Imperial Couple's visit underscores Japan's commitment to world food security

Their Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko
at the LTCCE view deck with IRRI scientist Yoichiro
Kato,  (Photo: IRRI/Isagani Serrano)

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – Their Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko received an overview of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the institute’s vibrant partnership with Japan during a short visit to the IRRI headquarters on Friday afternoon (29 January).

IRRI Director General Matthew Morell presented the institute's goals, financial supporters, and some prominent Japanese scientists who have been associated with the institute.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko were briefed by V. Bruce J. Tolentino, deputy director general for communication and partnerships, on some of the improved rice varieties developed at IRRI. "Their Majesties expressed special interest in IRRI's work on climate-ready rice, particularly submergence-tolerant rice," Tolentino reported. "They also seemed pleased about the long-term relationship IRRI has had with the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), and that the institute has always had a Japanese national on its board of trustees since its founding in 1960."

JIRCAS has through the years sent several Japanese scientists to work on collaborative projects at IRRI, under a special contribution from the Japanese government.

Japanese scientists on the IRRI staff interacted with the Imperial Couple.

Takashi Yamano discussed the institute’s contributions to the Green Revolution. “They asked many questions about rice production and our contribution to increasing rice seeds and reducing rice prices,” Yamano said. “They were very interested in our work.” 

The Japanese Imperial Couple at IRRI.
(Photo: IRRI/Isagani Serrano)

Keiichi Hayashi showcased Japan’s contributions to IRRI over the past decades. “They were curious about various stresses being caused by climate change that affect rice,” Hayashi said.

The Imperial Couple visited the Long-term Continuous Cropping Experiment (LTCCE) where Yoichiro Kato explained the importance of the world's longest-running rice research project. “They were quite surprised that we have been planting rice at the LTCCE three times a year,” Kato said. “In Japan, farmers usually plant only one crop a year. They were very interested in the different effects of fertilizer and pests on rice plants. Her Majesty was particularly keen on salt-tolerant rice."

Rice played a significant role in the creation of Japan. According to Japanese mythology, Amaterasu, a major deity of the Shinto religion and the Sun Goddess and the universe gifted one of her descendants with rice. That descendant was Jinmu, the legendary first emperor of Japan. Emperor Jinmu was tasked with turning Japan into a land of rice.

Japan’s creation myths were about “the transformation of a wilderness into a land of abundant rice at the command of the Sun Goddess, whose descendants, the emperors, rule the country by officiating at rice rituals,” said Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney, a Japanese anthropologist and authority on its rice. Japan’s emperors became priest-kings whose functions revolved around the rice crop.

As Jinmu's 125th direct heir, Emperor Akihito is currently Japan's rice-farmer-in-chief, according to Ohnuki-Tierney. Emperor Akihito has maintained his ties to rice. Every year, he plants and harvests rice at the paddy on the Imperial Palace grounds, a tradition started by his late father, Emperor Showa, in 1927.

The Japan-IRRI partnership dates back to 1960 when IRRI was established. Since then, Japan has provided leadership to IRRI with a representative on the IRRI board of trustees. The government of Japan has been one of IRRI’s most generous financial supporters, having given a total of more than USD 211 million since 1971.

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Agri students inspired to be modern day heroes

Jerome Barradas of the IRRI Training Center speaks to CMU faculty and
students about different ICT tools for farmers.

BUKIDNON, Philippines – “In agriculture, everyone can be a hero.” This is the catchphrase of Why AgRiCOOLture?, a series of knowledge-sharing and -learning (KSL) activities organized by Project IPaD in Philippine agricultural universities and rice farming communities this year. The recent KSL activity was conducted on 28-29 January at the Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Maramag, Bukidnon.

The 2-day activity gathered hundreds of faculty and students of agriculture in the university town to encourage their commitment in helping the country’s rice farmers. Through this event, the participants were introduced to different information and communication technology (ICT) tools such as the IRRI Rice Knowledge Bank, the Pinoy Rice Knowledge Bank, the e-ExtensionPortal, and different farmer text centers. Demonstrations on several farming decision tools, such as the Rice Doctor, Rice Crop Manager, the Minus One Element Technique and App, and the Weed ID were also conducted.

These ICT tools were developed by the International RiceResearch Institute (IRRI), the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and the DA-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI).

