An adventure in applied science - IRRI books - International Rice ...

158 History of the International Rice Research InstituteIn 1966, Lewis M. Roberts of the Rockefeller Foundation and Lowell Hardinof the Ford Foundation prepared a prospectus for an international institute inColombia. In October of that year, they presented to the two foundations areport entitled, “A Proposal for Creation of an International Institute forAgricultural Research and Training to Serve the Lowland Tropical Regions ofthe Americas.” In December, in response to that document, the Board ofTrustees of the Rockefeller Foundation appropriated the sum of $250,000toward the establishment of “an international agricultural research institute inColombia.” At that time, the Ford Foundation had not yet made its decision tojoin the Rockefeller Foundation in the venture, and until 1969, the latter was thesole supporter of CIAT for both capital and operating costs. The foundation’scontribution for buildings and equipment amounted to $4,218,000. In 1969, theKresge Foundation contributed $750,000 for construction costs. In 1969, also,the Ford Foundation became an equal partner with Rockefeller in providingthe operating costs for CIAT. By 1970, two more donors, the Kellogg Foundationand USAID, had joined the supporting organizations; and, of course, afterthe CGIAR was formed, other donors came into the picture.U.J. Grant, previously head of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Colombianprogram, was CIAT’s first director. Other Rockefeller Foundation scientists inColombia were retained as the initial staff. CIAT’s research program took anumber of years to become stabilized, one cause being the delays in constructingthe physical plant. Another reason for the delay was the fact that thefoundation’s original program, which had been going on for many years, wasan extremely diversified one and consequently it was difficult for the staffmembers who had been engaged in its many activities to give them up. Yetthere were those involved in the decision making for CIAT who felt that theprogram must be concentrated on a few major thrusts if it were to have a strongimpact on crop and animal productivity.CIAT’s early research program had the following components: cassava,beef cattle, swine, maize (in cooperation with CIMMYT), beans ( Phaseolus sp.),and rice (in cooperation with IRRI). Furthermore, it initiated studies inagricultural economics, rural sociology, and, of course, the key element in allinternational research centers, training.After continuing debate, CIAT’s program gradually became more concentratedand today has four major components: dry beans, cassava, rice, andtropical pastures. CIAT has worldwide responsibility for Phaseolus beans and,in all regions except Africa, for cassava. Rice activities are restricted to LatinAmerica but depend partially on IRRI for technical cooperation. In addition,although outside of the main program, CIAT, in cooperation with CIMMYT,serves as a base location for maize improvement activities in the Andeanregion.CIAT’s outreach program started slowly, perhaps because so many of thestaff had come from the Rockefeller Foundation’s country program, whichnaturally had concentrated on Colombian problems, and consequently took awhile to become involved with research in other countries.