IRRI milestones during 2011

he following sections highlight a cross-section of the significant events, media coverage,

All the pieces are in place and GRiSP is functioning very well, said Dr. Dobermann, People are starting to realize the benefits of itboth scientists and our partners and donors. After the Forum concluded,
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activities, and awards during 2011. More details on these and others can be found elsewhere on the DVD and via archival links on the Web to more comprehensive, all-inclusive details in IRRIs weekly online Bulletin, which has been capturing IRRIs institutional memory since 2000. can be used as an example for the CGIARs other CRPs. He added that the Consortium is working very hard to make sure that the funding will be coming as rapidly as possible. During the first week of October, major GRiSPplayers from around the world gathered at IRRI headquarters for a review of all GRiSP work in Asia and for a GRiSP Global Forum. Achim Dobermann, GRiSP director and IRRI deputy director general for research,expressed his satisfaction at the progress so far of GRiSP, stating that GRiSP had been smoothly and effectively implemented and opened up many new opportunities for collaboration around the world.

the GRiSP Oversight Committee met and elected Professor Fusuo Zhang from China Agricultural University, Beijing, as the new GRiSP Oversight Committee chair. Members of the Oversight Committee and the Program Planning and Management Team are Beatriz Pinheiro, Jill Lenn, Kei Otsuka, Masa Iwanaga, Osamu Koyama, Robert Zeigler, Barbara Becker, Stephen Baenziger, Paul Mafuka, Achim Dobermann, Joe Tohm, Anthony Cavalieri, and Marco Wopereis (photo 2). View a video

enhance the ecosystem resilience of rice production systems through highquality international rice research, partnership, and leadership. Workshop participants discussed key components and mechanisms for the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan, a Consortium-mandated early step in the implementation of GRiSP, which might also provide guidance for other CGIAR CRPs and M&E done at the CGIAR system level. Lloyd Le Page, the first chief executive officer of the new CGIAR Consortium, attended the GRiSP workshop. In an address to IRRI staff on 24 March, he said, IRRI has led the way and set the standard with the development of GRiSP as the first approved and funded CRP, which

2011The year of GRiSP!

A workshop, Defining evaluation and reporting processes for the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP) as a model Consortium Research Program (CRP) of the CGIAR, 2325 March), kicked off the Year of GRiSP at IRRI headquarters (photo 1). Launched in November 2010, GRiSP is the strategic work plan for global rice research to contribute more effectively to solving development challenges. It aims to reduce poverty and hunger, improve human health and nutrition, reduce the environmental footprint, and

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of Dr. Dobermanns assessment of GRiSP progress in 2011. to the BMGF delegation. Dr. Singh pointed out that STRASA is working with 254 partners in three countries and that the Swarna-Sub1 variety, which has been tested and released to farmers in 2009, has shown excellent performance in farmers fields, both with and without flooding. Bill and Melinda Gates showed keen interest in the flood-tolerant rice, anaerobic germination, and the quantity of seeds being distributed through minikits. They also discussed issues such as the availability, planting, fertilizer needs, and the eating quality of the flood-tolerant variety SwarnaSub1 with visiting women farmers. They expressed their appreciation of the efforts of the two organizations to make new varieties and sustainable technologies available to farmers in the region and for the opportunity to interact with the scientists, partners, and especially the farmers.
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forward to a stronger and deeper collaboration with IRRI. IRRI and Vietnam have a long history of partnership, said Dr. Zeigler. The first IRRI-bred rice varietyIR8 was calledHonda Ricein Vietnam because many Vietnamese farmers were able to buy a Honda motorcycle with the extra income they made from the rice variety. View video of visit View additional photos

Bill and Melinda Gates visit STRASA and CSISA sites in India
On 23 March, Bill and Melinda Gates (at left in photo 3), co-chairs of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and party visited the research farms of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Patna. They received briefings on the ongoing activities of Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) and the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA), two important projects generously supported by the BMGF. U.S. Singh, South Asia coordinator for STRASA, and M. Srinivas Rao, CEO-CSISA, explained the frameworks of their respective projects

Rice breeding brings billions to SE Asia (click art below for ACIAR video)
Southeast Asian rice farmers are harvesting an extra US$1.46 billion worth of rice a year as a result of rice breeding by IRRI, according to anAustralian report released in September. TheAustralian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) assessed the impact of IRRIs research on improving rice varietal yield between 1985 and 2009

Zeigler (right in photo 4), officials of the Laguna provincial government, and PhilippineAgricultureSecretary Proceso Alcala received President Sang and his delegation. Dr. Zeigler briefed the Vietnamese officials about IRRIs work with Vietnam. IRRI has become a familiar name to the Vietnamese people, said President Sang, as he acknowledged IRRIs collaboration with the country that started in 1963. The Vietnamese people, especially the farmers, invite IRRI to Vietnam, and see what IRRI has done for our country, said President Sang. My government is looking

Vietnamese president visits IRRI

A partnership spanning almost half a century was the backdrop of the visit by the president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Truong Tan Sang (left in photo 4), to IRRI headquarters
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on 27 October. IRRI DGRobert 2 of 19

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and found a boost in rice yield by up to 13%. The assessment also showed that IRRIs improved rice varieties increased farmers returns by US$127 a hectare in southern Vietnam, $76 a hectare inIndonesia, and $52 a hectare in the Philippines. The annual impact of IRRIs research in these three countries alone exceeded IRRIs total budget since it was founded in 1960, said IRRI DG Robert Zeigler. phone-based application that allows users to pull precision agriculture information from designated servers in a rapid, accessible, inexpensive, and credible way. IRRI, in partnership with DA-Agricultural Training Institute, PhilRice, University of Southeastern Philippines, and West Visayas State University conceptualized NMRiceMobile, with support from telecommunication giants Smart Communications, Inc., and Globe Telecoms. develop and evaluate Golden Rice (photo 6) as a potential tool to reduce vitamin A deficiency. Golden Rice is a unique type of rice that contains beta carotene, a source of vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children. It also impairs immune system function and increases the risk of death from certain childhood diseases. Globally, approximately 670,000 children die every year and another 350,000 go blind because they are vitamin Adeficient.
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IRRI wins award for mobilizing rice knowledge to alleviate hunger

