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

194 History of the International Rice Research Institutethe Philippines, with a governing board composed of a) one representative designatedby the Rockefeller Foundation; b) one representative designated by the Ford Foundation;c) the director of the Rockefeller Foundation’s rice research program at theInstitute, who would be designated by the governing board of the Institute as itsdirector; d) one representative from the Philippines; and e) three members selected bythe other four.The Institute would be authorized to establish its own specific policies and purposes;to acquire by purchase, lease, or gift, and to manage land, buildings, andequipment; to make improvements on its property; to dispose of property; to enter intoagreements with public and private agencies for the conduct of its program and toreceive gifts for this purpose; and to perform other functions necessary to the establishmentand conduct of the Institute and its program.It is contemplated that the Institute would enter into a memorandum of understandingwith the Rockefeller Foundation along the following lines: a) The RockefellerFoundation would undertake to establish at the Institute a rice research, extension, andtraining program with the general objectives outlined in section 1 above. b) Thisprogram would be under the supervision of a director to be provided by the RockefellerFoundation, his selection to be made in consultation with the governing board of theInstitute. The program director so selected would also be designated as director of theInstitute. c) Each year, the director, in consultation with the governing board of theInstitute, would develop a program and budget to be submitted to the RockefellerFoundation for the ensuing year together with a request for an appropriation to coverthe budget.Officers of the Rockefeller Foundation estimate that its maximum level of contributionto the program might approximate $700,000 annually, computed at the presentofficial rate of exchange, and that this level might be reached in about five years. Thisamount would provide for a group of from twelve to fifteen research scientists ofeminence in their respective fields plus supporting personnel and services.Nothing in the proposed memorandum of understanding with the RockefellerFoundation is intended to prevent the Institute from accepting grants from individuals,foundations, governments, or other sources for purposes in keeping with its programobjectives. The expenditures of such funds would be made under the supervision of thedirector of the Institute for purposes approved by the governing board of the Institute.4. Land, buildings, and equipment. It is hoped that the Philippine Government and/ orthe University of the Philippines would contribute land and perhaps some additionalfacilities and labor. It is estimated that a minimum of 200 acres of land would be neededat the headquarters site and an additional 200 acres at substations. Buildings at theheadquarters site would include an administration building, a research and laboratorycenter, shops, and residential buildings. Equipment would include laboratory equipment,vehicles, and farm machinery. A preliminary estimate of the cost of capitalrequirements, including irrigation facilities, is $5.5 to $6 million, assuming an exchangerate of two pesos to the dollar. It is proposed that the Ford Foundation’s contributionbe in the form of a grant to the Institute to finance its capital requirements. Provisionmight be made for transfer of buildings and equipment to the University of thePhilippines if, at some future time, the Institute were to go out of existence.5. Proposed financing by the Ford Foundation. It is proposed that the Trustees of the FordFoundation appropriate at this time the sum of $ 250,000 for a foundation-administeredproject for the following purposes related to the establishment of an International RiceResearch Institute as described above: a) possible acquisition of land by purchase, lease,or gift; b) preparation of preliminary plans and designs for buildings and of cost