Rice Today Special Supplement For Devex Partnerships and Career Forum in Manila

www.irri.
org
Special supplement for Devex Partnerships and Career Forum in Manila, 10-11 June 2014
For the love of rice
Selected features on people at IRRI
Whal mauers mosl
W
hats importantour reputation and our people. These are the two most important basics
of any organization such as the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Our reputation
integrates our mission, our science, and our impact. Our people make it all happen.
Reputation-wise, IRRIs position as the agship center of the global agricultural research system
is well established. The developed and developing worlds recognize us as a leader in scientic
innovation that results directly in measurable impact.
Recent impact studies demonstrate to donors and philanthropists who are investing in rice
research that their contributions are making a really big dierence where it counts. Hopefully, this will
inspire others to also support rice research if they want to improve the lives of people. We always need
ongoing investment for ongoing impact.
Our key asset is our sta of more than 1,300 worldwide. Our science leaders are recruited
internationally and they are considered among the best in the world in their elds. With the
support from more than 1,200 nationally recruited sta in 16 dierent locations in Asia and Africa,
their expertise, local knowledge, and skills are brought to IRRI and help us connect with the local
communities where we work.
In this special issue of Rice Today, youll learn about IRRI sta members who embody and uphold
our values, which include cultural diversity and gender consciousness.
And on the lighter side, I hope that youll try out two rice recipes in Whats cooking featuring Sam
Mohanty, head of Social Sciences Division and Leigh Vial, head of Experiment Station.
Every year, in recent times, as part of our holiday celebration in December, we assemble the sta
at the headquarters for a family portrait. And, I cant resist sharing this with you.
When we put the photo (below) on IRRIs Facebook page, Hubert Zandra, IRRI agronomist (1975-
80) and deputy director general for research (1989-91), posted from afar: What a wonderful scope of
dedicated persons! I couldnt have said it better!
Robert S. Zeigler
IRRI director general
17 Rice Today October-December 2013
A
l hrsl gIance, Indang
Seliningsih and MichaeI
Thomson are vorIds aarl.
Dr. Seliningsih vas born
and raised in Indonesia. Dr. Thomson
haiIs from lhe soulhveslern Uniled
Slales. Desile lhe dislance of some
15 lhousand kiIomelers belveen
lhem, fale, science, and a common
assion lo imrove rice and farmers'
Iives found a vay lo bring lhem
logelher.
When Michael met Septi
Seli, as she is caIIed by her
coIIeagues al lhe InlernalionaI Rice
Research Inslilule (IRRI), had a
keen inleresl in Ianl breeding as
an undergraduale sludenl in Gad|ah
Mada Universily, Yogyakarla,
Indonesia. She lhen became a
researcher al lhe Indonesian Cenler
for AgricuIluraI iolechnoIogy and
Genelic Resources Research and
by Alaric Francis Santiaguel
DeveIomenl (ICAIOGRAD) in
ogor.
Rice is a arl of my Iife and rice
cuIlivalion in Indonesia is usuaIIy
done by smaIIhoIder farmers, she
said. My dream is lo heI lhem.
MichaeI's Iove aair vilh rice vas
Iess direcl. He became inleresled in
Ianl science vhen he |oined a high
schooI summer rogram on Ianl
biolechnoIogy al lhe Universily of
Arizona. Iven as an undergrad,
I didn'l have an agricuIlure
background so I vas more inleresled
in ure science and genelics, he said.
In 1997, MichaeI auended CorneII
Universily lo ursue his inleresl
in moIecuIar genelics, vhere Seli
haened lo be vorking lovard
her IhD in Ianl breeding vilh
Susan McCouch as her adviser. Dr.
McCouch, a renovned rice scienlisl,
senl 5 years al IRRI before |oining
lhe CorneII facuIly. (See A juggling act:
Gender barriers and molecular maps on
ages 37-39 in Rice Today VoI. 9, No. 2)
When I moved lo CorneII, I
senl some lime vorking in lvo Iabs
on vheal and lomaloes, MichaeI
said. IinaIIy, I vorked vilh Dr.
McCouch. Rice vas lhe one lhal gol
me mosl exciled.
Like lhe rolagonisls in lhe hIm
When Harry Met Sally, lhey slarled
o as coIIeagues and friends. We
vere cIassmales and ve vere arl
of a sludy grou vilh severaI olher
eoIe from dierenl counlries,
Seli recaIIed. Then ve became
cIose friends afler ve bolh sludied
under lhe same adviser. MichaeI
and Seli gol married in 1999 and
lhey had lheir hrsl lvo chiIdren, bolh
boys, vhiIe al CorneII.
Following their hearts
Afler comIeling lheir osldoclorales
al CorneII, MichaeI slarled Iooking
For the love of rice
Two scientists, worlds apart but with a common passion,
end up being more than laboratory partners
M
IC
H
A
E
L
T
H
O
M
S
O
N
G
E
R
A
L
D
IN
E
M
A
L
IT
IC
3
18 19 Rice Today October-December 2013 Rice Today October-December 2013
for work, but Septi felt it was time
to move back to Indonesia. She
wanted to give back to the Institute
that allowed her to study at Cornell
for her PhD. It was a decision that
Michael fully supported.
We vere lrying lo hnd
something that would advance both
of our careers, he said. Going back
to her home institute was important
to her. For me, I wanted to get that
international experience.
In 2003, Septi returned to
ICABIOGRAD, where she worked on
varielaI idenlihcalion and diversily
analysis of the germplasm of major
Indonesian crops such as rice,
soybean, and sweet potato. Michael,
on the other hand, received a grant
from the National Science Foundation
International Research Fellowship
Program to study the genetic
diversity of traditional and improved
Indonesian rice varieties, also at
ICABIOGRAD, for 2 years.
After completing his fellowship,
Michael then found an opportunity
at IRRI, where he was accepted
as a postdoctoral fellow with Dr.
Abdelbagi Ismail, plant physiologist
and coordinator of the Stress-
Tolerant Rice for Africa and South
Asia (STRASA) project, in mapping
quantitative trait loci (QTL)stretches
of DNA containing or linked to genes
responsible for important traitsand
marker-assisted breeding of salt-
tolerant rice. Septi was also accepted
as a postdoctoral fellow to focus on
lhe deveIomenl of ood-loIeranl rice
with Dr. David Mackill, former head
of IRRIs Plant Breeding, Genetics,
and Biotechnology Division. They
moved to the Philippines in 2005,
with their two boys and 2-month-old
daughter.
