IRRI Pioneer Interviews--Challenges for IRRI: Wayne Freeman

Wayne Freeman, plant breeder and Rockefeller Foundation joint coordinator, All-India Rice Improvement Program, 1966-76

I think what happened in the Green Revolution was a real quantum jump in yield potential. With the present-day means of evaluating genes from wild rice species, weve already found that yield genes [exist]. The challenge will be to get these genes into agronomic types to lift yield potential still more.

Theres no doubt that agronomy is going to play a very important part, but I think yield potential is going to be a leader. With farmers doing more precision farming, they will be able to take advantage of more yield potential in the new varieties. So, theres quite a jump available, I think, in the future. Of course, the utility is going to be dependent on agronomy, which needs to improve, along with other disciplines as well.

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