation, which can provide key information for developing better rice varieties and trends that can help scientists develop rice lines that will suit the changing environment.
In his seminar, Mr. Zobel de Ayala discussed corporate social responsibility and the relationships among the private sector, philanthropy, and government. ( Back to top )
Chinese ambassador visits IRRI
To have a general overview of the Institute and visit some facilities, Mr. Xijun Deng, charge d’affaires, Embassy of the Peoples’ Republic of China in the Philippines, together with 17 staff members, visited IRRI on 17 August.
They were welcomed by DG Robert Zeigler, Interim Deputy Director General for Research, To Phuc Tuong, Dr. Fangming Xie, PBGB senior scientist for hybrid rice breeding, and Dr. Shaobing Peng, Crop and Environmental Sciences Division senior scientist.
After watching the IRRI video, they discussed IRRI’s research agenda and China-IRRI collaboration. They also visited the Riceworld Museum and Learning Center, the International Rice Genebank, the Gene Array and Molecular Marker Applications (GAMMA) Laboratory, and met with Chinese students and scholars at IRRI. The members of his staff are Mr. Qiu Zhijun, first secretary; Ms. Wang Jianhua, first secretary; Mr. Wang, Jiaxin, second secretary; Mr. Peng Xiubing, third secretary; Ms. Hua Ye, third secretary; Mr. Wang Junlei, third secretary; Ms. Zhang Yuanyuan, third secretary; Ms. Zhu Qian, third secretary; staff members Mr. Gao Jingyi, Mr. Huang Gang, Ms. Gu, and Ms. Yu Ting; and Mr. Chen Yongshan, cultural counselor. ( Back to top )
Timor-Leste ambassador visits IRRI
H.E. Dr. Armindo Maia, ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Philippines, paid a short visit to IRRI on 28 September. After a welcome and briefing, Dr. Zeigler showed him the long-term field experiment. ( Back to top )
Delegation from the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce visits IRRI
Mr. Henry Lim Bon Liong, vice president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, together with other members of the federation, visited IRRI on 17 August to get an overview of the Institute’s research agenda and to visit some of our laboratories.
They were welcomed by Dr. To Phuc Tuong and Dr. Fangming Xie. DDG-OSS William Padolina presented and led the discussion on IRRI's research agenda and impact in the Philippines. The delegation also toured the Riceworld Museum and Learning Center, the International Rice Genebank, the Rice Mill, and the Experiment Station.
The delegation was composed of Dr. Alfonso Uy, vice president; Mr. Domingo Yap, vice president/adviser; Mr. Cecilio Pedro, External Affairs Committee; Mr. Fernando Co, Welfare Committee; Mr. Samson Tiu, Youth and Integration Committee; Mr. Joaquin Co, Trade and Industry Committee; Mr. Tan Teng Li, Arbitration Committee; Mr. Daniel dela Cruz, Agriculture Committee; Mr. Juan Santiago, Agriculture Committee; Mr. Santiago (son of Mr. Juan Santiago); Mr. Joseph Yae, Agriculture Committee; Dr. Bonifacio Cheng, Agriculture Committee; Mr. Alex Co, Agriculture Committee; and Mr. Anson Lo, secretary; and Mr. Wilson Ong, photographer. ( Back to top ) EVENTS, TRAINING, AND WORKSHOPS
When the Nepal Government celebrated the International Year of Rice during 2004, it decided to celebrate 29 June as "Rice Day in Nepal" every year. 2007 is the third year for the now annual celebration, which was organized separately by the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) in Khumaltar, Lalitpur, and by the Department of Agricultural Extension in Mulpani, Kathmandu.
Mr. Chhabilal Biswakarma, minister, Agricultural and Cooperatives, Government of Nepal, was the chief guest and he inaugurated Rice Day by transplanting rice seedlings in the fields at both sites with other participants at Mulpani. High-level government officials, research scientists, agricultural extension workers, representatives of different NGOs, and a large number of farmers participated in the events at the two locations. ( Back to top )
IRRI participates in open access conference
IRRI was one of more than 110 institutions that participated in the recently concluded First International Public Knowledge Project Scholarly Publishing Conference held at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 11-13 July.