Thelma Padolina, one of PhilRice’s accomplished plant breeders, gave a talk on recent achievements in rice breeding. She inspired the students to be “heroes” for agriculture in their own way.

The series ended with a commitment ceremony. Participants were asked to access the social media and, using the hashtags #RiceUpPH and #ProjectIPaD, to post statements about how they could be heroes for agriculture. In addition, a commitment wall was set up, on which the students were encouraged to post their plans of action to help the cause.

The Why AgRiCOOLture? series was organized by Project IPaD, in collaboration with the CMU Plant Breeding and Agronomy Students Society, with help from the CMU International Relations Office.

IPaD is a collaborative project among PhilRice, DA-ATI, and IRRI, with funding support from the Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR). It aims to improve promotion and delivery of rice technologies by enhancing the capability of the next generation of extension professionals and other knowledge intermediaries.
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GRiSP strengthens impact delivery via RICE proposal

Members of the GRiSP oversight committee and program planning
and management team.

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines - The CGIAR Research Program on Rice (RICE) has adopted a new structure that will strengthen its impact delivery beginning with its proposed second phase in 2017. 

This week at the headquarters of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), during its annual meeting, the oversight committee of the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP) provided insightful recommendations for the second phase of RICE. 

“RICE is the main vehicle for CGIAR’s contribution to GRiSP,” says GRiSP Director Bas Bouman, “and its second phase (2017-22) will continue to play a pivotal role in global research and development efforts in the rice sector. Phase 2 will greatly expand the research portfolio across the entire rice value chain and rice-based agrifood systems.” 

According to Matthew Morell, IRRI director general, RICE will contribute to increased global food security and reduced poverty, while at the same time reducing the environmental footprint of the rice sector. 

“RICE proposes a strong and integrated research program, with a focus on the grand challenges of the 21st century such as climate change, gender inequities, and environmental degradation,” Morell says. “It actively links research to programs strengthening the enabling environment for impact through capacity development, partnerships, and novel approaches to scaling out of its technologies.” 

“The main focus of RICE is impact,” says Harold Roy-Macauley, director general of the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) and member of the oversight committee. “The committee believes that RICE’s proposed research and development agenda is well framed to achieve greater impact.”  

“AfricaRice, IRRI, and their partners will collaborate under a common Africa Rice Strategy, which aims to boost the continent’s rice sector. By 2020, African countries aim to achieve 90% rice self-sufficiency.” Roy-Macauley is convinced of the crucial role that rice research needs to play in support of this objective.

Based on the committee’s recommendations, RICE’s phase 2 proposal will be further developed and then submitted for funding on 30 March 2016 to CGIAR Consortium. Approval is expected toward the end of 2016 so that phase 2 can seamlessly start in January 2017.

Chaired by Pascal Kosuth of the Agropolis Foundation, members of the GRiSP oversight committee include Masa Iwanaga, AfricaRice board of trustees (BOT), Lala Razafinjara (AfricaRice BOT), Rita Sharma (IRRI BOT), Kaye Basford (IRRI BOT), John Hamer (CIAT BOT), Kei Otsuka, (GRIPS), Luciano Nass (Embrapa, Brazil), Jan Leach (Colorado State University, USA), Ambrose Agona (NARO, Uganda), Shaobing Peng (Huazhong Agricultural University, China), Trilochan Mohapatra (IARI, India), Roy-Macauley (AfricaRice director general), and Morell (IRRI director general).

The GRiSP program planning and management team is composed of Bouman, Abdelbagi Ismail (IRRI), Marco Wopereis (AfricaRice), Joe Tohme (CIAT), Nour Ahmadi (Cirad), Alain Ghesquiere (IRD), and Osamu Koyama (JIRCAS).

CIAT = International Center for Tropical Agriculture; Cirad = Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement, France; Embrapa = the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation; IARI = Indian Agricultural Research Institute; IRD = Institut de recherche pour le développement, France;JIRCAS = Japan International Research Center For Agricultural Sciences; NARO = National Agricultural Research Organisation. 