NM Rice Mobile makes global debut

The 24 January launching of the Nutrient Manager for Rice Mobile (NMRiceMobile) was seen as a milestone in the relationship between IRRI and the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) (photo 5). We are stepping up our efforts in helping the Philippines, said Achim Dobermann, IRRI DDG-R. NMRiceMobile is a mobile

New Golden Rice partners join forces against vitamin A deficiency

IRRI and its partners have been working on Golden Rice for about 10 years to develop a safe and effective way to address vitamin A deficiency, prevent blindness, and save lives, said Gerard Barry, Golden Rice Network coordinator and IRRIs Golden Rice project leader. Our latest stage of work is now supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and will

On 25 February, 2011, it was announced (photo 7) that IRRI had won the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award for 2010 in the Development Cooperation category for its contribution to reducing poverty and hunger in the world by means of rice research and farmer training, in the words of the jurys citation. IRRI was deemed to merit the award for the quality of its research work, which has led to the development of new rice varieties adapted to different cropping areas in Asia and providing improved yield and sustainability across multiple climate regimes. The award consisted of 400,000 (about US$550,000) 3 of 19

bring in HKIa new partner from the nutrition sectorfurther understand how well Golden Rice can reduce vitamin A deficiency.

In April, IRRI and national rice research institutes in Bangladesh and the Philippines joined with Helen Keller International (HKI), a leading global health organization that reduces blindness and prevents malnutrition
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worldwide, in a new effort to further

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prize money, a diploma, and a commemorative artwork. The prize money is going towards IRRIs rice research and training work. The award was formally presented in June. Also see the BBVA Web site. postharvest technologies, and ricemaize cropping systems. These farmers and their respective local government officials came from seven provincesLaguna, Batangas, Cavite, Quezon, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoroof the Southern Tagalog region. the future poses more challenges with less land to cultivate and fewer people inclined to take up agriculture as an occupation, besides adverse climatic changes, governments and the scientific community need to focus on new strategies to raise food production, he said. The meeting also focused on East India to grow rice. It was pointed out that traditional areas such as Punjab and Haryana reached stagnation and East India promises a good alternative with abundant availability of water.
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IRRI gives top rice varieties to Filipino farmers at annual field day
As part of its long-standing and ongoing support for the Philippine Rice Self-Sufficiency Plan, IRRI held its annual farmers field day on 28 February to share the latest and best-performing IRRI rice varieties to help Filipino farmers produce more rice.More than 600 participants, mostly farmers (photo 8), toured IRRI

highlight of the meeting was the launching of Nutrient Manager for Indonesia.

IRRI DG in India: Addresses annual rice research meeting

G20 agricultural ministers declare support for rice

In June, Agriculture ministers who metin the lead up to theG20 Summitin Paris later in October declared their support for rice research and the need for better trading environments for rice and other commodities. TheMinisterial Declaration, Action plan on food price volatility and agriculturestated: We recognize the importance of rice for food security, as the main crop consumed in Asia and increasingly inAfrica. We stress the importance of strengthening rice research and development and the dissemination of its outcome and relevant cultivation technique to 4 of 19

IRRI signs 201114 work plan with Indonesia

Senior officials and scientists of the
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Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development (IAARD), other agencies of the Ministry of Agriculture, and other institutions of the national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES) of Indonesia met with IRRI representatives (photo 10) on 2021 January in Jakarta and Bogor. They reviewed and assessed the progress of the 200710 collaboration and also discussed, developed, and signed the IndonesiaIRRI Work Plan for 201114. A

IRRI DG Robert Zeigler (at right in photo 9 with Swapan Datta, deputy director general of ICAR) attended the 46th Annual Rice Research Group meeting at the Directorate of Rice
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Research (DRR) in New Delhi. On 9 April, he pointed out that investments in agriculture were far too low and needed to be doubled in the next couple of decades to maintain what the global community had achieved so far in terms of food security. As

to see the latest rice varieties and learned of ways to help them deal with problems in their rice fields. IRRI showed climate-change-ready rice varieties, hybrid rice varieties,

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accelerate production and productivity growth in rice-producing countries, particularly in Asia and Africa, through among others the CGIAR, IRRI, GRiSP,and theCoalition for African Rice Development (CARD). In response to the report, IRRI DG Robert Zeigler, said, We are pleased to see that rice was given prominence because it is the food for more than half the planet, the staple food inAsiaand for most of the worlds poorest people. breeding programs towards more targeted product development, which will allow us to develop new rice varieties faster and more efficiently through applying new breeding strategies and tools. conditions, and generate higher incomes to overcome poverty and improve food security. Rice consumers worldwide can now look forward to eating green rice (photo 14) with the launch of an initiative that will set environmentally
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IRRI BOT meets in April and September

The IRRI BOT met at headquarters, 1115 April, with a full slate of activities and in New Delhi, 1214

sustainable and socially responsible rice production management standards. There are many different sustainable technologies and practices for ricethe worlds most important food crop that feeds half the planet,

Orissa to tour flood-hit areas (photo 13). The group also stopped at the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) in Cuttack. While there, Dr. Zeigler mentioned the release of many rice varieties, including Swarna-Sub1 and Sahbhagi Dhan, as among the good outcomes of the long-term partnership of IRRI and CRRI.

New PBGB head arrives

After a global search, IRRI announced in July the appointment of Eero A.J. Nissil (photo 11) as the head ofPBGB and leader of GRISP Theme 2:Accelerating the develop-ment, delivery, and adoption of improved rice varieties. Eero hails fromFinlandwhere he started his career in the mid1980s as a research assistant for theAgricultural Research Centre of Finland. Since his arrival later in 2011, Dr. Nissil has been providing leadership for transforming rice
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Sustainable Rice Platform launched

The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) initiative, which was launched in conjunction with a workshop on 2930 November at IRRI headquarters, in the presence of some 25 organizations, will elevate rice production to a new level by helping farmers whether subsistence or market-focusedboost their rice production, keep the environment healthy, facilitate safer working

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October (photo 12). In New Delhi, the Board focused on ensuring food security in India through the IRRI-India partnership, in which K.V. Thomas, minister of state (independent charge) for food and public distribution, Government of India, was the chief guest. Before the meeting, some BOT members, led by Chair Emerlinda Roman, Robert Zeigler, IRRI DG, and Achim Dobermann, IRRI DDG-R, visited

said Mr. James Lomax, from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that initiated the SRP. The trouble is, we need a way to deliver and upscale these practices, he added. The Sustainable Rice Platform is an exciting opportunity to promote resource-use efficiency and sustainable trade flows in the whole of value chain of the global rice sector.

