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An international institute for rice research 7institution), it had also been arranged to give more thought to a rice improvementprogram in Asia. The idea, it was agreed, would receive more detailedattention at a subsequent meeting.Accordingly, on 3 October 1958, Hill, Gant, and Harrar met for lunch at theRockefeller Foundation, and Harrar put forth in detail his ideas concerning thenature of an international rice research center and suggested that it be establishedin the Philippines. It was then agreed that, if the project was approvedby the two foundations, Ford would put up the capital funds for land,buildings, and initial equipment and Rockefeller would handle the operatingcosts. Harrar promised to prepare a detailed memorandum on the plan, whichhe would first submit to Rusk for comment, then forward to Hill for presentationto the officers of the Ford Foundation.Interest in the proposal had run high at the luncheon meeting, and later thesame afternoon, Hill called Harrar to report that he had discussed the idea withHenry Heald, president of the Ford Foundation, and that it had been receivedwith enthusiasm. He added that he would await a copy of Harrar’s writtenproposal before proceeding further.Later the same day, Harrar wrote a long letter to me — I was then travelingin Asia — stating that interest in the cooperative project was intensifying atboth foundations. Harrar requested me to discuss the matter with appropriatePhilippine Government officials and sound out the authorities at the Collegeof Agriculture of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños on theirreaction to having an international rice research institute near the campus.I received Harrar’s letter 16 October in Tokyo and prepared to give thesubject top priority during my 18 November-6 December stay in the Philippines.Consequently, while there I talked with Juan de G. Rodriguez, secretary,Agriculture and Natural Resources; V.G. Sinco, president, University of thePhilippines; L.B. Uichanco, dean, College of Agriculture, University of thePhilippines; and D.L. Umali 2 who headed the College’s rice and maize researchprogram. The Philippine officials were enthusiastic about the establishment ofan international rice research institute in their country. Uichanco stated thatthe College of Agriculture could spare as much as 40 ha of land and that morecould be purchased.Back in New York, meanwhile, Harrar had prepared his memorandum andsent it to Rusk on 8 October. Rusk, in a handwritten note, raised severalquestions but did not suggest that the statement be changed. The memorandumwas forwarded to Hill about 10 October. Later discussions among Harrar,Hill, and me resulted in minor changes, but it was largely the materialcontained in Harrar’s original memorandum that served as the guide to thedevelopment of both the research program and the physical plant of IRRI. 32 Umali became dean of the College of Agriculture in 1959 and was promoted to the position ofvice president of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños in 1969. He resigned in 1971 toaccept the position he still holds as assistant director general and regional representative for Asiaand the Pacific of FAO. Umali’s cooperation during the early years was a most significant factorin IRRI’s successful establishment.3 The inclusion in the memorandum, reproduced in Appendix 1, of the principal reasons forfavoring the Philippines as the location for IRRI will be of interest to some readers.
8 History of the International Rice Research InstituteIn January 1959, Bradfield, while in Asia for the Rockefeller Foundation,stopped in the Philippines and explored further the matter of the rice institute.He reported that interest in the project remained keen and that he andUichanco felt the institute buildings should be built on a knoll called HigamotHill, which adjoined the experimental rice fields of the College of Agriculture.From March to June 1959, many conversations and conferences took placeamong Harrar, Hill, Gant, and me. Other officers of both foundations occasionallyparticipated. Some of the more important developments during thatperiod were:• On 24 March, Angel Nakpil, a Philippine architect, called on me andexpressed interest in being engaged as the architect for the proposedinstitute. Although his election did not materialize, Nakpil was helpfulin giving the foundations an estimate of the cost of building constructionin the Philippines. Indeed, based on his figures, the Ford Foundation wasasked to be prepared to provide about $6 million for the capital costs, anamount substantially higher than Harrar’s original estimate.• On 17 April, at a lengthy conference at the Rockefeller Foundation,Harrar, Hill, and I discussed the proposals to be presented to the trusteesof the foundations regarding the establishment of IRRI. Harrar‘s originalstatement had been revised, particularly with respect to estimated costs,and the changes were now shared with Hill, who continued to beextremely enthusiastic about the project. He expressed confidence thatthe Ford Foundation trustees would approve a grant in the neighborhoodof the $6 million needed for the capital costs.• Hill originally had planned to present a request for the $6 million. On 14May, he and Gant informed me that they had decided, however, torequest only $250,000 at the June meeting, with the understanding thatapproval of that grant would constitute a commitment to provide theremainder of the funds when a second request was made. Moreover,both felt that the foundations should spell out more explicitly therelationships among the Board of Trustees of IRRI, the Government ofthe Philippines, and the two foundations. The desired statement, Hillsaid, would be included in the docket item on IRRI to be presented at theJune meeting of the Board.• On 21 May, Hill and Gant gave me their draft of the docket itemrequesting $250,000 for the initial capital expenses of IRRI. When Ishowed the proposal to Rusk and Harrar, they suggested only one minorchange in wording. The request (the text of which appears in Appendix2) was approved by the Ford Foundation Board of Trustees on 19 June1959.As previously indicated, it was contrary to established Ford Foundationpolicy to support agricultural research programs, particularly those involvingthe natural rather than the social sciences. Yet the proposal to provide a sizablegrant for the capital costs of an international rice research institute wasapproved by the Ford trustees without hesitation. In retrospect, their readyacceptance of the idea can be attributed to several factors. First, Hill, then the
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 18 and 19: 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 201association, or perso
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Appendices 203b. To pass upon the b
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Appendices 205Article VIIMISCELLANE
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