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

Appendices 193ate to concentrate on rice research in Latin America, where other cereals are of primaryimportance, although rice improvement is one phase of the current program there.When it was decided to extend their program into Asia, the Rockefeller Foundationrecognized that this provided an opportunity to consider ways and means of makingcontributions toward the improvement of rice production paralleling those alreadymade in the case of wheat, maize, sorghum, and barley in Latin America.As the overseas development program of the Ford Foundation has evolved, membersof the staff both overseas and in New York have become increasingly concernedwith food and population problems. Because of the extreme urgency of these problemsin South and Southeast Asia, and the importance of rice in the diets of the people in thisregion, plus the fact that only a limited amount of high-quality rice research directlyapplicable to conditions in this part of the world is under way, this concern has focusedon rice. As the staffs of the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations became interested in riceas the world’s most important food crop, it was natural that they should begin toexchange views concerning possible ways and means of increasing the quantity andimproving the quality of the rice crop, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. As theresult of a series of discussions held over a period of eighteen months or more, it wasdecided that the two foundations should give serious consideration to supporting theestablishment of an International Rice Research Institute dedicated to fundamental andapplied research on the rice plant and its culture, the results of which would haveapplication in all of the more important rice growing areas of the world.Nature of ProposalIt is proposed that the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations jointly support the establishmentof an International Rice Research Institute as described below.1. Objectives. The Institute’s objectives would be a) to carry on fundamental studiesof the rice plant leading to knowledge which would permit varietal improvement fromthe standpoint of quality, yield, disease and pest resistance, and adaptability; b) toextend information and improved materials resulting from such research to areaswhere they could be applied with benefits to production; c) to provide training to aselected group of young scientists, principally from those countries of South andSoutheast Asia where rice is an important food crop, so that they might subsequentlyrender more effective service to agricultural science and rice production in their owncountries; d) to create a research center which would attract scientists from manycountries for temporary periods for the purpose of attending meetings, exchangingideas and information, and participating in research and progress; and e) to assemblein a single location available information and materials on the rice plant and its culture.2. Location. It is proposed that the Institute be located on the Philippine Island ofLuzon near the College of Agriculture of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños.It is expected that eventually, substations would be established in other important ricegrowing areas of the region.Although the Institute would be located in the Philippine Islands, it is proposed tolink it, as opportunity permits, with rice research centers in other countries as cooperatinginstitutions. This association would facilitate the exchange of information,materials, and personnel and would provide effective outlets for research findings andimproved breeding materials. The cooperating institutions would also serve as sourcesof young scientists to be given advanced training at the International Rice ResearchInstitute.3. Organization. It is proposed that the International Rice Research Institute beestablished as tax-exempt autonomous organization under the laws of the Republic of