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The SRP founding members are private sector companies Kelloggs, Mars Foods, and Louis Dreyfus and theAsian Institute of Technology/ CIRAD. Other participants in the launch were representatives from Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia; CropLife Asia; Syngenta; DuPont Crop Protection; Jolibee Foods Corporation; AidEnvironment; and the German International Cooperation (GIZ). 2001,with the objective of minimizing damages to life and properties in the event of calamities such as earthquakes, floods, typhoons, and fires. This contribution will go a long way in our efforts to be a good neighbor in the Los Baos and Bay communities, said Robert Zeigler, IRRI DG. Beyond our research, IRRI helps local residents gain livelihood skills through training, good medical access
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Other notable activities, media coverage, events

IRRI receives $38K grant from UPS Foundation

In December, IRRI received a contribution of $38,000 from the charitable arm of United Parcel Service (UPS), the UPS Foundation (photo 15). The donation is supporting a training engagement program, an IRRI-led neighborhood emergency services called NESTshort for Neighborhood Emergency Services Team.

through missions, as well as solidwaste management seminars.

2nd annual C4 meeting On 57 January, 64 scientists from advanced institutions around the world presented the results of their cuttingedge research on C4 rice during a 3-day meeting of the C4 Rice Project Consortium (photo 17). The meeting was held at IRRI to discuss progress in various aspects of the project, which is making good progress in the discovery of key anatomical genes for breeding C4 rice. IRRI and ACIAR wrap up Indonesia project Indonesian partners and IRRI staff gathered to report on the outputs and outcomes of the project, Increasing productivity in South and Southeast Sulawesi, on 1619 January in

Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.The project was a national program by the Indonesian government to spread technologies and management practices that would increase rice production and secure its supply. It was a collaboration between IRRI and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), in partnership with the Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technologies (AIAT) and the Indonesian Center for Rice Research (ICRR). Partnerships for community seedbanking of stress-tolerant rice in the Himalayas The Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (CURE), through its working groups for the uplands 6 of 19

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New home for SSD

Between February and December, Drilon Hall (the former Ladies Dorm) underwent a major renovationinside and outto become the new home of IRRIs Social Sciences Division (SSD). Upon completion in December, a

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rainbow appeared overhead (photo A neighborhood-reliant 16). Video time lapse of sorts showing progress of the facelift over the 11 months. Photos on flickr.

emergency preparedness is the aim of the NEST program, which started in

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(ICRR), the Directorate of Seed Development, and the agriculture agency of selected provinces. Cambodian partners promote IRRI postharvest technologies Cambodian partners are promoting IRRIs postharvest technologies to farmers and other end users. This
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of the project was presented during the meeting by project leaders Martin Gummert and Meas Pyseth. Those involved in project implementation planned activities for 201112 and discussed project monitoring and evaluation, developing business models, creating a communication and advocacy strategy, and the Cambodia Postharvest Learning Alliance. IRRI, a symbol of hope for the poor people of Bangladesh Mohammad Nazrul Islam, director general of the Rural Development Academy (RDA) in Bogra, Bangladesh, described IRRI as a symbol of hope for the poor people of Bangladesh in his opening speech for the Community Radio Workshop in Bogra, 28 February to 2 March. The workshop (photo 21) was jointly organized by RDA and the

was brought up during the annual Training of trainers in Indonesia on community seed banks for upland rice A training course for trainers on establishing community seed banks (CSB) was held on 2628 Januaryat the Indonesian Center for Food and Crops Research and Development (ICFORD) in Bogor. Attending were 16 participants (photo 19), including researchers, breeders, technical staff, and seed production staff from ICFORD, the Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technologies (AIAT), Indonesian Center for Rice Research
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and drought-prone rice ecosystems, has established partnerships with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), based in Kathmandu, Nepal, for testing stress-tolerant rice varieties that will make mountain farming in the Himalayan region more resilient and adapted to the changing climate. This was one of the outputs of the ICIMOD workshop (photo 18) on enhancing the resilience and adaptive capacity of the marginalized poor farmers in the region on 1820 January in Kathmandu. These new partnerships are in line with the technical innovation services component of CURE that draws up learning from previous activities to be shared with other country partners, particularly the IFAD investment projects.

planning meeting of the Asian Development Bank-IRRI postharvest project on 67 February in Siem Reap (photo 20), and on subsequent field visits within Cambodia.An overview

Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia

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(CSISA). IRRIs direct contributions in terms of rice varieties and new technologies have improved the lives of the people of Bangladesh, Mr. Islam said as RDA Bogra prepares to establish its own community radio. He also noted the vital role of the mass media in 21st century Asia. GRC holds first field tour The T.T. Chang Genetic Resources Center (GRC) invited research staff on its first-ever field tour held on 7 March. There was an amazing turnout of visitors, who were given an opportunity to view the wonderful world of rice genetic resources, particularly of the cultivated varieties. Ruaraidh Sackville Hamilton, GRC head, gave ashort introduction (photo BMGF team visits IRRI project sites A team from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), led by Prabhu Pingali, deputy director for agricultural policy and statistics, visited BMGFfunded and IRRI-implemented project field sites in Bangladesh on 89 March. The team visited the field sites of three projects: Village Dynamics in South Asia, Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA), and
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Training on rice seed production held in Tanzania A hands-on training course on rice seed production was held at the IRRI research farm in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, on 710 March. The course was held especially for researchers from east and southern Africa (ESA). Training involved 20 participants, including four female candidates, mostly researchers and a few extensionists from public and private organizations in Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

and insecticide usedeveloping sustainable interventions, structures and policies was held on 1516 March in Bangkok, Thailand (photo 23). The objectives were to bring together an

institutions and private organizations from different countries engaged in hybrid rice research and development. Rice production training workshop held in Mozambique A workshop, 12 steps to successful rice production, was held at Umbeluzi Research Station in southern Mozambique on 28 March1 April (photo 24). It was the first week-long rice production workshop to be run