For a professional couple in
lhe same heId of research, il's quile
dicuIl lo hnd a Iace vhere ve can
both work and do our research on
rice, Michael said. In that aspect,
IRRI is the perfect place for us.
Careers in full bloom
Today, Septi leads IRRIs work to
identify traits to help develop new
ood-loIeranl rice lhal can survive
dierenl lyes of ooding al dierenl
stages of the rice plants development.
This includes looking for genes and
QTLs that help direct-seeded rice
lo germinale even vhen ooded
(anaerobic germination), and protect
rice plants when submergence is
comIele or vhen oods of 2050
cm remain in lhe heId (slagnanl
ooding).
We search for new QTLs and
genes, she said. Every time we have
something good on the genetic side,
we incorporate it in our breeding
to develop new rice varieties that
are particularly suited for changing
climatic conditions.
Flood-tolerant rice varieties are
particularly important because more
lhan 1520 miIIion heclares of Iand,
mostly in Asia and some parts of
Africa, are rone lo ooding.
Michael now runs IRRIs
Genotyping Services Laboratory
and oers DNA marker services
for research and breeding groups.
Genotyping determines the genetic
nature of individual rice varieties
(genotype) by using DNA markers
lo delecl dierences belveen rice
plants based on their underlying
DNA sequence. DNA markers ag
the location of genes of interest
associated with useful traits, thus
making it easier to breed the traits
into new varieties. Plant breeders
are increasingIy using secihc DNA
markers to track genes, he said. We
Iike lo make il more ecienl by using
new technology.
His role includes validating new
DNA markers and looking for new
technologies to further improve
lhe eciency of lhe Iab. I en|oy
exploring new technology that in the
end can really help the breeders,
he said. Connecting the diversity
and breeding applications is really
exciting. The main impact I hope to
oer is lo make breeding fasler. Il can
take 9 or 10 years to develop a new
rice variety. If theres a way we can
help breeders do that in, say, 6 years
instead of 10, we can release new and
improved varieties faster.
Chemistry, in and out of the lab
Science is a comelilive heId. Ils
history is fraught with intellectual
feuds and rousing debates between
disagreeing scientists. Does science,
which brought Septi and Michael
together, also work against their
careers and marriage?
Our interest is genetics but we
are not competitive, said Septi. We
are complementary because our work
is dierenl. My hrsl research area
at IRRI was submergence while he
worked with salinity. We support
each other.
In fact, Michael said being mar-
ried to a colleague has its advantages.
We gel lo bounce ideas o each
other, he said. If we have problems
at work, sometimes we can help each
olher soIve lhem afler oce hours.
Septi agrees. At home, we can
have work-related discussions. If I
need to use his laboratory facilities
and gel heI from his sla, ve can
talk about it while in the car or when
we are shopping.
With both being scientists, they
also understand the needs and
pressures of each others job and give
each other advice.
She reminds me to focus and not
neglect the things that are important
for my own career, Michael said. I
can get distracted by many activities
at work. People often ask me for help
aboul soflvare and dierenl lhings. I
fall behind in writing publications of
my own.
Michael also has advice for Septi.
Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed
because a Iol of slu is going on
at the same time since I have more
responsibilities now, Septi said.
Michael tells me not to worry too
much. Just take it easy.
It can be a struggle at times,
she added. Sometimes, we have a lot
of work even during the weekends.
But, we make sure we spend quality
time with our kids since it is also
our responsibility to raise them to be
successful.
They also have to coordinate
lheir scheduIes, incIuding auending
scienlihc conferences. Al lhe slarl of
the year, we discuss who goes to what
conference because we try not to
leave our children alone, Septi said.
Although on some occasions we do,
but just for a couple of days.
Were there moments when they
considered shifting jobs and having
only one scientist in the family? If
shes more successful, then I can
retire early, Michael joked. But we
are bolh commiued lo our careers.
We cant really imagine if either one
of us stops being a scientist.
Facing the future
American millionaire Dennis Tito
recently announced his plans to fund
lhe hrsl manned mission lo Mars
in 2018. The voyage would take 501
days, round trip, and could include
an adventurous married crew. Could
Septi and Michaels professional and
personal relationship survive such an
ordeal?
We could probably handle the
journey but we might drive each
other crazy, Michael said in jest.
They would rather stay right here on
Earth and hopefully see their dreams,
as scientists, come true.
For Michael, that would be
having all the rice genomes in IRRIs
International Rice Genebankwhich
has more than 117,000 types of rice
sequenced and characterized to the
point where scientists can just pick
the desired version of the gene they
need in their breeding programs.
Having an integrated database
that contains all the genetic
information about all the rice in
the International Rice Genebank is
something Id really like to see as a
resource for breeding programs,
Michael said. Theres so much
potential, but, so far, we dont have
the sequence and trait data to do it
ecienlIy.
Septi shares this vision with
Michael. I want to use certain genes
in my trait development program to
speed up the development of new
varieties.
Behind the high-end technology
and the intricate science of molecular
genetics and breeding, the two
scientists have a singular pragmatic
target. They want to help farmers all
over lhe vorId by deveIoing beuer
rice.
My ultimate goal as a scientist is
to make rice farmers happy by helping
them harvest more rice and have
beuer incomes, Seli said. MichaeI,
her fellow scientist and husband,
couIdn'l have said il any beuer.
Mr. Santiaguel is a writer at IRRI.
A FAMILY portrait of scientists Michael
and Septi, taking time off from their rice
laboratories with their children Ilham,
Irfan, and Atiya.
JO
N
S
C
H
R
O
E
D
E
R
4 5
At IRRI, more than 80% of the
elite lines have the Xa4 gene and,
since 2000, released cultivars such as
PSB Rc82 carry combinations of genes
with resistance to the predominant
population of the pathogen. Other
elite lines have also been developed
vilh dierenl combinalions of Xa5,
Xa7, Xa13, and Xa21, among other
genes. Some elite lines and released
cuIlivars shov broad-seclrum
resistance, indicating that unknown
or novel genes may be present in
these lines and cultivars.
Nevertheless, bacterial blight
continues to be an important concern
due to the capacity of the pathogen to
change and overcome the deployed
resistance genes. Government
agencies know well that the stakes
are high. Whenever susceptible rice
varieties are grown in environments
that favor bacterial blight, the
disease can lurn green rice heIds
into wastelands of dry and wilting
leaves, and empty grainswiping out
inveslmenls and olenliaI rohls.
