China presents friendship award to IRRI scientist

IRRI soil scientist Roland Buresh (second from left)
receives the Guangdong International Friendship Award.

Roland Buresh, IRRI soil scientist, was presented the Guangdong International Friendship Award for his contributions to the three-controls project across the province.

The three-controls technology has become the major extension technology of the Ministry of Agriculture and of Guangdong Province. By 2011, the technology had been applied in 5 provinces and regions, reaching 46 million units and effecting rice grain increase of 1.45 billion kilograms.


The award, which cites Dr. Buresh's "support to Guangdong's economic and social development and contributions to Guangdong's international exchanges and cooperation,"was presented to him by Zhu Xiaodan, governor of Guangdong Province, on 27 November 2012.

Also present during the ceremony were Wang Yang, party secretary of CPC Guangdong Committee; and Yang Jiechi, minister of foreign affairs of China.



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Busy week in India: Third International Agronomy Congress, ICAR-IRRI Work Plan signing, and PAU 50th anniversary

Bob Zeigler (leftmost), with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee (center) and leaders of Indian agriculture
and academe during the 50th founding anniversary of the Punjab Agricultural University.

The global rice research agenda was the focus of a plenary talk given by Robert Zeigler, IRRI director general, during the Third International Agronomy Congress held at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi, 26-30 November.

The congress was held for the country's agriculture sector to take stock of technology capital available for agriculture diversification, climate change management, and livelihoods; and to draw future research strategies to address the 'emerging matrix of agriculture problems in a holistic manner.'

About a thousand delegates from 24 countries participated in the congress.

While in India, Dr. Zeigler also signed the ICAR-IRRI Work Plan for 2013-16 on 29 November. Signing for ICAR was Director General S. Ayyappan. With the signing, both institutions agreed to implement the 4-year work plan under the existing collaborative mechanism as enumerated in the ICAR-IRRI MoA of 1974. The Plan involves 24 ongoing and new collaborative projects with the Global Rice Science Partnerhip (GRiSP). New projects include Genotyping and phenotyping for gene discovery, Epigenetics: Potential roles in controlling agronomically important traits, Multi-parent advanced generation inter-crosses (MAGIC) among diverse genotypes to facilitate gene discovery for various traits in rice, C4 rice, New sources of resistance to biotic tresses/wild rices introgression, and Increasing the yield potential in rice among others.

Prior to the Work Plan signing, Dr. Zeigler attended the opening of the 3-day international conference, Sustainable agriculture for food and livelihood security—part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on 27 November 2012 in Ludhiana.

The PAU conference was opened by Pranab Mukherjee, president of the government of India.

Dr. Zeigler, addressing more than 1,100 participants (photo), commended the PAU for having served agriculture well in the past 50 years and expressed hope that the university continue to produce the next generation of scientists that will help bring about global food security.

Dr. Zeigler also chaired the technical session, Breeding crops for food and climate resilience.


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Philippines: Rice as health staple featured in Biotech Week

Rice is a staple food for almost all Filipinos, and could be a vehicle for nutrients lacking in the regular diet in a sustainable way. Research activities pertaining to the development of rice as a healthier staple was one of the highlights of IRRI’s participation in the week-long celebration of the 8th National Biotechnology Week (NBW), together with partners from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).


This year’s theme Bioteknolohiya para sa Kalikasan, Kalusugan, Kagandahan, Kabuhayan, at Kaunlaran focused on biotechnology’s gains for health improvement and is aptly chaired by the Department of Health.

IRRI and PhilRice shared knowledge on new approaches to health in the Philippines and how nutrition, food, and agriculture are interconnected. An example of this new approach is the improvement of rice and other crops to contain micronutrients that supply vitamins and minerals to the body.

These were presented through plenary and special seminars, and through posters and information materials distributed in the exhibit booth.

The NBW was held 26-30 November 2012 at the Gateway Suites in Quezon City, Philippines. Through Presidential Proclamation No. 1414 (2007) that declared the last week of November each year as National Biotechnology Week, the NBW has become an important vehicle to increase public understanding and knowledge on the benefits and impact as well as the safe and responsible uses and applications of biotechnology in the country.


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Low-income residents of Makiling foothills get free health advice and medicines

IRRI's community health education and medical mission is moving from the shores of Laguna de Bay to serving residents of the foothills of Mt. Makiling.

The Host Country and Community Relations Office partnered once again for this activity with medical doctors from the Philippine Army General Hospital. The army doctors have previously given health counseling and consultations to more that a thousand residents of Barangay Sta. Cruz in Bay, Laguna, for free.

Medicines funded by IRRI and through donations from the IRRI-UPLB Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) was also provided for free to those who were in need.

IRRI has been doing community health education and medical mission to low-income residents of Los Baños and Bay, with the goal of reducing the incidence of common diseases and to advocate wellness.



