Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e

tive mechanisms of the three international research
centers and FAO are given here.
In the following sections, brief descriptions
of the research activities of the three CGIAR
centers involved in international rice research are
given. Progress in and results of their research
are documented in a variety of scientific and
popular publications. Each center generally
produces a corporate annual report, a volume of
research highlights, and a list of publications that
are available from the center on request.
International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI)
Mandate and structure
IRRI’s mandate is to improve the well-being of
present and future generations of rice farmers
and consumers, particularly those with low
incomes, by generating and disseminating ricerelated
knowledge and technology of short- and
long-term environmental, social, and economic
benefit, and to help enhance national rice
research systems.
IRRI was established in 1960 by the Ford
and Rockefeller Foundations with the support of
the Government of the Philippines, and consists
of laboratories and training facilities on a 252-ha
experimental farm in the Philippines. It has more
than 50 international staff there plus outposted
scientists working with national programs in
various countries in Asia.
Research programs
IRRI’s research programs in the past were built
around the different rice-growing ecosystems. In
2000, a new program structure was developed,
based on problem-focused tasks and emerging
issues in the main rice production systems. This
structure allows more efficient allocation of
resources and fast tracking of impact. The new
programs, outlined below, take full advantage of
the advancement of science to address emerging
development concerns and provide stronger
linkage of IRRI’s research with its outreaching
staff and activities as well as with national
research institutions.
Genetic resources conservation,
evaluation, and gene discovery
IRRI’s work on the collection, conservation,
characterization, documentation, and exchange
of germplasm for research on genetic
enhancement and sustaining biodiversity is
housed in this program, which has two elements:
• germplasm conservation, characterization,
documentation, and exchange and
• functional genomics.
The first entails maintenance of IRRI’s
efforts to collect and conserve the genetic
resources of rice, now held in trust in the
International Rice Genebank; and strengthening
of efforts to characterize and evaluate the
conserved germplasm, explore important traits,
and describe allelic diversity using molecular
techniques. The second, on functional genomics,
aims to understand the biological functions
encoded in rice genes, taking advantage of the
investment made in the private sector in
sequencing of the rice genome. IRRI remains
committed to ensuring public access to rice
genetic information. IRRI will develop
additional genetic databases and establish a
bioinformatics system (i.e., integration of data
from DNA sequences, phenotypes, and
functional diversity of rice genes in the
germplasm pool) to assist national institutions in
the discovery of new genes and traits.
Enhancing productivity and sustainability
of favorable environments
The major factor in poverty alleviation in recent
years has been the reduction in the unit cost of
production and the downward trend in real prices
of food. Improved technologies were adopted
fastest in the favorable irrigated environment,
which accounts for nearly 45% of the rice land
and more than 70% of total rice production.
Because of its importance, we must continue to
focus on this favorable environment as the major
source of rice supply to meet the growing
demand from the expanding urban population
and the rural landless. The challenges are how to
sustain the high yields already achieved in this
ecosystem and whether modern science can be
used to explore possibilities of a further shift in
yield potential. The options for extending the
area under high-yielding modern rice varieties by
developing irrigation infrastructure will no
longer be available for many countries because
of the looming water crisis. Farmers need
assistance from rice scientists on how to grow
rice with less water and how to operate irrigation
systems more efficiently. Technological options
must be developed to maintain soil fertility and
control pest pressure.
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