Balancing genetic protection
Recently, Dr. Vera Cruzs team
made a discovery that will further
improve the resistance of rice to the
disease. They learned that it is not
just the presence of resistance genes
Xa4 and Xa7 that is important, but
that environmental factors such as
temperature also play an important
role in how the genes protect the
plant. They found that Xa4 is more
eeclive as lemeralures dro, vhiIe
Xa7 does ils |ob beuer al higher
temperatures.
Since the two genes compensate
for each others weaknesses, this will
also help farmers withstand changes
in vealher auerns, she said.
Climate change could radically alter
temperatures during the dry and wet
seasons.
Since alhogens co-evoIve vilh
the plant, growing a single resistant
variety over large areas will push
the virulent form of the pathogen to
become dominant. Therefore, one
key questions for breeders and plant
pathologists is how to deploy the
resistance genes to prevent pathogen
epidemics while maintaining yield.
Diverse genetic resources
This is where the importance of
genetic diversity comes into play. The
good news is that IRRI has a genetic
goId mine of dierenl lyes of rice
including wild rice accessions that
is stored in its International Rice
Genebank. The genebank continues
to provide rare versions of genes to
enrich and diversify the sources of
resistance to manage bacterial blight.
Aside from hnding a crilicaI mix
of genes, IRRI scientists are aiming to
map the genome of the blight pathogen
and understand what role genes play
in the plant. With this information,
they can precisely target certain genes
of the pathogen that cause virulence in
the plant host. According to Dr. Vera
Cruz, this will radically shorten the
breeding rocess for designing bIighl-
resistant rice varieties.
No one can tell what challenges
lhe fulure may bring. Wilh lhe ever-
evolving diseases and changing
cIimale auerns, IRRI scienlisls are
not resting on their past successes.
They are constantly searching for
beuer vays of doing lhings lo deIiver
vhal farmers need lo vin lhe bauIe
against this insidious disease.
Ms. Reyes is the managing editor of Rice
Today.
(From left) IRRIs associate scientist Rhulyx Mendoza, researcher
Pauline Capistrano, plant breeder Bertrand Collard, and plant
pathologist Casiana Vera Cruz are working together to develop
bacterial blight-resistant rice.
IS
A
G
A
N
I S
E
R
R
A
N
O
, IR
R
I
U
nmindful of the heat and
the humid air circulating
from an industrial fan in
the glasshouse, Casiana
Vera Cruz, plant pathologist at the
International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI), met with her team to check the
progress of the rice plants that exhibit
resistance to bacterial blight. Several
rows of plastic boxes with plants from
dierenl rice-groving counlries hIIed
the facility.
Some varieties are from South
Asia while others are from Southeast
Asia, said Dr. Vera Cruz. The plants
look healthy for now but, in the next
few weeks, we will see the plants that
are more resistant to bacterial blight,
as they have been inoculated.
A deadly disease
Among rice diseases, bacterial blight
is one of the most costly, said Dr.
Vera Cruz. It can damage as much
as 6070% of the plant and can even
result in crop failure, especially when
disease strikes at the seedling stage.
Once infected at the seedling
stage, the leaves turn grayish green
With an ever-evolving pathogen and
changing climate, scientists continue to
improve defenses against bacterial blight
and roll up. And, as the disease
spreads, the leaves turn yellow to
slrav-coIored and lhen viIl. The
result can be a grim nightmare for
farmers as they helplessly watch their
seedlings dry up and die.
This is exactly what happened
to farmers in Haryana and Punjab
states in India in 1980 when for
lhe hrsl lime, lhe rice lhey vere
growing succumbed to a bacterial
blight outbreak. It is the same disease
that has been associated with major
epidemics that ruined the fortunes of
farmers in China, Korea, Indonesia,
the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Myanmar,
Laos, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The disease also occurs in Australia
and Africa.
It is no surprise that farmers
are taking this disease seriously.
Although there are chemicals
developed to control this disease,
none of lhem are comIeleIy eeclive
at eliminating outbreaks.
Breeders at work
However, farmers no longer need to
worry spend very much on chemicals
to combat bacterial blight thanks
to the scientists at IRRI and other
research organizations who have been
scouring the world for rice plants that
have natural resistance to bacterial
blight.
Many improved rice varieties
now have major genes for resistance
to the disease, said Dr. Bertrand
Collard, IRRI plant breeder. Thus,
the chances of farmers losing their
crop to bacterial blight are lower.
As early as the 1970s and
80s, rice scientists found varieties
TKM6 and DV85 that had inherent
resistance to bacterial blight. Recently,
researchers have idenlihed more lhan
30 genes (named Xa1 to Xa38) that
impart blight resistance.
Making rice resistant is not
only most economical, but it is also
a sustainable way of controlling
bacterial blight, said Dr. Vera Cruz.
A good example is IR20, one of the
elite varieties that has been promoted
by IRRI since 1975. Even after more
than 35 years, IR20, which carries
the Xa4 gene, is still resistant to some
strains of bacterial blight.
Beating
blight
by Lanie Reyes
N
A
N
C
Y
C
A
S
T
IL
L
A
, IR
R
I
6 7
26 Rice Today J uly-September 2011 27 Rice Today J uly-September 2011
1
Sarwar GM, KhanMH. 2007. SeaLevel Rise: A Threat totheCoast of Bangladesh. InternationalesAsienforum. Vol. 33(34):375-397.
2
www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/sres/regional/300.htm.
achyear, duringtheboroseason
(November-May), salinity isso
high that a white flm of salt
envelops paddy felds in the
coastal areasof Bangladesh. For
Bangladeshi farmers, thiswhitecolor
ontopof their soil isawarningsign
that their landissick. Salinity iseven
dubbedthewhiteplague inAustralias
newspapersandmagazines, which
indicatestheseriousnessof theproblem
whenit strikes.
(IRRI) plant breeder whoisnow based
inAfrica, therearetwowaystocombat
theproblemof salinityeither change
theplantsgrowingenvironment (makeit
normal) or changeitsgenetic architecture
sothat it cangrow insuchareas.
The frst approach reuires major
engineeringprocessestoimprovesoil
uality, which are often expensive for
small andmarginal farmers, Dr. Singh
said. Thesecondapproach, whichis
breedingcropvarietieswithbuilt-in
salinity tolerance, isthemost promising.
It needsfewer resources, iseconomical,
andissocially acceptable.
For IRRI, makingplantstoleratesalt
stress, up to an extent, is the way to go.
TheInstitutehasinvesteditsresources
for many yearstodevelopvarietiesthat
cansolvefarmers problemsinsaline-
proneareas.