Kathy Lopez of IRRI’s Communications and Publishing Services (CPS) presented a paper titled "Scholarly publishing initiatives at IRRI: linking users to public goodsvia open access" which discusses some of the collaborative open access (OA) experiences of CPS, Library and Documentation Services, and the Training Center, including the Rice Publications Archive, Rice Library, Photobank, and the Rice Knowledge Bank. In her presentation, Kathy also presented some of the institutional challenges to full OA adoption and the next steps in OA implementation in the near term. About 70 papers were presented during the conference.
The conference, organized by the PKP, a collaborative effort of the University of British Columbia (UBC), Simon Fraser University, and the Canadian Centre for Studies in Publishing, was attended by more than 200 participants composed of librarians, editors, publishers, Web and technology specialists, information architects, and academicians.
CPS staff Gina Santos, Web developer, and Diane Martinez, editorial assistant, also attended the conference and other technical sessions on Open Journal System (OJS), Open Conference System (OCS), and PKP developments.
The PKP was started in Vancouver with the goal of "improving the quality of access to knowledge generated by researchers, scholars, and students the world over," explained Prof. John Willinsky, PKP director, of Stanford University and UBC. Since its establishment 10 years ago, the PKP has evolved into an "international collaboration involving research, software development, publishing workshops, and the sharing of ideas, codes, and support directed toward the human right to know." ( Back to top )
IRRI rice seed samples and photos featured in Singapore food festival
IRRI exhibit panels containing more than 70 unique rice seed samples, courtesy of the T.T. Chang Genetic Resources Center and Seed Health Unit, plus photos, were featured at the Hougang Mall Food Festival, 9-22 July, Singapore.
The festival, dubbed “Rice Paradise Promotions,” aimed to educate mall shoppers on how rice is grown, the different types of rice, and where rice is planted in Asia, among others. IRRI videos were also shown during the 2-week celebration.
Before the launch of the exhibit, Ms. Clarisse Lam, advertising and promotions executive, Hougang Mall AsiaMalls Management Pte Ltd., said, “As Singapore does not have natural resources, it would be a great opportunity to educate our shoppers about the fun facts of rice." ( Back to top )
Taking action for the world’s poor and hungry
Despite recent progress, Asia continues to be home to two-thirds of the world's poor and hungry. As we look to the future, what role will agriculture and rural development play in alleviating poverty and hunger? What are the emerging challenges and opportunities for agriculture and rural nonfarm activities for the livelihoods of the poor and hungry in this rapidly changing region?
On 9-10 August, a high-level policy forum, Agricultural and rural development for reducing poverty and hunger in Asia: in pursuit of inclusive and sustainable growth, organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) brought together around 80 key policymakers, development partners, and researchers from all over Asia and others working for Asia to engage in dialogue on these important issues.
During the second day of the forum, IRRI DG Robert Zeigler discussed Strategies for the development and adoption of rice technologies for the poor. ( Back to top )
Need for revitalized science activities stressed in LBSCFI-NSTW symposium
On 20 July, during the Los Baños Science Community Foundation, Inc. (LBSCFI) celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW), Deputy Director General for Operations and Support Services William G. Padolina called on the Los Baños Science Community to “generate group research activity for new science, new tools, and new knowledge.”
Speaking on Science, technology, and innovation for progress focused on biotechnology and environment, Dr. Padolina said that “with new sciences and very powerful tools available, we must revitalize our scientific activities, including microbiology, but taking into account ethics, social sciences, and lots of philosophical considerations.”
Quoting an advert from Shell Corporation, Dr. Padolina told the LBSCFI-NSTW symposium participants, “Don’t throw anything away because there is no away.” This means building “a scientific basis for sustainability by understanding the earth’s ability to regenerate itself and to absorb waste.”
“When we talk about our environment and the tools we have in common that will allow us to manage it and make it more conducive for human habitation, we must remember that there is no away,” he said.
Dr. Padolina also argued for the revitalization of the fast-disappearing discipline of microbiology “because of the tendency to become more and more molecular” in scientific research. “Microbes, as you know, affect global climate. They make up most of living matter and display tremendous diversity, yet less than 1% has been studied. Microbes (are) critically important in sustaining life on our planet. Our task as a science community is to provide the science that will allow us to consider environment in our development strategies.