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Africa needs a Green Revolution in rice, says expert

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines - “Just by improving management practices, the productivity of rice in Africa can be increased by as much as 50%,” said Keijiro Otsuka, an expert in agricultural development in both Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

A Green Revolution is needed in Africa, particularly for rice, which has become very important on the continent. In fact, an African now eats 25 kilograms of rice annually, compared with only 10 kilograms 30 years ago. This was brought about by rice imported from Asia. Imported Asian rice accounts for more than one third of African consumption. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, consumption has been rising faster than production, according to Otsuka, who spoke during the regular Thursday seminar at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

“An African Green Revolution in rice is feasible as the crop is the most promising one for raising food productivity on small farms in SSA because of the high transferability of Asian rice technologies,” he said. 

His study showed that many areas in SSA have attained high yields by adopting Asian-type technologies and improved management practices. “In other words, a Green Revolution in rice has already been taking place in some SSA locations.”

Otsuka expressed his appreciation of IRRI’s work in training and educating young African scientists over the years. For him, training programs are vital in introducing improved technology and management practices for rice in Africa. “A Green Revolution in rice is possible if sufficient resources are allocated to capacity building for effective extension systems,” he concluded.

Otsuka is professor of development economics at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo, Japan, and a former chair of IRRI's board of trustees (2004-07). His presentation was based on In Pursuit of an African Green Revolution, a book he edited with Donald F. Larson, senior economist at the World Bank. 

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AfricaRice, CIAT, and IRRI reaffirm commitment to GRiSP

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – Three major agricultural research centers reaffirmed their commitment to the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP) during the signing of the extension of its framework agreement.

Signatories to the agreement, approved on 26 January, were Harold Roy-Macauley, director general of the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice),  Ruben Echeverria, director general of the International Center for Agriculture in the Tropics (CIAT), and Matthew Morrell, director general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). 

Significantly, the framework provides an overarching agreement in which AfricaRice, CIAT, and IRRI will collaborate in the GRiSP program for the first time, GRiSP Director Bas Bouman explained. As outlined in the agreement, the three centers will collaborate and coordinate their rice research agendas as laid out in GRiSP.  But each center takes a primary leadership role for overall research and development strategy and other GRiSP-related activities at a continental level: AfricaRice for Africa, CIAT for Latin America and the Caribbean, and IRRI for Asia.

Roy-Macauley intimated the importance of a partnership framework—and a guiding document—on how the centers can work together not only on one project but on all projects and take opportunities where the center can respond with common objectives."We need to put our strengths together,” he said. “We need to be very, very innovative about the type of partnership that we're putting together, and that's exactly what we're doing. “When you have ideas, you have people thinking, and you need to bring others along with you. I think the framework agreement is a tool that helps you understand where you want to go."

"GRiSP has actually brought AfricaRice and IRRI closer together as partners,"Roy-Macauley added. "Many acknowledge that GRiSP has played a major role in engaging our scientists in a form of partnership. That's why we're thinking of improving it. Next week, for example, several IRRI scientists will attend the AfricaRice Science Week, where they do joint planning with our scientists. This is new and quite important."

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French ambassador pledges stronger partnership with IRRI

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – Thierry Mathou, the Ambassador of France to the Philippines and Micronesia, visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) headquarters recently (25 January) to gain a clearer understanding of the relationship between the government of France and the institute.

IRRI Director General Matthew Morell welcomed the ambassador and his delegation. He provided them with an overview of the institute’s mission and acknowledged the contributions of the French government to rice research.

One of the important points raised during the meeting was expanding  France’s commitment to IRRI’s mandate. “We have to find ways to increase France’s contribution to IRRI research and forge a stronger partnership,” Mathou said.

Morell appreciated Mathou’s sentiment. “More collaborative efforts between IRRI and the government of France as well as French institutions can help ensure food security in the not-so-distant future,” he said.

During their visit, the party toured the International Rice Genebank and interacted with IRRI scientists.

The French government has been a solid financial supporter of the institute. Since 1986, France has donated more than USD 11 million in support of various research projects and has provided unrestricted support through CGIAR.

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Local communicators team up to use social media skills for more effective advocacy work

Rappler CEO Maria Ressa speaks to participants during a workshop at IRRI 

on advocacy communication in a mobile world.

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – Representatives of the social news network, Rappler, led a workshop on 19 January at the International Rice Research (IRRI) to share ideas and expertise on using social media. Media such as Facebook and Twitter can be used effectively to communicate messages and advocacies of the agricultural rice sector in an ever-growing mobile world.

“There is a need to effectively communicate rice science to IRRI’s audiences and stakeholders through these social media to gain further reach and support,” said V. Bruce J. Tolentino, IRRI deputy director general for communication and partnerships.