Farmers defense
It hasbeenmorethanadecadenow
sincethediscovery of Saltolagene
that conferssalinity tolerance(seeLess
salt, please inRice Today, Vol. 6, No. 2).
GlennGregorio, anIRRI plant breeder,
creditedmost of salinity toleranceto
thedevelopment of IR66946-3R-178-1-1,
popularly knownasFL478. TheSaltol
genehadbeenincorporatedintothis
variety, and had shown signifcant
toleranceof salinity.
Sincethen, throughmolecular-
assistedbreeding, theIRRI
multidisciplinary teamonsalinity
tolerancecomposedof physiologist
Bangladesh combats the
WHITE PLAGUE
Story by Lanie C. Reyes
Photos by Isagani Serrano
Salt may be a blessing to good cooking,
but, in rice cultivation, it is a deadly sin
InBangladesh, salinity affects
around1millionhectares. Furthermore,
some climate experts say that sea-level
risewill causethecountryslandscapeto
becomesicker.
Noother country inSouthAsiais
morevulnerabletosea-level risethan
densely populatedBangladesh.
1
With
higher sealevel, moreareaswouldbe
affectedby cyclonic surges; inland
freshwater lakes, ponds, and auifers
couldalsobeaffectedby saline-water
andbrackish-water intrusionaccordingto
theIntergovernmental Panel onClimate
Change.
2

Md. Lutfor Rahman, a62-year-old
farmer inSatkhira, isnotanaliento
salinity. Everythingislosttosalinity,
Mr. Rahmansaidwithasigh. Hewas
referringtothe10,000taka(US$135) and
thelabor hehadinvestedinhis0.2hectare
of land. Now, hisfamily isleftwith
nothingbutacow. Thesericestalkswill
beusedasher feed, saidMr. Rahman.
is next step is to fnd a job as a
laborer andearnadaily wageof 150to
200taka($23). But, only Godknows
how soonthat will be, headded.
The salty challenge
Salt asaseasoninggoeswell withrice
especially indevelopingcountries, where
thepoor usesalt asadishtoaccompany
their boiledrice. But, inricecultivation,
salt hasanegativeeffect. Oncesalt gets
totheroots, it becomesdetrimental tothe
wholeplant.
AccordingtoDr. R.K. Singh,
International RiceResearchInstitute
Abdelbagi Ismail, molecular biologist
MikeThomson, Dr. R.K. Singh, andDr.
Gregorioaswell ascountry partnersin
AsiaandAfricawereabletointrogress
Saltol intopopular ricevarieties.
Oneof thesevarietiesisBRRI
dhan47, whichwasreleasedin
Bangladeshin2007. It isanIRRI-bred
variety, labeledasIR63307-4B-4-3,
whichwasevaluatedandreleasedby
theBangladeshRiceResearchInstitute
(BRRI) incollaborationwiththeIRRI
teamfor salinity tolerancenow headed
by Dr. Gregorio.
Thedevelopmentof BRRI
dhan47isoneof thebestresultsof a
strongcollaborationbetweenIRRI and
BRRI, saidDr. Md. Abdul Mannan,
BRRI director general. Thetransfer of
materialsfromIRRI thatcanperform
instressconditionsandtheInstitutes
assistanceinour manpower development
throughbothshort- andlong-termtraining
have played a key role in this project.
Now, BRRI dhan47iscreating
enthusiasmamongBangladeshi farmers
incoastal areasbecauseit ishelpingthem
alleviatetheir poverty andsecuretheir
foodfor thewholeyear, saidDr. Md.
Raful Islam, principal plant breeder on
salinity toleranceat BRRI.
Just abundaway fromMr. Rahmans
farm, a 0.4-hectare rice feld is teeming
withripeningricegrains. It isownedby
Sirajul Islam, 50. ust like Mr. Rahman,
he experimented by planting different
kindsof varietieseachseason, hoping
that onecouldsurvivethelandssalinity.
E
BRRI dhan47 helps farmers like
Md. Lutfor Rahman to overcome
salinity in Bangladesh.
8 9
28 Rice Today J uly-September 2011 29 Rice Today J uly-September 2011
Theonly differencebetweenthemisthat
Mr. IslamtriedBRRI dhan47.
Withtheway my riceisgrowing
now, I am expecting a good harvest, Mr.
Islamsaid.
BRRI dhan47isbetter, Mr.
Rahmanreadily agreed.
Another farmer inSatkhira, Abu
Abdullah, 35, wasalsoenthusiastic. He
hadgoodreasons. Threeyearsago, he
couldnot harvest anythingbecausehis
felds had become too salty for his
regular variety. Duringthoseleanyears,
heborrowedmoney evenat avery high
interest rateof 2%per week.
Hesaidthat hewasmorethanhappy
toseethat ricecouldonceagaingrow on
his salty land. And, he is expecting to
harvest 4to5tonsat theendof theboro
season.
Now, Mr. Abdullahhopestostart
repayinghisloans. I may not beableto
writeoff all my debtsimmediately, but,
at least, I canprogrammy paymentsin2
years, hesaid.
Just likemost farmersinthe
world, Bangladeshi farmersaremostly
subsistencefarmers. They cultivaterice
onapieceof landfor their food.
Whensalinity strikes, they canno
longer grow foodandthey cant afford
to buy food, explained Dr. Islam. For
thesepeople, thereisnooption. For
them, thedifferenceof havingsalinity-
tolerant varietiesisbetweennothingand
something.
And, thisdifference could
eventually haveanimpact nationwide.
Our foodsecurity dependsentirely on
riceproduction, saidDr. Md. Khairul
Bashar, BRRI director for research.
Evenif salinity-tolerant varietiescover
only half amillionhectaresthat are
affectedby salinity, theeffect will be
tremendous, headded.
Dr. Gregorioisalsohappy tosee
thispositiveresult becausetomakerice
withstandsalinity istheheart of his
teams job at IRRI. Seeing our work
in the feld gives us this great feeling of
fulfllment, he shared.
Humble rice
Asidefromitsyield, farmersprefer BRRI
dhan4 because of its erect ag leaves.
Dr. Gregoriodescribedit asahumble
variety. At adistance, thegrainsarenot
noticeableat oncebecauseof thecrops
green, erect ag leaves on top of the rice
felds. But, hidden just below the green
ag leaves are stooping panicles heavy
with round fat grainsmaking the grains
lessconspicuoustobirds.