“The bottom line is that the new sciences provide molecular insights into life’s processes. With all this information, you have new applications that you can explore,” Dr. Padolina said.
IRRI displayed a poster exhibition on biotechnology at UPLB’s Baker Hall throughout the entire NSTW celebration. ( Back to top )
Training the next generation of rice breeders
The ability of rice-growing countries to develop and deliver technology-based solutions for tackling constraints to rice production is hampered by the limited or decreasing number of institutions and human resources working on rice research and development, in general, and rice varietal improvement, in particular. Hence, one of the core goals of IRRI’s Strategic Plan (2007-2015) is to develop the next generation of rice scientists, including rice breeders and geneticists, who will lead the realization of a Second Green Revolution.
In this context, 23 rice researchers from 16 countries have arrived at IRRI to participate in the Rice Breeding Course (RBC) 2007 that is running 20-31 August. Participants represent Bhutan, China, DPR Korea, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States.
This first of two RBCs this year with the second to be held 1-12 October aims to increase the number of rice breeders adept in the use of both conventional and modern tools and techniques for increasing the precision and impact of their breeding programs. To achieve this, the RBC is (1) providing theoretical knowledge on modern plant breeding methods and techniques; (2) teaching planning and information management tools, experimental techniques, and software for increasing rice breeding efficiency; (3) providing knowledge and tools to be able to perform pre-breeding activities; (4) sharing experiences and lessons from other programs and countries; and (5) providing the latest information relevant to continued access to modern tools, technologies, and rice genetic resources.
In welcoming the participants, Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology head Darshan Brar challenged them to combine or integrate their conventional breeding skills with new concepts and precision tools afforded by advances in rice genomics and information technology to be able to breed varieties that are adopted by farmers using the least resources. ( Back to top )
Workshop on rice technology transfer systems in Asia training completed
Seventeen participants from 11 countries have satisfactorily completed the 6th 2-week training workshop on Rice Technology Transfer Systems in Asia held at the International Technical Cooperation Center (ITCC), Rural Development Administration (RDA), Suwon, Republic of Korea, 5-18 August.
The participants were exposed to various lectures on the status and components of Korean agriculture, technology transfer principles and models, which were supplemented with field visits. The field visits enabled the participants to see and identify relevant components of successful research-extension linkage in Korea relevant to their home country circumstances. The participants also presented and shared their respective successful rice technology transfer case studies/projects, which were then documented to serve as reference in enhancing technology delivery in their countries. Finally, the participants were required to develop an entry plan for the technology transfer component of the participants’ country project.
This course is one of the collaborative initiatives of the Korea-IRRI collaboration for the last 6 years. It has graduated more than 120 agricultural researchers and extension professionals who were provided with skills in accelerating the impact of research through relevant technology transfer strategies. The course used various engaging and dynamic teaching and learning activities to enhance the education of participants in technology promotion and delivery. ( Back to top )
Expert consultation on biofuels held at IRRI
An expert consultation on biofuels was held at IRRI, 27-29 August, at the Harrar Hall Seminar Room. Organized by the Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutes, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics, and IRRI, this consultation aims to discuss the development of biofuels and their production and use in Asia because of the lack of research on and long-term experience with the implementation of biofuel policies.
Representatives from Brazil, China, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Syria, Thailand, and the United States are attending. During the first day, profiles of current biofuel use and potential expansion in India, China, and the Philippines were presented to the committee, highlighting the different abilities of countries in Asia to produce biofuel.
Professor Cheng Xu ( China Agricultural University) of China, for example, pointed out that China lacked corn, and therefore production schemes requiring corn were generally not being permitted by the government of China. The consultation also discussed the effects of developing biofuel production on food production and prices, as well as the possibility of small farms growing crops for biofuel. ( Back to top )
IRRI staff members receive ISO 17025 training course
A training course on the implementation and auditing of a Quality Management System (QMS) that complies with ISO/IEC 17025 was held at IRRI, 3-7 September.
ISO/IEC 17025 is a standard that applies to testing and calibration in laboratories. As Mr. Rassoulou Diallo, the course’s resource person, explained, it is necessary to understand not only the standards involved but also the challenges that may be faced. Throughout the course, participants will learn about building and implementing a QMS that is in accord with ISO/IEC 17025.
