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An international institute for rice research 3c) A central institute should, at least in theory, lead to financial savingsand related gains in efficiency, since it should eliminate unnecessary duplicationsof facilities and effort.d) At such a central institute, it should be possible to concentrateexpensive types of instrumentation (phytotron, electron microscope, massspectroscope, etc.). More important than this, it should also be possible toconcentrate a high-powered and efficient international team of experts,supplementing each other and forming in total a more effective group thanany one country could hope to produce. This should, moreover, result in thebest utilization of this top group of experts, working on common problemsunder optimum conditions.e) Such an international center should furnish otherwise unobtainablefacilities for training of personnel for use in the cooperating countries.f) Such a center could serve as a depository for research publications onrice, and should thus develop into the definitive library location for this fieldof research.g) Such a center should work out some reasonable agreement, among thecooperating countries, with respect to the languages for rice researchpapers, thus making more readily useful the work done in various countries.”Significantly, the advantages of an international rice research institute, asspelled out by Weaver and Harrar, are as valid today as they were a quarter ofa century ago.The original hope was that the foundation would provide funds for buildingthe institute and that the major rice-producing countries, jointly, wouldmeet the operating expenses. However, when Harrar and Weaver broachedthis idea to government officials in rice-growing countries, all were in favor ofthe idea of a central rice research institute in Asia but each stated that hisgovernment could support such an organization only if it were located in hisown country. That reaction eliminated any hope of creating a research centerfinanced by multicountry contributions.In view of the scope of funding needed to build and staff an internationalresearch center large enough to have a major impact on rice production in Asia,the officers and trustees decided that it would be unwise for the RockefellerFoundation to attempt such a venture alone. Weaver and Harrar, however, didrecommend to the trustees that the foundation get involved in strengtheningrice research and training in Asia, not by establishing a rice research institute,because that did not seem feasible, but by helping to improve existinginstitutions that already had substantial rice research programs under way.They estimated that the foundation might spend $5 million on rice researchand training in Asia during the ensuing 5-year period. To implement theRockefeller program, they recommended a thorough examination of existingeducational and research organizations in Asia to determine where fundscould most wisely be invested.The Rockefeller Foundation obtained the services of Richard Bradfield, aneminent agronomist from Cornell University, to undertake the suggested
4 History of the International Rice Research Institutesurvey during an 18-month period beginning in January 1955. For the first 8months of the study, I (as newly appointed assistant director in the AgriculturalSciences of the Rockefeller Foundation) accompanied Bradfield. Wevisited the principal agricultural colleges and experiment stations in thePhilippines, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Burma, Indonesia, India, and Pakistan.As a result, numerous grants were made for scientific equipment, for booksand fellowships, and for specific research projects. This was the start of theRockefeller Foundation’s action program in agriculture in Asia.At the dose of the survey, Bradfield submitted a report on agriculresearchand education in Asia, including recommendations for activities thatthe Rockefeller Foundation might usefully support. He then returned toCornell University, and I handled the foundation‘s agricultural interests inAsia. Contrary to persisting belief, we did not travel in Asia to seek a site foran international rice research institute. Indeed, before leaving New York inearly 1955, we had been instructed by the foundation not to explore further thepossible formation of such a center with Rockefeller Foundation support.THE FORD FOUNDATION ENTERS THE SCENEThe Rockefeller Board decision in 1954 had shelved the concept of an internationalrice research institute in Asia, for lack of financial support. Fortunately,however, the Ford Foundation developed an interest in the establishment ofthe proposed institute. The result was a combined venture by the two foundations- one that was unprecedented. Its importance warrants an amount ofwhat led to it.For two weeks in October 1957, I journeyed in West Pakistan, talking withgovernment officials and with representatives of foreign assistance agenciesand visiting educational and research institutions in the region. George F.Gant, Ford Foundation representative in Pakistan, traveled with me to assessvarious Pakistani institutions and programs, some of which already hadreceived assistance from either the Ford or the Rockefeller Foundation. Wediscussed the possibility of a joint effort by the two foundations to strengthenthe College of Agriculture in Lyallpur. Gant and I agreed that at some futuredate when he was in New York, arrangements would be made for officers ofthe two foundations to meet to discuss such a cooperative projectThe meeting took place about 10 months later. Harrar and I were invited tojoin a group of Ford Foundation officers for lunch at the Ford Foundation on18 August 1958 to discuss the possibility of a joint venture to strengthen theLyallpur institution. Present from the Ford Foundation were Forrest F. Hill,vice president for overseas development, George F. Gant, then programdirector for South and Southeast Asia, Alfred C. Wolf, program director forLatin America, and Walter Rudlin, program associate. After considerablediscussion, it was agreed to confer again on the matter at a later date.Toward the close of the meeting, a conversation that would have farreachingimplications took place. Turning to Harrar, Hill said, “You know,George, someone should undertake to work with rice the way you Rockefeller
Page 2 and 3: An Adventurein Applied Science:A HI
Page 4: ContentsDedication viiAbout this pu
Page 10 and 11: About this publication . . .In 20 y
Page 12 and 13: xiname, and release varieties. Thus
Page 14 and 15: PrefaceThe International Rice Resea
Page 16 and 17: CHAPTER 1An international institute
Page 20 and 21: An international institute for rice
Page 64 and 65: CHAPTER 2Developing and staffingthe
Page 66 and 67: Developing and staffing the program
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Developing and staffing the program
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86 History of the International Ric
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Princess (now Queen)Beatrix of theN
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Establishing administrative policie
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In the early years, IRRIused its ow
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Chapter 4Early Researchand training
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Early research and training results
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CHAPTER 5Financing of IRRIThe purpo
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Financing of IRRI 149foreign assist
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156 History of the International Ri
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Creation of other international cen
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Creation of other international cen
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Aerial view of IRRI in1981.However,
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IRRI today 181neering Department: K
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IRRI today 183In spite of this high
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IRRI today 185turn, received geneti
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IRRI today 1871. Research to assist
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Appendices 189materials could readi
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Appendix 2OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENTINTER
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Appendices 193ate to concentrate on
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Appendices 195estimates for buildin
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Appendices 197(4) Development of pr
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Appendices 199was approved for the
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Appendices 203b. To pass upon the b
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Appendices 205Article VIIMISCELLANE
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