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in the country by the Mozambique

interdisciplinary multinational group of agricultural policymakers and develop a framework for analyzing the pesticide supply chain; understand insecticide use and rice planthopper problems in rice production; gather data and critically appraise the problem and related economic, social, structural, and political issues; and develop sustainable interventions to address the issues. Consortium on hybrid rice R&D meets The fourth annual meeting of the Hybrid Rice Research and Development Consortium (HRDC) was held 2123 March at IRRI. The annual event brings together public
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National Institute of Agronomic Research and IRRI. Twenty-two participants from extension, research, and the private sector were taught different practical rice production techniques during the course. Phase 2 of STRASA Project jumpstarts The Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) Project completed its Phase 1 activities, banking on a strong base 8 of 19

Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) in Mymensingh and Tangail districts. Rice planthopper meeting held in Thailand A Consultation and planning workshop: Rice planthopper problems

22) before visitors walked through the field, where they beheld rice plants that were the regeneration of some accessions, advanced generations of recombinant inbred lines from Oryza SNPs, and some genetic stocks.

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partners, has an important role to play in facilitating the delivery of research in a form which will be readily adopted by farmers and other end-users. CURE holds 10th Steering Committee meeting
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farmers and get to know first-hand their experiences and insights on rice farming. Farmers in this district have been successful in raising their rice productivity and growing other economically viable crops to improve their livelihoods. They get strong support from the district agricultural officers. Their experiences provide lessons that other countries can adapt to make their farming more sustainable, David Johnson, CURE coordinator, said. Research in drought-prone lowlands in Southeast Asia boosted Well-adapted rice varieties with improved drought tolerance, together with management options to raise productivity, will be made available to

The Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (CURE) development of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for rice in Asia. The meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand, 35 April, and was attended by 25 representatives from seven Asian countries and 11 IRRI staff members (photo 26). It was an concluded its 10th Steering Committee Meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 20 April. Gathering around 65 participants from CUREs 10 member-countries in Asia (photo 27), this meeting facilitated the sharing of lessons learned, challenges faced, and plans for 2011. The 2-day meeting started off with a field visit to a spring paddy rice field in Kunta Bensi, Kavre District, where participants had the chance
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with advances made in developing varieties tolerant of abiotic stresses and their widespread dissemination and adoption over the last 3 years. An inception meeting and planning workshop (photo 25) was held during the first week of April at the National Agricultural Science Centre (NASC) Complex in New Delhi, India, officially launching STRASAs Phase 2 (Feb 2011Dec 2013). A strong network with NARES partner institutions from the participating countries make up the STRASA project to ensure its effective implementation and coordination. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the major donor for STRASA Phase 2. GAP for rice in Asia A symposium funded by the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) and co-organized by the Thai Rice Department considered in detail the

to interact with male and female

exciting symposium because different sectors have now taken on GAP to ensure food safety and to strengthen sustainable production for fruits and vegetablesand more recently for rice, said Bas Bouman, head of IRRIs Crop and Environmental Sciences Division. IRRI, with its consortia on irrigated and unfavorable rice environments and their national
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farmers in the drought-prone lowlands in Southeast Asia through a recently launched project. The project, Improving livelihoods and overcoming poverty in the drought-prone lowlands in Southeast Asia, seeks to contribute to livelihood improvement and poverty reduction in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, with the activities within the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (CURE). Representatives from the five partner countries came together in a planning meeting on 21 April in Kathmandu, Nepal, and identified focal areas for activities. These comprised a framework for the development, validation, outscaling, and upscaling of technologies and information, and identification of linkages for widespread adoption. IRRI MAGIC Team unveils genetic diversity The project for developing novel Multiparent Advanced Generation Intercross (MAGIC) populations in rice held a field tour at the IRRI farm on 26 April to showcase the wide array of genetic variation being expressed for important traits in advanced MAGIC
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IRRI signs Cyber Village project agreement with PhilRice On 4 May, IRRI, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)-Batac, and the municipal government of Batac, Ilocos Norte, signed a letter of agreement (LOA) (photo 29). It implemented the project, Enhancing knowledge exchange and decisionmaking among rice stakeholders through the development and promotion of location-specific rice knowledge products and delivery systems, known as the Cyber Village
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materials (photo 28). Started in 2007 by a team of IRRI scientists (Hei Leung, R.K. Singh, Ed Redoa, and Glenn Gregorio and researchers Nonoy Bandillo, Rea Muyco, Anna Sevilla, Irish Lobina, and Cesar Caspillo), four types of MAGIC populations are now in various phases of development: (1) a MAGIC indica set composed of 1,400 S3 lines; (2) a MAGIC indica plus set with 2,000 S1 lines; (3) a MAGIC japonica with 567 S1 lines; and (4) a MAGIC Global set in the S1 generation. The MAGIC procedure involves crossing founder lineseight each of the best indica and japonica varieties recommended by breeders due to their tolerance to a suite of biotic and abiotic stresses, good plant type, and high yield, among other desired traitsand sequentially producing 4-way and 8-way intercrosses in succeeding generations. See related story in this annual report.