BRRI dhan47isnot alodging
type, saidDr. Islam. It remainserect
whensomevarietiesbendover fromthe
forceof astrongwind.
Thefarmersalsolikeitslong
stalksof 100110centimeters, which
stay greenevenat maturity, becausethey
usethemasfeedfor their cattleandroof
thatchesfor their homes, headded.
To the rescue
BRRI dhan47alsomadeitsmark in
helpingthelivesof Bangladeshi farmers
whencycloneAiladecimatedtherice
felds in the southern part of the country
in2009. Ailabrought withher seawater
that encroachedonpondsandrivers.
Some felds remained ooded by sea
water for sometime, thusincreasingthe
salinity inthesoil, Dr. Islamsaid.
Thevariety wasthenconsideredasa
solutionby theUnitedNationsFoodand
AgricultureOrganization(FAO) tohelp
Bangladeshi farmersrecover fromthe
disaster. FAO, throughtheDepartment of
Agricultural xtension, distributed 2.5
tonsof BRRI dhan47seedto15,000farm
householdsaffectedby thecyclone.
Afterward, anFAO-commissioned
study assessedtheperformanceof BRRI
dhan47intheAila-affectedsouthern
region.
3
Theresultsshowedthat BRRI
dhan47didperformwell. Beingableto
toleratesalinity upto12deci-Siemens
per meter, thevariety wasabletogive
farmersagoodharvest that ranged
from4.0to7.2tonsper hectare, with
anaverageof 5.5tons. It isfoundtobe
proftable, with an average net return
of 35,693taka($483) per hectareanda
mean beneft-cost ratio of ..
4

Version 2.0
Without adoubt, BRRI dhan47has
madeapositiveimpressiononfarmers.
But, BRRI dhan47isnot aperfect
variety, statedDr. Gregorio. Just like
an electronic gadget, it is just the frst
model. The next variety will be even
better.
Achievingabetter
model, however, reuires
knowledgeof what farmers
likeor how farmers
defne a better variety.
Thisiswhy IRRI plant
breeders, alongwiththeir
national partners, involve
farmersinaprocesscalled
participatory varietal
selection(PVS).
ThroughPVS, plant
breederswereableto
learnthat, asidefrom
salinity tolerance, farmers
inSatkhiraprefer the
long, slender typeof rice
grains, whilefarmersinSonagazi like
short, boldones. Farmersalsofavor the
nonshatteringtypeof variety because
they carry newly harvestedpaniclesfrom
their felds to be threshed at their homes.
Although farmers are satisfed with
theamount of ricethat BRRI dhan47
yields, it goeswithout sayingthat farmers
desireabetter-yieldingsalinity-tolerant
variety inthefuture.
Good seed
Saltol contributesabout45%of the
salinity toleranceinrice. But, evenwith
this uantifable success, Dr. regorio and
histeamcontinuetoroll uptheir sleeves
inorder topinpointthelocationof the
geneonthechromosome. Their aimis
toimprovetheperformanceof salinity-
tolerantvarietiesandtominimizetrial and
error inbreeding. So, they haveembarked
on fne-mapping and marker-assisted
backcrossingfor theSaltol gene.
Usingnew sourcesof germplasm
in mapping more uantitative trait
loci (QTLs) for salinity tolerance, they
discovered major Ts on chromosomes
1, 7, 8, and10. And, they wereableto
identify threeputativecandidategenes,
SKC1, SalT, andpectinesterase.
Wearepresently workingtoward
identifyingandcombiningmoregenes
relatedtosalinity for morestable
tolerance, Dr. Gregoriosaid.
For Dr. Gregorio, developingthese
varietiesfor farmersisimportant.
Everythingstartswithagoodseed, he
said. Onemay havegoodmanagement
practices, but, if theseedisnot tolerant
of astresslikesalinity, it will fail. A
goodseed, however, evenwithfewer
goodmanagement practices, canyield
somethingsomehow.
Moreover, goodseedsenable
farmers to be more confdent in investing
intheir cropsapplyingsomeinputs
suchasfertilizers.
A dynamic business
BRRI dhan47hasattractedmore
playersinthebusinessof development.
xtension workers from the Department
of Agricultural xtension in Bangladesh
playedanimportant roleincreating
awarenessabout BRRI dhan47.
Nongovernment organizationswerealso
involved in extension work and helped in
thedistributionof seeds.
Eventheprivatesector hasplayed
acritical roleinthewider andmore
sustainableadoptionof thistechnology.
3
IslamSMF. 2010. Impact Assessment Report of TCP/BGD/3204(E): A FocusonPerformanceAssessment of BRRI dhan47intheSouth. Dhaka. FAO. 42p.
How? Whenprivatecompaniesproduce
andsell salinity-tolerant seeds, they
helpensurethat seedsthat get tothe
farmers are pure and certifed and of
high uality. therwise, if low-uality
seedsreachfarmers, thecredibility of the
technology will naturally suffer.
Toomuchisat stakewhenit comes
tothedelivery of atechnology that
combatsclimate-relatedproblemssuch
assalinity. Oncesalinity reachesthesoil
and water in farmers rice felds, it can
literally obliterate rice production in just
afew days.
Becausesalinity isareal threatto
farmers foodsecurity,
IRRI, through its projects,
suchastheConsortium
for UnfavorableRice
Environments(CURE),
now fundedby the
International Fundfor
Agricultural Development,
andStress-TolerantRice
for Poor FarmersinAfrica
andSouthAsia(STRASA),
whichisfundedby the
Bill & MelindaGates
Foundation, facilitatesand
coordinatestheeffortsof
thesedifferentstakeholders
inorder todistributeseeds
of stress-tolerantrice
varieties, includingBRRI dhan47, tomore
farmers the uickest way possible.
Asof now, morethan500tons
of BRRI dhan47seedshavebeen
producedanddistributedthrough
STRASA partnersinsouthandsouthwest
Bangladeshover thelast 2years, said
Dr. UmeshSingh, senior scientist and
STRASA regional coordinator for South
Asia. Approximately 450 tons of seed
havebeenproducedduringthe2010-11
boroseason, whichwill beavailableto
farmers in the next crop season.
Theoutlook for thefuturethroughthe
lensof climatechangeseemsbleak, and
maybeevenscary for riceproductionin
coastal areas. Moreareasmay beaffected
by salinity. But, withclimate-change-
ready ricevarietiessuchasBRRI dhan47,
the future is brighter. As the frst model
thatcancombatsalinity, BRRI dhan47is
agoodstartinsecuringthisstaplefoodin
saline-proneareasof Bangladesh.