Around 60 communicators from the offices, bureaus, and institutes of the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) and IRRI attended the workshop.

For the first time ever, there are more gadgets on the planet than there are people, according to a GSMA Intelligence survey. Gadgets, like tablets and smartphones, are multiplying five times faster than the global population, which makes them the fastest growing manmade phenomenon ever: from zero to 7.2 billion in only three decades, according to one media report.

The Rappler team, led by CEO Marie Ressa, provided some unique insights and case studies on how to use these gadgets in conjunction with social media to do advocacy work. More than just promoting causes, social media can be used to elicit audience response and create impact as well as genuine change. The workshop concentrated on two activities—executing a social media campaign and honing effective writing skills for the gadgets or mobile devices.

Rappler’s Stacy de Jesus, Chay Hofileña, and Gemma Mendoza, led the workshop, which was facilitated by Zak Yuson, director of MovePH.

The workshop was organized by the IPaD project of the DA-IRRI Food Staples Sufficiency Program. IPaD is a collaborative project among the Philippine Rice Research Institute, the DA-Agricultural Training Institute, and IRRI with funding support from the Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR). It aims to improve promotion and delivery of rice technologies by enhancing the capability of the next generation of extension professionals and other knowledge intermediaries.

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Solutions to rice productivity problems sought during IRRI Science Week

At the IRRI-Australia Symposium, part of IRRI Science Week, key participants do some networking during a break: 
(from left) Guoyou Ye, IRRI senior scientist-breeding informatics; Matthew Morell, IRRI director general; Kaye Basford, 
IRRI board of trustees; and Paul Quick, head of IRRI's C4 Rice Center. (Photo: Gene Hettel)

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — Creative ideas and innovative technologies were highlighted at a week-long presentation of research proposals aimed at increasing rice productivity in the face of climate change and shrinking resources.

The 2016 IRRI Science Week, held 18-22 January at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), featured 10 major proposals covering overarching themes of climate change, rice technologies for increased profitability, monitoring systems, pest and disease management, increasing productivity in Asian mega-deltas, reinvigorating Myanmar’s rice industry, and optimizing impact acceleration strategies. IRRI scientists presented the proposals, which were then critiqued by their peers and other experts.

“Science Week is a time to reflect on achievements, assess the state-of-the-art, celebrate with donors and partners, and look to the future,” said Matthew Morell, IRRI director general.

A major objective of Science Week 2016 was to polish and package the presented research proposals for submission to potential donors. “IRRI’s research needs to be clear on the problems that it is trying to solve, the impacts of the initiative, how the work is different from what other researchers can contribute, and the target outcomes,” said Morell.

In addition to the proposal presentations, Matty Demont, IRRI senior economist, supervised a research prioritization activity. Participants were asked to adopt a donor’s perspective in evaluating and prioritizing the proposals. The prioritization exercise established research areas that are possibly of more value among donors and where diminishing financial resources can be optimized while achieving greater impact.

Part of this year’s Science Week was devoted to an IRRI-Australia Symposium to emphasize IRRI's and Australia's 53 years of collaboration and joint interests in rice research. Since 1963, more than 50 Australian scientists, trustees, and consultants have come to work at IRRI, contributing to the Institute’s research agenda and direction-setting. Currently, two Australians are serving in the Institute’s top leadership: Morell and board of trustees member Kaye Basford.

During the symposium, IRRI and Australian scientists alternated presentations on research topics of mutual interest and concern including photosynthetic efficiency, drought and salt tolerance, and genomics.

One of the highlights was the presentation by John R. Evans, noted plant physiologist at the Australian National University, in which he discussed improving the efficiency of photosynthesis in rice and other crops. Evans is the son of Lloyd T. Evans (1927-2015), renowned Australian plant physiologist, for whom IRRI’s new Australian-funded climate change research facility has been named. The symposium concluded with the dedication of the Lloyd T. Evans Plant Growth Facility, which is destined to become a critical location for climate change research.

Other Australian presenters included Basford, University of Queensland; David Edwards, University of Western Australia, Saul Newman and Steve Swain, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization; and Spencer Whitney, Murray Badger, and Florence Danila, Australian National University.