They will also learn about documenting and managing the QMS and how to audit the system. On 7 September, an actual internal audit of an IRRI laboratory was conducted, which participants then assessed.
Mr. Diallo is a senior program officer from the Standards Council of Canada. He has led more than a hundred on-site visits to physical-chemical properties in connection with accrediting the sites. The participants are all from various units at IRRI. ( Back to top )
Workshop on Poverty and Income Dynamics in Rural Asia and Africa held at IRRI
The Workshop on Poverty and Income Dynamics in Rural Asia and Africa was held at IRRI from 3 to 4 September.
The sessions were chaired by Social Sciences Division staff members Thelma Paris, Dr. Barker, Sushil Pandey, and Pie Moya, and DDG-OSS William G. Padolina. Floor discussions were led by IRRI Board of Trustees Chair Keijiro Otsuka and former SSD Head Mahabub Hossain. The final session, which summarized the main findings of the workshop, was presented by Dr. Otsuka.
A recurrent finding in the papers is that increased income from farming, which was brought about by the Green Revolution in rice farming, has led to a rise in farm income, which induces households to invest in children’s schooling. These educated children later on find jobs in the nonfarm sector, which leads to a further rise in household income and a reduction in poverty.
A book containing the papers is being planned. The participants toured IRRI facilities after the workshop. ( Back to top )
Drought Frontier Project hosts international symposium
The symposium brought together DFP consortium partners and several leading researchers from different countries in addition to IRRI scientists. The symposium aimed to review current knowledge of drought avoidance and discuss the scope of future research strategies on roots for deciphering the complexity of drought responses in rice.
Dr. P.G. Chengappa, vice chancellor of the UAS, Bangalore, delivered the inaugural address and highlighted the importance of the symposium for drought research in India. IRRI Senior Scientist R. Serraj delivered the opening remarks and presented an overview of IRRI’s Program I and the DFP’s activities. Dr. John O’Toole, former IRRI agronomist (1974-84) and, more recently, associated with the Rockefeller Foundation, delivered a lecture on the historical perspectives of drought research in rice. Working group discussions were conducted and a field visit was organized for drought experimental plots and rice farmers’ fields. ( Back to top )
Pioneer Hi-Bred Inc. trainees finish hybrid rice course at IRRI
Twenty-five Pioneer Hi-Bred Inc. trainees, composed of agronomists and seed production and sales specialists from Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, came to IRRI to attend a hybrid rice training course, 10-18 September.
“Pioneer Hi-Bred, in its quest to remain on top of the industry, wants its staff members trained on hybrid rice production from the best in rice research, IRRI," said Tamerlane Mark Nas, former PBGB staff member and one of the course trainees. The training program was designed and implemented especially for Pioneer Hi-Bred Inc. by PBGB under the leadership of Dr. Fangming Xie, with full support from IRRI scientists involved in rice breeding and testing. Ms. Angie Maghuyop led the training team in the implementation of the course.
Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines, Inc. is well known in the Philippines as a hybrid corn-producing company in the Philippines. Recently, however, they have been focusing their attention on hybrid rice testing in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Pioneer also has commercial hybrids in Indonesia and is testing precommercial hybrids in the Philippines and Vietnam.
In the last 2 years, Pioneer has more than tripled its number of rice researchers and has greatly expanded hybrid testing across key countries in Asia. Pioneer is now using molecular techniques to increase the efficiency of its breeding program. Part of this effort is training its staff in the basics of hybrid rice research (from seed to seed), with emphasis on hybrid rice pest/nutrient management. ( Back to top )
Mitusuaki Tanabe’s rice art on exhibit at NTU
The Library of the College of Bioresources and Agriculture at the National Taiwan University (NTU) is holding an open exhibition of the rice art of Japanese artist Mitsuake Tanabe. Called “From Wild to Mild,” the exhibition is on display 18 September-31 October.
Tanabe has been devoted to the restoration work of wild rice in the international arena for many years. He creates giant works of art using wild rice as the theme to promote the idea of rice conservation. One example is the massive 7.5-ton Momi (or rice seed) that he produced especially for IRRI’s Riceworld Museum that was unveiled there on 18 August 1994. For more information about the exhibition in Taiwan, go to http://www.ntu.edu.tw/eng2007/highlights/he070920_2.html
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