Asia (STRASA) project launched Phase 2 at AfricaRice in Cotonou, Benin, on 910 May. About 50 participants attended (photo 30), including AfricaRice and IRRI scientists, NARES scientists, seed producers, and representatives of NGOs from 18 African countries. During the inaugural ceremony, AfricaRice Deputy Director General Marco Wopereis welcomed participants and NARES partners and congratulated STRASA by citing the

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projects achievements to date. CURE conducts seed systems training in Laos On 2327 May, the CURE held a trainers training course on community-based seed systems (CBSS) in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The training course was designed to develop capacity among CURE development partners on community-based seed systems. Seed security means food

Project (CVP)-Phase 2. Through the project, the effectiveness of computerbased information and knowledge dissemination to rural farmers and extension workers at the whole municipal level is being studied. Africa component of STRASA project launches second phase The Africa component of the StressTolerant Rice for Africa and South

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security, said CURE Coordinator David Johnson. In upland areas, the seed supply concern is not only in terms of quantity; quality is essential as well. Breeders workshop and ICIS training held in Tanzania The 5th Rice Breeders Workshop and ICIS Training for Africa, held 2327 May in Kyela, Tanzania, updated 25 participants (photo 31) on progress with breeding lines selected from previous workshops, involved participants in evaluating and selecting their preferred breeding material in the field, and trained participants on how to use the International Crop Information System. This is the One Corporate System process alignment meeting in Malaysia Representatives from three CGIAR centers met on 714 June in Penang, Malaysia, to align their business processes in preparation for the implementation of One Corporate System (OCS) in these centers. OCS is an initiative of nine CGIAR centers and the new Consortium Office to build and implement a common management information system. The system will focus on strong project management capabilities as well as finance, human resources, and procurement. IRRI was represented in the Penang meeting by Norman Macdonald (OCS Steering Committee member), Marco van den Berg (IT, OCS hosting), Melba Aquino (budgeting and reporting), Sunil Jhunjhunwala (FG5 and full cost recovery), Corinta Guerta (project management), and
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IRRI scientists speak in ASEAN Food Security Conference

Dr. Singleton presented a talk, jointly authored by Bas Bouman, CESD head, on how research on natural resource management (NRM) of rice can help tackle food insecurity over the next two decades. The presentation focused on new and emerging NRM technologies that promote environmentally sustainable increases in rice production. Mr. Schmidley discussed initiatives of the IRRI-Postharvest Unit made through technologies, learning alliances, and fostering institutional partnerships. International Network for Quality Rice meets in Bangkok Sixty members (photo 33) of theInternational Network for Quality Rice(INQR) met inThailandon 1719 August to review

IRRC coordinator Grant Singleton (2nd from right in photo 32) and business model specialist Alfred Schmidley made presentations on natural resource management in rice and postharvest initiatives, respectively, in separate sessions during the ASEAN Food Security Conference,Improving access, advancing food security, held in Manila on 1819 July.

Eric Clutario (IRRI OCS coordinator). Mike Jackson, former IRRI director for program planning and communications, joined the meeting to facilitate project management discussions.

second time the regional rice breeding nursery workshop was conducted in Tanzania and was held in the major rice-growing region of Kyela, famous for its high-quality rice preferred across the country.

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projects, write a joint publication, and train a younger generation of scientists in conference skills such as chairing sessions and presenting research papers. INQR members from eastern, southeastern, southern, and central Asia, as well as South America, Africa, and Australia, attended the meeting, which consisted of 2 days of scientific presentations on understanding different rice quality traits, and two workshops. 4th phase of IRRC reviewed TheIrrigated Rice Research Consortium(IRRC)welcomed a team of external reviewers at IRRI headquarters on 27 September. The team assessed the Consortium as it nears the end of its fourth phase. The review evaluated the progress and future direction of the Consortium; identified areas to strengthen, modify, and refocus to enhance the IRRCs mechanism and activities; assessed the relevance and quality of research and extension done to meet farmers needs and identify the gaps; and reviewed the effectiveness of IRRI-NARES collaboration and partnerships of the IRRC with civil society groups and the private sector. The review team
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was led by Urs Scheidegger from Switzerland; other members were Karin Zbinden Gysin (Switzerland), Frits Penning de Vries (Netherlands), and Jonathan Banks (Australia). CLUES office opened in Vietnam, followed by refresher course and planning meeting

Macdonald (research scientist, CSIRO), Romeo Labios (IRRI consultant), the six theme leaders and their team members, and representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) of An Giang, Hau Giang, Omon, and Bac Lieu provinces. Later, on 1416 September, a refresher course on participatory adaptive research was given to 28 CLUES project staff, including two staff from GIZ Bac Lieu, a German development cooperation, at CTU. And then the first review and planning meeting of the CLUES project was held on 1819 October at CTU. International rice technology course held in Korea A 2-week international course on rice technology transfer systems in Asia began on 26 August at the International Technology Cooperation Center of theRural Development

Administration in Suwon,Korea. Nineteen participants from 12 countries were exposed to global challenges facing rice research and development and identified and analyzed components of successful rice technology transfer cases, including research-extension linkages as exemplified in Korea and across Asia. They also looked at how to improve technology promotion and delivery of knowledge and skills through various interactive and participatory learning methods. Green Super Rice Project reviewed A review of the Green Super Rice (GSR) project for Asia was held in IRRI on 2729 August at IRRI headquarters (photo 35).Reviewers assessed project gains and produced a basis to further create opportunities to maximize its final impact in the projects target countries. In particular, participants

To facilitate activities of the new projectClimate change affecting land use in the Mekong Delta: adaptation of rice-based cropping systems(CLUES), funded byACIAR, a project management office was inaugurated on 22 August at Can Tho University(CTU) in Vietnam. Attending the inauguration wereReiner Wassmann(project leader, IRRI, 2nd from right in photo 34), Le Quang Tri (national project director, CTU), Nguyen Hieu Trung (national project coordinator, CTU), Abdelbagi Ismail (IRRI senior scientist), Ben

