Fifty years ago this week (6-12 Dec. 2009), a turning point in agricultural research that helped launch a revolution in food production occurred the formation of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI; http://irri.org ).

Rice science has helped to more than double rice yields in the last fifty years, said IRRI Director General Dr. Robert Zeigler, who spoke at the Manila event to celebrate the signing of the agreement establishing IRRI.

Higher rice yields have increased the capacity of rice farmers to go beyond self sufficiency in rice, while simultaneously providing additional income for education and health care, supporting economic development in Asia, and helping keep rice prices low, he added.

To maintain sufficient rice to feed people and keep rice prices at an affordable US$300 a ton, IRRI forecasts that an additional 810 million tons of rice needs to be produced each and every year.

The vision of IRRIs founders to invest in rice research to improve food security is the sort of long-term thinking we need now as we look to find solutions to address the challenges, including climate change, which threaten rice production, said Dr. Zeigler.

Continued population increases; competition for scarce water, land, and nutrient resources; and food price fluctuations mean that rice science has an ongoing role to help rice farmers produce enough rice to feed their families and communities in a sustainable way.

Joining the event was President of Republic of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; former Philippine President Fidel Ramos; ambassadors to the Philippines from Asia, Europe, and North America; Philippine government officials; donors; the private sector; and IRRI staff.

In the late 1950s, the Philippines was chosen as the location for IRRI because it was recognized as being supportive of research, teaching, and extension programs to improve farm management, said Dr. Zeigler. It has been an important partner of IRRI ever since, and we are grateful for its ongoing support, and that of all our other partners.

Partnership was at the heart of the original agreement to form IRRI, and, since then, IRRI has forged many important private and public sector partnerships across the world to support efforts to reduce poverty and make sure rice production is sustainable.

Our donors and partners provide IRRI with the critical support we need to undertake our research and help us ensure that our research solutions reach farmers worldwide and make a difference in their lives, Dr. Zeigler added.

By bringing everyone together to recall what we have achieved, we can further build our relationships and look for new opportunities to help, he concluded.

IRRI is the inspired vision of two philanthropic organizations from the United States of America the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations and the government of the Philippines to help improve food security in Asia through rice research.

Last month (November 2009), IRRI launched it 50th anniversary celebrations and a $300 million fund-raising campaign to support rice research. (less info)