4
omparison of the present value of an investment decision or project with its initial cost. A ratio of greater than indicates that the project is a viable one.
A FARMER signs up for the participatory
varietal selection activity in Pirojpur
District, Bangladesh.
(Left to right) DR. MD. Raqul Islam, plant breeder; Dr. Md. Khairul
Bashar, director for research; Dr. Md. Abdul Mannan, director general of
BRRI; and Dr. Glenn Gregorio, IRRI plant breeder, discuss the traits of
BRRI dhan47 at BRRI research station in Gazipur District, Bangladesh.
SALINITY-TOLERANT BRRI dhan47 is not a lodging type, has erect ag leaves,
which hide its grains from the birds, and long, green stalks that can be used as
roof thatches and feed for the cattle. It can yield 4.0 to 7.2 tons per hectare.
10 11
30 31 Rice Today April-J une 2013 Rice Today April-J une 2013
R
ural women are the seed
custodians in Bangladesh.
They play the primary, but
typically unrecognized, role of
preserving rice seed after harvest and
storing it until it is used to plant the
next seasons crop.
If the seed is
in poor health,
lhe cro suers
and less rice is
harvested, which
can leave families
hungry. But, if the
seed is in optimal
condition, the crop
can grow well
and produce more
ricemeaning more food and more
money. Having healthy rice seeds
could take families and communities
a step away from poverty.
However, reaching Bangladeshi
rural women, who may be socially
isolated or have limited access to
basic learning resources, makes
sharing of practices for improving the
quaIily of lheir seed dicuIl.
The Ashroy Foundation has
taken a female-friendly approach
lhal has roven eecliveand
it doesnt involve only women.
Improved but low-cost techniques
that build on local knowledge
to upgrade harvesting and seed
management processes such as
drying and cleaning are shared with
farmers.
We organized a series of
meetings in the courtyard (within the
village) and personal consultations
with the womens husbands, religious
Ieaders, and olher inuenliaI eoIe
in the local community, Momotaz
Khatun, executive director of the
Ashroy Foundation, explains.
During these
sessions, we
emphasized that,
if women practice
the improved
methods of rice
seed preservation,
this will lead to
increased yields,
increased surplus,
and more income
for their families.
The work extends across Khulna,
Satkhira, Narail, and Bagerhat
districts of Bangladesh and has seen
23,000 farmer participants, including
17,250 women.
According to Ms. Khatun, 83% of
the participants adopt the improved
practices they learn, and the added
benehls incIude giving lhe vomen
social mobility and improving family
cooperation, especially from their
husbands.
This activity is part of the
Cereal Systems Initiative for South
Asia (CSISA) in Bangladesh. The
International Rice Research Institute
(IRRI) provided technical guidance
and demonstrated the improved
technologies.
Ms. Clayton is the public relations
manager at IRRI.
A
earances maueral Ieasl
for African women who were
part of a project that sought to
understand how marketing practices
inuence consumer reference
between locally produced and
imported rice.
In Africa, women undertake
much of the work in traditional
rainfed, mangrove, and upland rice
production systems. However, they
often have limited access to land for
rice growing, particularly in irrigated
environments. Therefore, they
typically specialize in postharvest
activities, such as processing, quality
control, and marketing. But, in order
to compete against massive rice
imorls, lhey need lo eecliveIy
market local rice to consumers.
A study with Khar Yalla Gueye,
a womens association in Senegal
in West Africa, was conducted at
Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) by
economisl Mauy Demonl, IuIbrighl
research fellow Caitlin Costello, and
sociologist Mamouna Ndour. The
association aims to help women
market their local rice varieties more
eecliveIy.
AfricaRice provided training
programs to women on business,
entrepreneurship and marketing,
provided mechanized processing
equipment, and developed a home
brand for their company.
Iackaging is a signihcanl arl
of how consumers in Senegal decide
which rice to buy. Furthermore, ex-
perimental auctions have shown that
consumers are willing to pay price
premiums of 17% for their preferred
brand. This demonstrates the need for
a greater focus on marketing research
as a way to improve the competitive-
ness of local rice.
Marketing is an important
tool in adding value to local rice in
SenegaI, exIained Mauy Demonl,
IRRI senior economist. And,
il shouId be used eecliveIy as
organizations work toward increasing
demand and creating a successful rice
sector.
Investing in a local brand
and creating a distinguishable
commercial identity for the womens
association Khar Yalla Gueye in Pont
Gendarme may be one step toward
increased competitiveness of the
domestic rice sector in Senegal with
concomitant impacts on womens
livelihoods, he concluded.
The study was supported by
Syngenta Foundation and the U.S.
Fulbright Program.
U
pon seeing for herself the
promise of Swarna-Sub1,
Asha Singh, a mother of two,
decided to encourage her village in
Sitamarhi, Bihar, India, to try the new
rice variety for themselves.
She mobilized 200 farmers to
demonstrate
how well the
ood-loIeranl
variety
performed.
She organized
womens
meetings to
educate them
about climate
change and
explained
how Swarna-
Sub1 could
help reduce their crop losses due to
ooding.
Such is lhe inuence of a voman
who has been convinced that a
technology is good for her and her
community.
Yet, Asha is one among millions
of rural women who have been left
out by agricultural research and
development programs, despite the
fact that women are the backbone of
Indias agricultural workforce. The
roles they play are vital in the day-to-
day maintenance of their rice farms.
The Stress-Tolerant Rice for
Africa and South Asia (STRASA)
project has consistently paid special
auenlion lo lhe roIes of vomen in
its programs. The STRASA project
involves them in participatory
varietal selection (PVS). In PVS
activities,
women like
Asha help
choose,
evaluate, and
disseminate
new rice
varieties that
suit their needs.
Women
farmers have
been taking the
lead in selecting
new rice
varieties for stress-prone areas, said
Dr. Thelma Paris, IRRI scientist and
gender specialist.
These women contribute in
decision-making on varietal selection
by giving feedback on the cooking
and eating quality of rice, she
said. In this way, women make an
important contribution in identifying
suitable new varieties.
Ms. Baroa-Edra is a public relations
specialist at IRRI.
by Sophie Clayton
A womans touch saves seeds
by Ma. Lizbeth Baroa-Edra
by Ma. Lizbeth Baroa-Edra
Women
build a
brand
From one womans hand
to a villages choice
In celebration of International Women's Day, we honor the contribution of women in improving rice production and food security in their respective communities and countries.
