| Summary, etc |
"The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was established in 1960 and had come of age by 1981. Compared with most research institutions, IRRI is young and still developing. Although IRRI already has a reputation for its contribution to rice production in the developing world, its greatest contributions may be expected as it reaches maturity. In planning for IRRI's third decade, we have had two overriding issues in mind-the need to better serve the developing countries where rice is the major food staple, and the need to ensure that IRRI continues to maintain the highest standards in conducting research on the rice plant and rice production. In the future we will focus more attention on the less-ideal situations in the rainfed areas.<br/>In its 21 years, IRRI has not only built a collection of rice varieties far more complete than that of any other tropical species, it has built a staff with deep knowledge of and experience in rice research, and facilities of a high standard. Thus, IRRI has the potential and the education in the widest and literal sense of the term to make further outstanding contributions to rice production and research. In planning for IRRI's future we must ensure that it is given the right challenges and opportunities, so that its talents are fully utilized. Also needed will be conditions on which IRRI retains sufficient freedom to continue to mature and achieve its full stature as an international research center of which all the world can be proud.<br/>This plan has arisen from discussions initially between a committee of IRRI senior scientists — the long range planning committee — and the directors and other staff of the Institute. The plan has been modified to take account of comments, criticisms, and guidance provided by the Chairman and members of IRRI's Board of Trustees, and particularly the members of the Program Committee of the Board, and the Review Team appointed by the Technical Advisory Committee to the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research, which conducted a comprehensive review of the Institute's activities in January 1982.<br/>The plan was written in the fullest awareness of the gravity of the problem of helping food production keep pace with increasing demands in Asia and the rest of the tropics. The plan was also written with acute awareness of current limitations on the funds available for international agricultural research. Thus little growth has been planned.<br/>In the tragic event that the world's rich nations, even with help from some of the less poor, are unable to sustain their current efforts to contribute to the solution of the world food problem, we would make the necessary adjustments to our program. But as it stands, the program is strongly applied and focused on specific aspects of increasing rice production. It could only be cut at the expense of losing an opportunity to increase rice production. Judged in the light of the importance of IRRI's contributions to food production in the past decade, such a loss could have serious effects on the availability of rice to the people of the tropics.<br/>We see a need to strengthen, in collaboration with several national programs, our staff and facilities in particular "problem areas" associated with rice production under rainfed conditions. We have already initiated discussions with national governments concerned. If these negotiations are successful we will seek to obtain funding to support the staff and facilities that will be needed.<br/>We also recognize a need to strengthen basic research in our core programs, and to allow new ideas and innovative thinking to develop, from which come the "quantum jumps" in yield potential and production technology. Much basic work related to IRRI's programs is conducted through collaborative arrangements with laboratories in developed countries, and by movement of staff between those laboratories and IRRI. In addition, a liberal sabbatic leave policy ensures that IRRI scientists have the opportunity to spend extended periods in leading institutions where their own ideas can take shape among those of other outstanding scientists in their disciplines.<br/>IRRI, as the first of the international agricultural research centers (IARCs), has had to chart the route of collaboration between an IARC and the national programs that have the immediate responsibility for food production in their countries. We are still finding our way along this path, but believe we have evolved a mutually satisfactory relationship through the training program, the regional liaison officers, and the outreach programs. We feel that a structure has been established by which continuing collaboration can occur in a spirit of productive mutual endeavor. In recent years it has been possible to develop annual work plans for collaboration with individual countries. We hope to extend these arrangements to additional countries, and develop with them more specific plans for research, training, and dissemination of information and technology to increase rice production.<br/>This plan outlines our strategy for the coming decade. Given the resources we need, and the continuing commitment and application of the scientists concerned, we believe it will provide the basis for a continuing program of rice research that should enable sufficient rice to be produced to meet the world's requirement in the coming decade, and lay the foundation for the further increases in production that will be needed by the end of the century." -- Preface |