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assessed the strength of the GSR breeding strategy and the products in the pipeline both in China and at IRRI. GSR was launched in April 2009 by theChinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CAAS), with IRRI andAfricaRiceas partners, and is funded by theBill & Melinda Gates Foundation(BMGF). Since its inception, the project has successfully completed most planned activities and largely achieved its targeted milestones. BMGF representative and reviewer David Bergvinson congratulated the team saying, The project has done remarkably well, particularly the Asia component. I think you made tremendous progress within a short period of time and dealing with some very complicated issues, i.e., get germplasm legally out of China, which was not a small feat and that itself I think is a tremendous accomplishment by this team. Use of laser-controlled fieldleveling technology expands in Mozambique Small-sized laser-controlled leveling equipment has been introduced into the rice fields ofMozambique. As of early September, the IRRI team in Mozambique had leveled more than 5 hectares of fields at Umbeluzi Research Station in southern Mozambique (photo 36) and later leveled another 4 hectares of its research fields in Quelimane in central Mozambique. These fields are so level now that they would be great for playing football, said Hochana Tembe, who is in charge of field operations for IRRI at Umbeluzi. He said this helps control irrigation and run of water and will also make planting much easier. Joe Rickman, who coordinates IRRIs activities in East and South Africa (ESA), said that in many parts of ESA, especially Mozambique and Tanzania, rice farmers do not even construct bunds, let alone level the fields. Where they do use bunds to control water, the fields are very uneven and quite small so that bunds can occupy 5-10% of the effective cropping area.
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Web community attend Web Labs In September, a nine-part series of workshops on various facets of IRRIs Web presence commenced at headquarters. The Web Labsare a series oflecture-laboratory sessions covering theories/principles and howtos, respectively. They also provide a venue for feedback and discussions among IRRIs Web community to refine objectives of theIRRI Web siteas they relate to and feed IRRIs presence on the Webon IRRI.ORG as well as on social media, media repository sites, collaborators, and other external sites. Temperate Rice Research Consortium meeting The All-Russian Rice Research Institute (ARRRI) hosted the fourth Steering Committee meeting of theTemperate Rice Research Consortium(TRRC), 58 September, in Krasnodar, Russia. Eighty-five scientists from 16 TRRC member countries reviewed research progress, evaluated research proposals of the working groups for 2012, discussed modalities for developing coordinated research activities and sharing improved breeding materials among the members of the working groups, and explored future funding opportunities.

First PestEval at IRRI One-hundred twenty CESD staff members and 21 from other units participated in IRRIs first PestEval on 28 September (photo 37). The event showcased management practices for common pests at the IRRI farm and greenhouses. Participants moved through five stations where CESD researchers shared their knowledge on insects, the golden apple snail, nematodes, rodents, and weeds through exhibits and short lectures.

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CESD head Bas Bouman noted that some research groups presented differing control practicessomething that he considers to be a challenge and opportunity for CESD teams to come up with a common message on pest management. Community seed producers sow seeds for the future In early October, a team of IRRI scientists and NARES partners 13 of 19

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farmers groups producing rice seeds and vegetables. Farmers have estimated that their cooperatives have already reached some 3,000 farmers but they are only able to meet roughly 10% of the total demand. Digna Manzanilla,
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Research and Development (PCAARRD) and IRRI jointly hosted the 15th Annual meeting of the Council for Rice Research Partnership in Asia (CORRA), 24-25 October. The meeting was opened by Patricio Faylon, executive director of PCARRD, and Robert Zeigler, IRRI director general. Gracing the event was HE U Myint Hlaing, union minister of agriculture and irrigation of Myanmar. Senior official representatives from 16 member countries, IRRI, and PCAARRD attended (photo 39). The members recognized the value of good-quality seeds and agreed to support a better mechanism for germplasm exchange and characterization, intellectual properties, benefit sharing, and human resource capacity building to enable member countries participate in and contribute actively to varietal development for Asia Postharvest review workshop in Cambodia A review and planning meeting and workshop was conducted for the IRRI-ADB Postharvest Projectat Preah Sihanouk Province, Cambodia,1415 November. Forty extension staff members of the Provincial Department

of Agriculture, private sector partners, representatives of collaborating government institutions, and staff from the General Directorate of Agriculture attended the meeting, during which was discussed the progress in and constraints to implementation of the project. The partners discussed plans and conducted stakeholder analysis to further refine scheduled activities for 2012. The projects current focus is piloting appropriate and countryspecific postharvest technologies to reduce rice postharvest losses. Cambodia is one of the project sites, along with the Philippines and Vietnam. Strategies for BPH control A group of scientists gathered at IRRI on 2325 November to develop strategies for enhancing resistance to brown planthopper (BPH) and BPH-transmitted viral diseases. The insect pest is known to have caused severe damage in the past 5 years in South and Southeast Asia, also causing an epidemic of viral diseases. It was attended by a transdisciplinary research team with participants coming from China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, 14 of 19

Liza Raitzer, and Jose Ibabao of IRRI, with partners from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences and the Nepal Agricultural Research Council, conducted focus group discussions, reviewed records and documents, and interviewed key informant farmers in the seven villages of Lamjung, Tanahun, and Gorkha districts. 15th annual meeting of CORRA The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources

embarked on a week-long documentation and collection of information on the history, organization, operations, spread of seeds, and project outcomes of nine seed producers and farmers groups in Lamjung, Nepal (photo 38). Two of these have already been constituted into cooperatives operating as the central repository of seeds collected from the members of the other groups that in turn sell the seeds to other villages, and the other two are female

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Officials, ambassadors visit IRRI

On 21 January, His Excellency Luca Fornari, ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Philippines (photo 42), and Joseph Kalingag, commercial officer of the Embassy of the Italian
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Republic to the Philippines, visited for an overview of the Institutes research Research Council Centre Inn, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1314 December. The workshop was attended by 65 participants from IRRI, India, Nepal, the Philippines, Germany, and Vietnam (photo 41). It included Bangladeshbased scientists and representatives from NARES partners, government, nongovernment organizations, donors, and foreign missions. IRRI had previously developed a technology called alternate wetting and drying (AWD) that has been validated by NARES institutes in Bangladesh and other countries. In Bangladesh, 30 liters of diesel were saved per hectare, resulting in the production of an extra half ton of paddy per hectare. Scientists estimate savings of US$106 million at the diesel price of Taka 56 per liter over 4.8 activities. Hon. Dennis Araullo (photo 43), assistant secretary of the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) and director of the National Rice and White Corn Program, visited IRRI on 27 January to learn more about IRRIs research and development programs and the accomplishments of the DA-IRRIPhilRice partnership in the past year in support of the Rice Self-Sufficiency Program (RSSP). Secretary Araullo came with five bureau directors of the DA and nine rice program staff members. H.E. Stephen Lillie, ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Philippines (center in photo 44), visited IRRI on 22 March. He was accompanied by Jesus Tambunting, former Philippine
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ambassador extraordinaire and plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Planters Development Banks chairman and chief executive officer, and Derek Page, director for trade and investment, and Emma Leister, senior trade and investment manager, both from the Embassy of the United Kingdom to the Philippines. H.E. Christopher Thornley, Canadian ambassador to the Philippines (at left in photo 45 with IRRI DG Robert Zeigler), visited IRRI on 12 May. He was accompanied by Atty. James Trottier, counselor and head of

and Japan. Participants (photo 40) presented about the status of the planthopper problem in their countries and an overview of ongoing activities in their institutions and plans. By the end of the workshop, the group had drafted an outline for submission as a new frontier proposal for GRiSP. AWD workshop in Bangladesh An international workshop,Alternate wetting and drying for resource conservation and reduction of environmental pollution, was held at the Bangladesh Agricultural

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million hectares of boro rice.