ISAGANI SERRANO
IS
A
G
A
N
I S
E
R
R
A
N
O
M
A
T
T
Y
D
E
M
O
N
T
WOMEN ARE the backbone of
India's agricultural workforce.
12 13
14 15 24 25 Rice Today J uly-September 2013 Rice Today J uly-September 2013
Rice Today July-September 2013, Vol. 12, No. 3
I
s
a
g
a
n
i
S
e
r
r
a
n
o
What does it really take to grow rice? IRRI staf who signed up for Rice Survivor found out for themselves the hard realities of rice production that farmers face
everyday. Fromthe backbreaking work of transplanting the seedlings, to battling pests and weeds, to just keeping the crop alive. These challenges have given
themnew insights about rice farmingand a deep respect for farmers.
15 Rice Today J uly-September 2013
I
ncreasing the yield potential of
rice has always been the priority in
working to increase food security.
But, in the race to feed the world,
grain quality, is sometimes forgot-
ten. Developing rice varieties without
considering grain quality can leave
farmers with a low-value product and
consumers vilh rice lhey hnd una-
pealing to eat. So, IRRI is developing
strategies to improve grain quality in
rice with high yield potential.
Grain quality is not a luxury
Grain quality traits such as size,
fragrance, shape, texture, color, and
taste may be perceived as something
of interest to only richer consumers.
In fact, rice consumers across the
globe look at the same indicators
lo dehne lheir ovn references.
Since more than half of the world's
population eats rice, many of
whom are poor, the preferences of
lhe ooresl rice consumers mauer
to ensure that their rice is both
nutritious and palatable.
Likewise, farmers see the value of
grain quaIily because beuer quaIily
means higher prices, and this can
lransIale inlo more rohl. Hovever,
some farmers continue to plant low-
yielding varietiesbecause the grain
quality of higher yielding varieties is
unacceptable to local consumers. So,
ensuring good or even beuer grain
quality is one way of encouraging
farmers to adopt more productive rice
varieties.
Grain quality is also an important
factor during the milling process. It
determines whether the grains can
withstand milling without breaking.
Broken grains have a lower value and
can reduce the quantity of grain that
reaches the consumers.
Uncompromised quality
In the past, increasing yield
somehow compromised grain
quality. But unimpaired grain
quality and optimum yield are
something that we would like to
have at the end of the day, explains
Nese Sreenivasulu, head of the
Grain Quality and Nutrition Center
(GQNC) at the International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI). Since
2004, the GQNC team has been
analyzing various grain quality
lrails in dierenl lyes of rice lo heI
breeders select and develop varieties
with enhanced grain quality.
Grain composition matters
to the whole community because
of its commercial importance.
Thats why we are improving grain
quality by also increasing the
grains nutritional value, says Dr.
Sreenivasulu.
The GQNC team evaluates
physical traits (chalkiness, head rice
yield, milling potential, and grain
dimensions) and several biochemical
traits (amylose content, gelatinization
temperature, gel consistency,
viscosity, grain elongation, and
aroma). These traits help assess
milling potential and grain
composition, the two major aspects of
overall grain quality.
In addition to increasing the yield potential of rice,
developing rice with high grain quality is essential so
jarncrs can |cnci jrcn iis nigncr ccnncrcia| ta|uc
In search of the
perfect grain
by Gladys Ebron
IS
A
G
A
N
I S
E
R
R
A
N
O
(3
)
46 Rice Today J anuary-March 2013
A city with a
heart for rice
S
ingapore is well known for its
food culture, which contains a
fusion of cuisines from all over
the world.
The bustling city-state prides
itself on having highly regarded
culinary events every year that
auracl lo IocaI and inlernalionaI
chefs. These events are very popular
among Singaporeans, who are always
interested in learning new recipes and
participating in cooking workshops.
In November 2012, the IRRI
Fund Singapore participated in Asian
Masters, a major annual culinary event
in which celebrity chefs share their
savoir-faire with the public in hotels,
restaurants, galleries, and boutiques.
IRRI Fund Singapore partnered
with Lam Soon and joined the
Masterchef Workshop held at Great
World City, where a demo cooking
and tasting workshop using Lam
Soons Naturel Organic Brown Rice
auracled quile a Iarge audience.
This is part of the role of IRRI
Fund Singapore: to hold public
awareness events on the importance
of rice and rice research as well as
lo auracl potential donors. .All the
money raised by the IRRI Fund goes
to the International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) to support its work
with hundreds of research and
development partners across Asia.
by Flaminia Lilli
Although its a high-tech
powerhouse city, Singapore has its
culture and future rooted in rice
The Asian Masters was a perfect
avenue to further share IRRIs work
with Singapores public and realize
that rice is always a staple close to the
heart of any Asian country.
Investing its future in rice
Todays youth are the producers
of tomorrows food. Thus, making
them interested in and appreciative
of how rice is produced can never be
overemphasized.
Students and teachers had
a chance to grow rice through
Singaore's hrsl-ever Rice Groving
Competition launched in June 2012.
IRRI Fund Singapore organized
this contest with Science Centre
Singapore in conjunction with the
2012 World Food Day. With its theme,
Agricultural Cooperativeskey to
feeding the world, the competition
sought to equip teachers with
content knowledge in life sciences,
particularly rice biology and
geography, as well as with the skills
needed to initiate rice growing as a
project in their schools.
Fifteen teachers from 10 schools
were given rice seeds supplied by
IRRI for them to grow. The amount
of rice grains harvested was a key
judging criterion of the competition.
Other criteria were a 5-minute
presentation on the process of
cultivating rice crops in school and a
creative task involving rice.
The participants presented
lheir ro|ecls for hnaI |udging on
5 November. The winners of the
competition were Dr. Goh Yan Yihs
team from the Anglo Chinese School
and Ms. Angelene Tans team from
Dunman Secondary School for their
acumen in growing rice and doing
creative Rangoli art work.
Singapore is a cosmopolitan
city and some of us have never seen
a rice heId, Iel aIone exerience
growing a rice plant, shared Lim
Til Meng, chief execulive, Science
Centre Singapore. Through this
competition, Science Centre wishes
to cultivate local appreciation for
the rice we eat every day and build
awareness of issues related to food
security, including an escalating
world population.
Each team displayed much
enthusiasm and creativity in growing
rice. Students from the Anglo Chinese
School, led by their teacher, Dr. Goh
Yan Yih, grew rice with hydroponic
and aeroponic systems, whereas the
team from Dunman Secondary School
used slyrofoam boxes. IvenluaIIy,
both schools were rewarded with a
science study trip to IRRI to be held
in 2013.