Since 1960, IRRI has contributed groundbreaking research in rice science and innovative farm management systems to improve the global rice industry and those of many rice-producing countries. From an average yield of 2 t/ha in the 1960s, the figure increased to a hundredfold at the turn of the century. Now, some countries like India and China have achieved much higher yields of up to 10 t/ha.

But now, more than ever, IRRI’s role in shaping rice research cannot be understated as greater challenges like input scarcity, land usage, labor availability, ecological degradation, and climate change confront the rice sector.

In the years ahead, IRRI will secure new donors, build revenue streams for intellectual assets and services, and increase operating efficiency. IRRI’s rice science will continue to be relevant and anchored on solid ground.

“We have great track record, great people, great ideas, and great projects,” Morell concluded. “IRRI remains essential, well-supported, and has a well-stocked pipeline. The Institute will continue to evolve, broaden its support base, thrive, and deliver.”

USD 10-million facility for studying climate change effects on plant growth opens at IRRI

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – On a hot, breezy afternoon on 21 January 2016, an international gathering of agricultural scientists and development officials dedicated the Lloyd T. Evans Plant Growth Facility (PGF) on the campus of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The opening of the USD 10 million state-of-the-art facility manifests IRRI’s commitment to better understand the effects of climate change on plant growth in the ongoing effort to achieve food and nutrition security for future generations across the globe.

Participating in the plaque unveiling for the PGF were (from left):

Fernando Sanchez, Jr., UPLB chancellor; Matthew Morell, IRRI

 director general; Amanda Gorely, ambassador of Australia to the

Philippines; John Evans, Australian National University and son of

Lloyd T. Evans; and Mellissa Wood, general manager for ACIAR

global operations. (Photo: Gene Hettel)

The Australian government, through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), a major partner of IRRI, funded the PGF named after Lloyd T. Evans (1927-2015), a world-renowned Australian plant physiologist who also served as a member of the IRRI Board of Trustees (1984-89).

During the dedication rites, IRRI Director General Matthew Morell said that, as a tax-paying Australian, he was happy to see his tax dollars put to excellent work. He added that the PGF will contribute greatly to IRRI’s plant breeding efforts, not only for irrigated rice, but also for the rainfed and unfavorable environments where the poorest and most underprivileged people live and where climate change will inflict its most dire effects. “It is not just a building for great science, but a building for great outcomes,” he predicted.

Special guests on hand for the dedication included Fernando Sanchez, Jr., chancellor of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB); Amanda Gorely, the new ambassador of Australia to the Philippines; Mellissa Wood, general manager of ACIAR’s global operations; and John R. Evans, head of the Division of Plant Sciences, Australian National University and son of Lloyd T. Evans.

Dr. Sanchez said he believes that the PGF will change the lives of generations of people worldwide. He added that the completion of the facility shows what cooperation and partnership can achieve. “IRRI has been a steady partner in many of UPLB’s agricultural and scientific endeavors,” he pointed out. “It is a partnership that has grown in importance as we have made headway in our efforts to achieve food security, not only in the Philippines, but in other areas of the developing world.”

Ambassador Gorely pointed out that, since 1983, Australia, through ACIAR, has provided significant assistance to the Philippines to support agricultural research aimed at achieving food security in the country. “The Australian government is acutely aware of the importance of rice for more than 3.5 billion people worldwide,” she said. “ACIAR and IRRI have worked closely on many projects over the years, such as the construction of the PGF, to reduce poverty through rice science.”

Ms. Wood said the research partnerships that ACIAR builds with organizations, such as IRRI, reflect not only Australian aid priorities and the country’s national research strengths, but also the agricultural priorities of developing country partners. “ACIAR encourages Australian scientists to use their skills for the benefit of developing countries and Australia,” she said. “It is a valuable outcome that I think is beautifully exemplified by Dr. Lloyd Evans himself.”

Dr. Evans, who followed in his father’s footsteps as a plant scientist, spoke on behalf of the Evans family. “It is a great honor and a real personal thrill to be invited to the opening of this facility,” he said. “When my father was a board member here at IRRI, he encouraged evidence- and research-based decision making rather than gut feelings passed on in a traditional way.” He said that the PGF will carry on this model as it enhances researchers’ ability to capitalize on the fantastic advances of molecular biology and genome sequencing.