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political and economic relations and public affairs, and his spouse, Liza Linklater. Research and Creative Activity Award. Prof. Baenziger, in 25 years at UNL, has developed an international reputation as a wheat breeder whose research is helping to feed more people and improve lives in Nebraska
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In April, Roland Buresh, IRRI principal scientist (photo 50), was named a laureate of the 2011 Norman Borlaug Award of the International
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IRRI, BOT, and staff recognition in 2011

On 3 January, TheSardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology(SVPUA&T) in Meerut honored IRRI Director General Robert Zeigler (at left in Photo 46) by naming its new soil- and plant-testing laboratory after him. The university degree from Indira Gandhi Agricultural University. During Climate Week in the UK, 1317 March, IRRIs Scuba Rice project, funded by the U.K.s Department for International Development (DFID), won the award for Best Initiative by a Governmental or Statutory Body. Flood-resistant scuba rice can survive underwater for up to 2 weeks and recover once the waters subside. It responds to
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and around the world. Noel Magor, head of IRRI Training Center and Program 6 leader

Fertilizer

Industry Association. Dr. Buresh was recognized for his work in transforming the scientific concept of site-specific nutrient management to innovative knowledge transfer tools based on decision-support software, the Internet, mobile phones and field
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practices readily usable by rice growers. Then on 28 July, Dr. Buresh was recognized for this accomplishment during a testimonial dinner at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City. On 5 April, David Mackill, former long-time IRRI rice breeder who has subsequently signed up as an IRRI consultant for 3 years (at left in photo 51), was given a plaque of

(at left in photo 49), was recognized during the 7th International Integrated Rice Duck Farming Conference in Sylhet, Bangladesh, held on 57 March. Dr. Magor led an initiative for an adaptive research project conducted by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and Friends in Village Development Bangladesh on integrated rice-duck farming. It was a first in Bangladesh and was modeled on the innovative system developed by Takao Furuno, a Japanese organic farmer.

complete submersion by effectively becoming dormant, saving energy until the floodwater recedes when it can continue growing again. In this way, it escapes drowning. In March, P. Stephen Baenziger, Eugene Price Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and IRRI BOT member (photo 48), won the universitys Outstanding
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named its new laboratory after Dr. Zeigler to recognize years of its collaborative work with IRRI. On 20 January, Gurdev S. Khush (at left in photo 47), member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences; adjunct professor, University of California, Davis; and former head of IRRIs Plant Breeding Genetics and Biotechnology division, received the Doctor of Science (honoris causa)

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appreciation for his contributions to rice research and development in South Asia (India, Bangladesh, and Nepal) and Africa. Also cited was his strong commitment to rice improvement for unfavorable rice ecosystems and his pioneering efforts as initiator and leader of the StressTolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) project. Later in May, farmers in West Champaran district in north Bihar, India, honored Dr. Mackill, as the father of the SUB1 gene. In a special ceremony in DL Umali Hall on 15 April, in the presence of the members of the IRRI Board of Trustees, the winners for the 2010 NRS Awards were announced (photo 52): Rowena Oane, for Outstanding Scientific Achievement; Tara Chand Dhoundiyal, for Outstanding Administrative Support; and the Quality Evaluation Team of the Grain Quality and Nutrition Center (GQNC), for Outstanding Research Support. The GQNC Quality Evaluation Team is composed of Mr. Juan Alzona, Mr. Romulo Aquino, Mr. Teodoro Atienza, Ms. Lilia Villanueva, and Mr. Dennis Villegas. Photos of event Sushil Pandey, senior scientist in IRRIs Social Sciences Division (at right in photo 53), was recognized by the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) for his contributions to rice research. The award was given to Dr. Pandey in a simple ceremony held during a dinner hosted by NARC for the participants of the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments (CURE) Steering Committee meeting on 20 April. In May, staff members in IRRIs Communication and Publications Services (CPS) won two Gold Awards (first place) in the Publishing Category of the 2011 Critique and Awards (C&A) Program of the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE). IRRIs 2009 Annual Reportwon in the Electronic Publishing Class and The IRRI Pioneer Interview series, conducted by CPS head Gene Hettel, won in the Editing Class. The IRRI Annual Report was recognized for the third consecutive year in the ACE C&A competition, which receives submissions from the U.S. land grant system and international institutions around the world. On 20 May, IRRI Director General
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conferred the honorary degree (honoris causa)of doctor of science by the Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUA&T) in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India, during the 27th Convocation of the University. Then, on 7 August, theInternational Association for the Plant Protection Sciences(IAPPS) paid tribute to Dr. Zeigler by presenting him with anInternational Plant Protection Award of Distinctionduring its annual meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was recognized for his outstanding contributions to international plant protection; first for his research, then for his work in agricultural development and research leadership and management contributions. In May, Kshirod K. Jena, senior scientist for plant breeding and IRRI representative to the Republic of Korea 17 of 19

Robert Zeigler (left in photo 54) was one of three persons of eminence

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(at left in photo 55), was presented a prestigious award by the Rural Development Administration (RDA).