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Photo contest winners announced

Winning photos

More than 90 photos were received as entries to the recent AFSTRI Photo Contest that was open to IRRI staff, scholars, and researchers. The winners in the three categories are:

Research environment in IRRI:
1. Andrea Lynn N. Lazaro (researcher, C4 Rice Project), with her photo captioned, “The headless researcher”
2. Nikki Arivel Larazo (researcher, C4 Rice Project)
3. Evangeline Pascual (MS affiliated scholar, PBGB)

Daily life in IRRI:
1. Michael Thomson (scientist, PBGB), with his photo captioned, "Working at th foot of Mt. Makiling"
2. Nikki Arivel Larazo (researcher, C4 Rice Project)
3. Benjamin Straube, (MS research scholar, CESD)

Nature in IRRI and Los Baños:
1. Michael Thomson (scientist, PBGB), with his photo captioned, "Red dragon"
2. Reena Jesusa Macalalad (MS thesis research scholar, PBGB)
3. Benjamin Straube, (MS research scholar, CESD)

The top winners will be awarded cash prizes and certificates while the rest others will be given certificates of recognition on 7 December 2012, during the AFSTRI general assembly.


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IRRI breeding marks 100,000th cross

Rice breeding in IRRI marked a milestone in the Institute's mission to help feed the world—its 100,000th cross.

A simple yet meaningful gathering to mark the breeding milestone was held on 29 November 2012 at N.C. Brady Laboratory in IRRI, which houses the Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology division. The event was attended by IRRI staff and members of management, as well as retired breeders who saw through the early years of breeding in IRRI.

Glenn Gregorio, deputy head of the breeding division, dubbed ricebreeding work as a “tedious way of matchmaking.”

“IRRI has been in existence for more than 50 years and, with the vast diversity at our disposal through the Genebank, we have been making about 2,000 crosses a year,” says Dr. Gregorio. “Our 100,000th—or IR100K—is a cross between the high-yielding NSICRc 214 and IR09M105, a high-nutrient variety.”

One of those who witnessed the unveiling of IR100K was retired assistant scientist Rizal Herrera. Mr. Herrera joined IRRI in 1961 as farm aide, and soon after, transferred to the laboratories. He was one of the first who made crosses at IRRI. “I made my first cross in 1971, and came up with the idea of the vacuum emasculator—a device that made our breeding work 50% more productive.” Mr. Herrera shared.

More than four decades since the release of the first IRRI-bred variety—IR8, or "miracle rice"—IRRI continues to take to heart the principles of its foundation: to help secure food for humanity.

Eero Nissila, head of IRRI's breeding division, noted during a short speech in the ceremony that IRRI has released close to 900 varieties all over the world.



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Lao PDR: Success stories in irrigated rice presented

"It is worthwhile to invest in rice research,” said Carmen Thoennissen, senior advisor of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation or SDC.

Dr. Thoennissen's remark sums up assessment of and discussions held at the conclusion of Phase IV of the work of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC). Key success stories from Phase IV were presented and discussed at a workshop and steering committee meeting held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on 21–22 November2012.

More than 50 participants from 10 Asian countries came to theworkshop in which the outcomes and impacts of the IRRC over the past four years were discussed.

A highlight of the event was a preliminary report from an international panel that is considering the impacts of the IRRC since its inception in 1997.

The SDC ends its 16-year funding of the IRRC in December 2012. The IRRC will continue beyond 2012 in a refined version. The SDC will then fund a new 8-year project on closing rice yield gaps in Asia, or CORIGAP, that will be managed under the IRRC umbrella.

Dr. Thoennissen praised IRRI's Grant Singleton for his work as coordinator of the IRRC over the past 7 years, affirming that he has been the “perfect person” for the job. She gave a presentation to Dr. Singleton on behalf of IRRI and the SDC.

Bas Bouman, director of the Global Rice Science Partnership, described once working with the IRRC as a “rich and rewarding” experience.

Workshop and meeting participants were steering committee members (Bounthong Buouhom, chair; Jesie Binamira; Pham Van Du; U Than Aye, standing in for the Myanmar representative; Dr. Thoennissen; and Dr. Bouman), IRRI staff, IRRC coordination unit staff, IRRC workgroup leaders, and various country partners.

V. Bruce J. Tolentino, deputy director general for communications and partnerships at IRRI, was also present during the event. 



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Indonesia: Training on fan testing held in South Sumatra

Twenty participants from the academe, manufacturing, and the government extension arm attended a training event on fan testing and evaluation.

The training course had emphasis on fan testing procedures, data gathering, and data analysis and included an open forum for discussing issues in postharvest, particularly paddy dryer operation.

Participants did the actual fan testing during the training. Proper matching of dryer components and proper dryer operation were discussed by IRRI's Pat Borlagdan. A properly fabricated fan is critical for dryers.

The training was held on 26-28 November 2012 at a fabrication workshop that was handling a job order involving 30 flatbed dryers from government and private clients. It was organized by the postproduction workgroup of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC), in collaboration with the Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technologies in Palembang, South Sumatra.

The IRRC postproduction workgroup is managed by Martin Gummert, engineer and scientist at IRRI.