 Abdel Ismail (left), acting IRRI deputy director general for research,
takes visitors on an interior walking tour of the PGF.  (Photo: Gene Hettel)

After unveiling of the commemorative plaque, Abdelbagi Ismail, IRRI’s acting deputy director general for research, led guests and IRRI staff on a tour of the PGF, which contains eight controlled-environment glasshouses, a large set of controlled-environment walk-in and reach-in plant growth chambers, plant processing and potting laboratories, and a large seed processing and storage setup. It also features optimum environment-friendly management support systems that employ rainwater capture and storage, natural ventilation, and other energy-saving technologies.

Climate change is a concern that cuts across the various areas of IRRI's research agenda. Knowing about its implications on rice production, via a better understanding of physiological processes and interactions in the rice plant when subjected to changing temperatures, humidity, amount of sunshine, and atmospheric gases, will help scientists develop even sturdier, climate-ready rice varieties and improved farming practices.

Educating the upcoming generation of future leaders in rice science is one of IRRI’s major strategic goals. It is thus hoped that the PGF’s cutting-edge array of scientific equipment will entice many bright graduates to build a career in the crop sciences.

The dedication rites took place just one year after the official 
groundbreaking was held in January 2015. Watch the time lapse video 
covering the 12-month period. (Video by Isagani Serrano and Casper Gapuz)

View a video playlist of the speakers and plaque unveiling. View 28 photos on IRRI’s flickr site.

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University of Western Australia genomics professor joins Young Researchers' Lunch

The Young Researchers' Lunch for January hosted David Edwards, professor in cereal genomics at the University of Western Australia. Dr. Edwards’ current research activities include the characterization of complex plant genomes, translational genomics, and genome informatics. He also worked briefly on rice genome structure in the Genetics Department of the University of Cambridge. Dr. Edwards visited IRRI as part of the IRRI-Australia Symposium during Science Week.

Dr. Edwards discussed his career path with the group. He emphasized the importance of being flexible in order to take advantage of opportunities that come up. Regarding research strategies, he encouraged the young researchers to stay focused, even if it means dropping a project that doesn't progress enough after a certain amount of time which, in bioinformatics, could mean 8-12 months.

Dr. Edwards also stressed the importance of having a supportive family.

Participants were Christine Jade Dilla-Ermita, Christian Cantos, Annalhea Jarana, Majid Mortazavi, Roven Fuentes, and Richard Garcia.

The Young Researchers Lunch is a monthly meeting for NRS and AFSTRI scientists who are in the early stages of their career. The purpose is to provide an opportunity for discussions with senior scientists on a range of topics including science and career paths.

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Climate change research facility opens at IRRI

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines - The dedication of the Lloyd T. Evans Plant Growth Facility (PGF) on the campus of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), which will take place at 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon (January 21), emphasizes the Institute’s commitment to working toward food and nutrition security for future generations.

IRRI’s leadership and very special guests will be opening the USD 10 million state-of-the-art structure, within which various climate scenarios can be simulated under controlled environmental conditions and the effects of climate change on plant growth will be better understood.

The PGF was funded by the Australian government through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), a major partner of IRRI. It is named after Lloyd T. Evans (1927-2015), a world-renowned Australian plant physiologist who also served as a member of the IRRI board of trustees (1984-89).

The dedication rites will take place just one year after the official groundbreaking was held in January 2015.

In addition to Matthew Morell, IRRI director general, and his leadership team, guests slated to attend and speak include Amanda Gorely, ambassador of Australia to the Philippines; Mellissa Wood, general manager for global programs at ACIAR; and John R. Evans, head of the Division of Plant Sciences at the Australian National University.

Dr. Evans, son of Lloyd Evans, will share a message on behalf of the family. Philippine officials who will grace the event will be Proceso Alcala, secretary of agriculture; and Fernando Sanchez, Jr., chancellor of the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

After the unveiling of the commemorative plaque, Abdelbagi Ismail, IRRI’s acting deputy director general for research, will lead the guests on a tour of the PGF.
 
Climate change is a concern that cuts across the various areas of IRRI's research agenda. Knowing about its implications on rice production, via a better understanding of physiological processes and interactions in the rice plant when subject to changing temperatures, humidity, amount of sunshine, and atmospheric gases, will help scientists develop even sturdier climate-ready rice varieties and improved farming practices.

Educating the upcoming generation of future leaders in rice science is one of IRRI’s major strategic goals. It is thus hoped that the PGF’s cutting-edge array of scientific equipment will entice many bright graduates to make a career in the crop sciences.

