IRRI chalks up remarkable record in 50 years

MANILA, Philippines - • A total of 864 rice varieties developed and released in 78 countries.

• Average yields in rice-producing countries more than doubled.

• About 109,000 rice types collected from across the globe.

• Countless rice scientists, researchers and farmers trained.

• And many more.

Indeed, as the Los Baños-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) observes its golden anniversary this year, it can look back to the past 50 years with pride and achievement.

And, with optimism, it is confidently looking forward to a more challenging but similarly productive future as it continues to address the Herculean task of helping food a hungry world.

IRRI was established in Los Baños in 1960 following a search throughout Asia that identified the town as the most advantageous location for an agricultural research program to expand food production in the region.

Moreover, the Philippine government was supportive of research, teaching, and extension programs to improve farm management.

Regarded as Asia’s oldest and largest international agricultural research institute, IRRI has over the past 50 years shown how science can help address food security and poverty.

“The plight of over one billion people stricken with poverty, 70 percent of whom live in Asia and depend on rice as their staple food, is the driving force for our research,” said IRRI director general Dr. Robert Zeigler.

The institute’s high-yielding rice varieties and other technologies, plus extensive training, have contributed to the doubling of average world rice yields. This has averted famine and prevented millions of hectares of natural ecosystems from being converted into farmlands.

Since 1960, IRRI has developed more than 457 rice breeding lines that have been released as 864 varieties in 78 countries, including the Philippines.

It has conserved and shared the genetic diversity of rice in its International Rice Gene Bank, which now contains more than 109,000 different rice types collected from various parts of the world.

It has trained rice scientists and shared its rice knowledge with partners.

Moreover, it has managed pests and diseases through ecology, genetics, and education; promoted sustainable soil and nutrient management; and responded to water scarcity.

“Rice science has helped to more than double rice yields in the past 50 years,” Dr. Zeigler stressed.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has estimated that the average world rice yield in 1960 was 1.84 tons per hectare and in 2009 was forecast at 4.24 t/ha.

This is best exemplified by the Philippine experience.

In the past 50 years, IRRI noted, the country’s rice yield has more than tripled, compared to the world average yield increase of only 2.3 times.

“Despite being criticized as a poor rice producer because of its status as the world’s largest rice importer, the Philippines has actually done remarkably well in raising its rice yields from 1.16 tons per hectare in 1960 to 3.59 tons per hectare in 2009,” it said.

Rice yields in the Philippines are also higher than those in Thailand, the world’s biggest exporter of rice, where yields have been around 3 t/ha.

“Filipino farmers have adopted more than 76 IRRI-bred high-yielding rice varieties since the 1960s,” Deputy Director General William G. Padolina said.

Over the years, IRRI has established productive partnerships with institutions across the world, among them UP Los Baños and Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), reported Dr. Padolina, a former Science and Technology Secretary and UPLB professor.

The celebration of IRRI’s Golden Jubilee began last November with Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand as guest of honor.

During the ceremony, Dr. Zeigler said: “We are honored to have Princess Sirindhorn launch our 50th anniversary celebrations. IRRI’s achievements would never have been possible without our many partners and donors from all over the world. We also want to thank our host nation, the Philippines, and recognize the hard work and commitment of the thousands of scientists and collaborators who have worked with IRRI over the past 50 years.”

The celebration includes 12 months of special activities to draw the world’s attention to rice – the crop that feeds half the world – and opportunities to achieve global food security.