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Philippines: CURE hosts IFAD’s 5th country review

V. Bruce J. Tolentino, IRRI's head of communications and
partnerships, addresses ACPoR participants in a
dinner hosted by CURE at the IRRI Guesthouse.

The fifth Annual Country Programme Review (ACPoR) of IFAD—a meeting of representatives of IFAD-assisted programmes/projects in the country—was hosted this year by the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments or CURE, jointly with the International Potato Center and the World Agroforestry Centre.

During the ACPoR, participants review implementation experiences, share project good practices, discuss problems encountered, and find solutions to improve program or project performance.

This year’s review, held on 28–29 November 2012 at IRRI headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, had the theme, Managing information and knowledge in delivering impact across project cycle.

Participants to the fifth ACPoR were representatives from these IFAD-supported projects: Rural Micro Enterprise Promotion Programme (RuMEPP) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); Second Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Project (CHARMP2) under the Department of Agriculture (DA); Rapid Food Production Enhancement Programme (RaFPEP) under DA, which has two sub-projects: Rapid Seed Supply Financing Project (RaSSFiP) and Irrigated Rice Production Enhancement Project (IRPEP); IFAD Medium Term Cooperation Programme (MTCP)-Philippine Farmers’ Forum (PhilFaFo), World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)-Rewards for, Use of and Shared Investment in Pro-poor Environmental Services Schemes (RUPES), International Potato Center (CIP), IRRI-CURE, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the COSOP Reviewers. Also present were upcoming and new project entrants: the Integrated Natural Resource and Environmental Management Project (INREMP) under DENR and Convergence on Value Chain-Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (CONVERGE) under DAR.

This year’s ACPoR was held back-to-back with IFAD-Philippines’ 6th Knowledge and Learning Market or KLM, held on 27 November 2012 at Richmonde Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig City. The KLM is an event for knowledge-sharing among policymakers, IFAD projects, and implementing government agencies and partners. It is also an interaction point with the general public through information-sharing.



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Second offering of RDM 201 course for IRRI staff

The second offering of the Research Data Management 201: Advanced SQL was held on 27-29 November 2012 in IRRI.

In RDM 201, some advanced functions and queries that can be useful when building more complex applications were introduced. The course was also a refresher on basic database management skills, taught by having participants look at and define the structure of a relational database system, compared to the hierarchal model of handling data.

Participants, composed of 7 IRRI research staff, were also taught to identify denormalized data and correct data redundancy up to the third normal form.

The RDM 201 training team is composed of Menchu Bernardo, Icoy Mercado, and Dec Arreza of IRRI's Risk Management and Quality Assurance. 



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Laboratory weighing scales ISO-calibrated

An institute-wide calibration of weighing scales is ongoing at IRRI on 27 November-7 December, as an initiative of IRRI's Risk Management and Quality Assurance team.

One hundred fourteen units from research, including analytical, top-loading, and bench scales will be calibrated by ISO 17025-accredited Metrologie Concepts Solutions. A calibration certificate is provided for each unit.


A scale is only as good as its ability to provide accurate measurements. In laboratories, weighing scales are workhorses and accuracy of measurement changes in time, due to wear and tear. Their proper handling and maintenance are thus very important.

The RMQA ensures that third party calibrations are performed regularly. The last one was made in 2009-10.


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African and Asian women train to be leaders of change

Twenty-five women from Africa and Asia came to IRRI for the 5-day Leadership course for African and Asian women in research and extension, an effort toward developing a cadre of women who can lead their respective institutions in addressing gender issues in research and in the workplace and facilitate the improvement of livelihoods of women in the grassroots.

The course aims to help women scientists, policymakers, research managers, project managers, and extension workers develop leadership skills and become effective agents of change in the agriculture sector.

Topics covered in the course were: concepts and mainstreaming of gender concerns in agriculture; research methods; interrelations among climate change, food security, and gender; leadership and project management; development of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills; business planning; and seed production.

To supplement the formal sessions, the women got their feet wet in the fields by transplanting rice seedlings and testing several farm machines. They also had the chance to interact with and interview women members of CARD, a Philippine microfinance institution based in Bay, Laguna.

The participants were from Togo, Benin, Senegal, Nigeria, Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

The course was held 19-23 November 2012 at the IRRI Training Center as a major output of the gender strategy under the Global Research in Science Partnership (GRiSP), and was the ninth time it was offered. It was coordinated by Thelma Paris, socioeconomist and gender specialist at IRRI, and Noel Magor, head of the Training Center.

The coordinating team acknowledges the support of Umesh Shankar Singh, coordinator of the STRASA Project in South Asia; and resource persons Bas Bouman, Gelia Castillo, Sylvia Avance, Eugenio Castro, Jr., Thelma Paris, Maria Socorro Arboleda, Alfred Schmidley, Joyce Luis, Maria Angeli Maghuyop, Anilyn Maningas, Macario Montecillo, and Priscilla Comia. 



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