Learn more about IRRI (www.irri.org) or follow us on the social media and networks (all links down the right column).

Mahabub Hossain (1945-2016), renowned economist and former IRRI Social Sciences head, dedicated his life to the world's poor

Dr. Mahabub Hossain, former head of the Social Sciences Division (SSD, 1992-2007) at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), passed away on 3 January, one day after his 71st birthday, while undergoing heart bypass surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States.

During his 15-year stint at IRRI, the Bangladeshi national served in a dual role as a researcher and administrative head of SSD. His research at IRRI centered around socioeconomic studies on rice supply and demand trends in Asia, constraints to increasing rice productivity, understanding rural livelihood systems, and the impact of improved rice technologies on poverty reduction.

Prior to coming to IRRI in 1992, Mahabub began his career in 1970 as a staff economist at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies and rose through the ranks to become its director general during 1988-91. In 2007, he retired from IRRI to become the executive director of the Bangladesh Rural Development Committee (BRAC), one of the largest NGOs in the world, to address the challenge of the re-emergence of food insecurity in Bangladesh.

He was most recently distinguished professor and chairperson of the Department of Economics and Social Sciences at BRAC University, advisor to the BRAC executive director, a member of the board of governance at Bangladesh Agricultural University, president of the Asian Society of Agricultural Economists, and a member of the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition.

Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel laureate, said of Mahabub, “His contributions in the field of economics and agricultural research were groundbreaking and far reaching. He was the first scholar to study the Grameen Bank and produce a highly demanded research paper on the impact of the bank.”

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, BRAC founder and chairperson and 2015 World Food Prize Laureate, said of Mahabub, “Very few people globally had the depth of understanding of development issues like him. His life was a story of success against all odds. During his time at BRAC, he had a persistent focus on creating opportunities for the poor.”

“As an inspiring figure, his loss will be irreplaceable,” said Sudhir Chandra Nath, program head for BRAC’s Seed and Agro Enterprise. “He will be forever remembered for his brilliance in articulation of macroeconomic analysis, his path-breaking research work, his leadership in agricultural innovation, and above all his deep empathy for marginalized people of the world.”

“We have lost a great stalwart in our profession,” said Sam Mohanty, current head of IRRI SSD, who succeeded Mahabub in 2008. “He was a champion for the empowerment of the small and marginal farmers in Bangladesh and throughout South and Southeast Asia.”

“Mahabub was an excellent scientist and had a sincere interest in the world's poor,” said Ron Cantrell, former IRRI director general (1998-2004). “He was a major contributor to IRRI's success during his tenure at the Institute.”

David Dawe, a former colleague at IRRI and currently senior economist at FAO, said, “The world has lost a great researcher and mentor. His dedication to helping the poor will always be a source of inspiration. Even after he could have retired, he worked so hard to push this work further. The world could use a lot more people like him.”

Mahabub earned his Bachelor of Arts (with honors) in Economics at the University of Calcutta in 1966. He did his Masters of Arts in Economics at the University of Dhaka in 1969. He earned a Diploma in Development Economics at the University of Cambridge, England, in 1973 and a PhD in Economics at Cambridge in 1977.

In a 2007 IRRI Pioneer Interview, he stated, “The challenge is how to meet the demand for rice. Every input is scarce and, as long as the population continues to increase at an alarming rate, that challenge remains.” On taking early retirement from IRRI in 2007, he said, “I am going back to my country to share what I have learned.” That he did—in a grand way!

Mahabub published many research articles in international journals. Some of his seminal books (with others) include: Asian rice bowls: a returning crisis?, Rice research in Asia: progress and prospects, Impact of rice research in Asia; Strategy of development in Bangladesh, and Rural economy and livelihoods: insights from Bangladesh.

He is survived by his wife Parveen, two daughters, and a son. His family will return his remains to Dhaka where he will be buried.

Read tributes coming in from all over the world on Mahabub's Facebook page and here.

Related items: Obituary in the Dhaka Tribune; Obituary in the Daily Star (Bangladesh); A 2007 feature in Rice Today magazine, Pushing things forward; Hossain exit seminar at IRRI and associated PowerPoint, 26 April 2007; BRAC eulogy; Economist Mahabub Hossain (tribute on YouTube)

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