Krishnamurthy, former chief election commissioner of India; and Joginder Singh, former CBI director. On 22 August, IRRI received one of the firstMobile Bayani Awards for the development of theNutrient Managerfor riceapplication, which enables farmers and extension agents to obtain site-specific fertilizer advice using a simple mobile phone. Rowena Castillo, Crop and Environmental

internationally recognized on a topic that continues to remain of significance: science and technology for food security and sustainable management of the worlds major cereal systems, including rice. In October, Joyce Kikafunda (photo 58), member of the IRRI Board of Trustees, was presented with a
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The honor was conferred on Dr. Heong for his contributions to agricultural sciences and sustainable development, particularly for his transdisciplinary work to integrate insect ecology with psychology, communication, and the social sciences to develop simple heuristics and using entertainment education and media to motivate thousands of rice farmers to make better decisions on pest management. On 13 December, IRRI recognized 129 employees for their enduring commitment to the Institutes mission. These staff members, who have contributed 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of service to the Institute, were given service awards. A special lunch was also held on the same day in honor of all employees who have served IRRI for 25, 30, and 35 years.

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Council Award as an

He was cited for outstanding contribution and service to the development of agricultural research and cooperation between RDA and IRRI for nearly 10 years while based in Korea. Dr. Jena developed a new japonica variety, Anmi, using modern rice breeding technology. Sam Mohanty, IRRI economist (photo 56), was presented the prestigiousGlory of India Awardin New Delhi on 16 July. The award, given by the Delhi-based India International Friendship Society, was handed to Dr. Mohanty by Hon. Bhishma Narain Singh, former governor of Tamil Nadu and Assam; Maj. Ved Prakash, All-India Congress Committee member; T.S.
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Sciences Division (CESD) assistant scientist,accepted the award on behalf of the development team. In September, IRRI soil expert and agronomistJ.K. Ladha(photo 57)

outstanding scientist by the African Crop Science Society (ACSS). Prof. Kikafunda is a member of the Department of Food Science and Technology at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Kong Luen Heong, IRRI entomologist (at right in photo 59), was inducted into theTWAS, the academy of sciences for the

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IRRI board and staff updates

Departing international staff in 2011 included David Mackill, IRRI principal scientist and long-time rice breeder at the Institute over two periods (1982 91 and 200110); Darshan Brar,
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received the 2011 International Service in Agronomy Award from theAmerican Society of Agronomy (ASA)for his work in research, training, and extensionespecially in South Asia. Having more than 25 years of experience in various fields such as improving soil fertility, Dr. Ladha is developing world, on 21 November at Academy headquarters in Trieste, Italy.

long-time IRRI plant breeder and most recently Plant Breeding Genetics and biotechnology (PBGB) head (1987 2011); To Phuc Tuong, principal 18 of 19

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scientist and water management engineer (19912011), CESD; Sushil Pandey, senior agricultural economist, Social Sciences Division (SSD) (19932011); William Padolina, deputy director general for operations (19992011); Richard Bruskiewich, senior scientist, Genetic Resources Center (GRC); Melissa Fitzgerald, senior scientist and head, Grain Quality and Nutrition Center; M.A. Hamid Miah, IRRI liaison scientist for Bangladesh; Georgina Vergara, postdoctoral fellow, PBGB; Greg Howell, plant physiology scientist/ consultant, PBGB; Nobuya Kobayashi, senior scientist, PBGB; Daisuke Fujita, postdoctoral fellow, PBGB; Choi In Bea, visiting research fellow, PBGB; Shigeki Yokoyama, IRS (seconded from JIRCAS); Kamala Gurung, postdoctoral fellow, SSD;Jong-Hee Lee, visiting research fellow, PBGB;Ming Li, visiting research fellow, C4 Rice Center; Axel Tonini, agricultural economist, SSD; Serge Savary, crop health specialist, PBGB; and Laetitia Willocquet, plant pathologist, PBGB. New international staff arrivals in 2011 included Eero A.J. Nissil, head, PBGB; Adam Sparks, postdoctoral fellow-GIS specialist/

plant pathologist; Leigh Vial, head, Experiment Station (ES); Tobias Kretzschmar, collaborative research scientist, PBGB; Sudhanshu Singh, postdoctoral fellow, PBGB; Xiufang Ma, visiting research fellow in PBGB; Daisuke Fujita, visiting research fellow (PBGB); Tsutomu Ishimaru, senior scientist, PBGB; Nicholas Ketel, head, Physical Plant Services; Sudhir Yadav, postdoctoral fellow, CESD; Najam Waris Zaidi, postdoctoral fellow, PBGB; Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, postdoctoral fellow, PBGB; Michael Dingkuhn,senior scientist II, CESD; and Takuji Tsusaka, postdoctoral fellow, SSD.

He was a mentor, colleague, and friend to many at IRRI, CIAT, IFDC, and many other places around the world. He was an amazingly prolific writer and editor. Agrifina Pascua, former housekeeping and food attendant at the IRRI Guesthouse and cafeteria, under Food and Housing Services (FHS) (photo 62), died on 4 February from lung cancer. She is survived by her husband, Juanito, former FHS cook, and their children, one of whom (Jerwin) is on the staff at Riceworld Bookstore. Robert Bob Huggan, 79, head of IRRIs Information Center/ CPS (199397) and a senior advisor, External Operations (199798)
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Annemarie Lampe, wife of former IRRI Director General Klaus Lampe (photo 64), passed away on 20 June in Frankfurt, Germany, at the age of 79.She is survived by Klaus and their family members Rainer and Margaret Lampe; Sarah, Max, and Kim; Barbel Lampe; and Milena, Clara, and Antoine. Juan Lazaro, Jr. (photo 65), who passed away 11 July, was a 26-year IRRI veteran who began his work at the Institute as an electronic mechanic in August 1963. He
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Passing on
Jose Joe Marasigan, technician in GRC since 1996 (photo 60), passed away on 6 January at battling cancer. Tom Hargrove, 66, long-time IRRI editor and head of Communication and Publications Services (197391) (photo 61),
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departed as a senior instrument repair supervisor in November 1989. He is survived by his sons Juan III and Juan IV, who is head of Creative Services in Communication and Publications Services, and daughters, Mel and Emie.

(photo 63), passed away on 15 February

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St. Jude Hospital in Los Baos after

in Montpellier, France, after a lengthy illness. Bob was an expert in public awareness, donor relations, appropriate dissemination of scientific research results, R&D communications, cross cultural communications, and information management. He is survived by his wife Isabel and daughter Abbey.

passed away unexpectedly because of a heart attack on 23 January in Texas.

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