We are exciled lo hosl lhe
vinners of lhis hrsl rice comelilion,
said Leo Chen Ian, execulive direclor
of IRRI Fund Singapore. Folks
from Singaore viII gel hrsl-hand
exerience in groving rice and Iearn
about rice ecosystems, at the oldest
rice research institute in Asia. This
brings appreciation of rice to a whole
new level.
Ms. Lilli is the partnership development
manager at IRRI Fund Singapore.
N
A
T
A
L
IE
T
JE
N
(2
)
SCIENCE CENTRE SINGAPORE
A CHEF is whipping up a rice
dish during a demo cooking
during the Asian Masters event.
SINGAPOREAN high-school
students get creative in a
Rangoli-making competition.
16 17
16 17 Rice Today J uly-September 2013 Rice Today J uly-September 2013
Size and shape
Dr. Sreenivasulu explains that rice
has a rich diversity in grain size and
shape, and consumer preferences
for lhese lrails vary among dierenl
regions. For instance, in India, people
in the northwest area prefer long
grains while those in the east like
short grains.
With the recent success in
identifying various genes for grain
size, ve are in a beuer osilion lo
breed new rice varieties with short or
long grains to suit distinct regional
preferences, Dr. Sreenivasulu says.
Chalkiness
Grain appearance is judged by its
opacity or chalkinessor to the
nonexpertshow translucent or how
white it is. Consumers generally
prefer rice with a translucent grain.
Hence, chalky rice is less acceptable
in the market.
Chalkiness is also undesirable
because it makes rice grains weak
and prone to breaking when milled.
Rice with broken grains fetches a
much lower price in the market. So,
from a marketing perspective, high
quality often means more whole
grains after milling.
In 2012, in an IRRI study
supported by the Australian Centre
for International Agricultural
Research, MeIissa IiLgeraId,
then head of GQNC, and her
leam idenlihed imorlanl genelic
information on what makes rice
chalky. With this discovery, IRRI
scientists are optimistic about
developing higher quality chalk-free
rice varieties in the future.
Aroma
Aroma is an important trait that
is generally associated with high
quality grains such as those of
jasmine and basmati rice. IRRI and
other research institutions have
shown that most aromatic rice shares
the same version of the aroma gene,
badh2. Farmers have highly prized
rice with this gene for thousands
of years. Dierenl rice varielies
with this gene were widely adopted
throughout the ancient rice-growing
world.
However, what makes rice
grains aromalic remains a scienlihc
mystery today. Although 2-acetyl-1-
pyrroline (2AP), the main aromatic
compound responsible for the
fragrance of jasmine and basmati
rice varielies, has been idenlihed,
more lhan 150 dierenl unknovn
aromatic compounds exist, says Dr.
Sreenivasulu. Researchers are yet to
fuIIy undersland lhe signihcance of
those compounds in contributing to
aroma.
Taste
Dr. IiLgeraId and olher coIIaboraling
scientists conducted research
lo dierenliale remium rice
from second best varieties from
Thailand, China, the Philippines,
Japan, Australia, Pakistan, India,
Iran, and Brazil. Through descriptive
sensory analyses with a group of
trained panellists, they found that
sweet taste played a major role in
distinguishing the premium rice
varieties among consumers in
Southeast Asia.
Texture
The economic value of rice also
depends on its cooking and eating
qualities. In South Asia, particularly
in India and Pakistan, aromatic
basmati rice is highly preferred for its
dry texture as the grains never stick
to each other. In Southeast Asian
countries such as Thailand and Lao
PDR, aromatic and slightly sticky
jasmine rice is highly desired.
Amylose content and gel
consislency slrongIy inuence lhe
cooking and eating characteristics
of rice. Dr. Sreenivasulu explains
that rice with high amylose content
is harder and nonsticky when
cooked. These are the kinds that are
most suited for people with type 2
diabetes. When cooked rice cools,
rice with high amylose content can be
eilher hrm or sofl as indicaled by ils
gel consistency. Hard gel consistency
oflen means lhe cooked rice is hrmer.
We are also interested in explor-
ing grains with high protein content
and combining this trait with high
amylose in rice to reduce its glycemic
index, Dr. Sreenivasulu says. By
manipulating amylose content among
olher faclors, ve can inuence grain
quality to make rice healthier.
Sensory evaluation
Understanding rices composition
and desirabIe lrails is onIy lhe hrsl
step to improving grain quality. The
next step, perhaps the most important
one, is to have the value of these traits
validated by consumers.
This is where Rosa Paula Cuevas,
a postdoctoral fellow at GQNC,
comes in. She conducts a regular
sensory evaluation of rice with a
grou of aneIisls lo beuer describe
and understand the mouthfeel and
olher quaIily auribules of rice. She
hopes that sensory evaluation can
bridge what people experience when
they eat rice with what scientists
understand about grain components.
Although amylose content
and gel consistency can measure
hardness, these do not give a
complete picture of what consumers
perceive, Dr. Cuevas says. Thats
when sensory evaluation can be used
to explore what current routine tests
are missing out on. It helps ensure
lhal rice breeding rograms reecl
the qualities that consumers want.
Seeds for the future
According to Dr. Sreenivasulu,
environmental conditions such as
droughl, saIinily, ooding, and high
lemeralure adverseIy aecl grain
quality.
Our goaI al GQNC is lo auain
high grain quality while maintaining
high yield in the face of unfavorable
environments, he says. As of now,
we do not fully understand how
climate change alters the grain-
hIIing rocess al lhe moIecuIar IeveI.
Therefore, our priority should remain
with developing varieties with the
best grain quality suited for the
changing climate.
Our strategy is to explore the
vast genetic diversity of rice in the
International Rice Genebank, harness
what is already known about quality
lrails across dierenl environmenls,
and uncover potential genes
conferring enhanced grain quality
under abiotic stresses, he says. This
will help rice breeders select traits
that are of interest for consumers and
incorporate those traits into new rice
varieties.
For Dr. Sreenivasulu and his
team, the work has a long way to go.
IRRI further needs to complement
the outcome of this holistic knowledge
to optimize precision breeding in
order to develop the best quality
rice that is suited for changing
environments, he concludes.
Ms. ||rcn is a pu||ic rc|aiicns c[ccr ai
IRRI.
THE IDENTIFICATION of
important genetic information
on what makes rice chalky
could lead to chalk-free rice
varieties in the future.
SCIENTISTS AT IRRI are using molecular
technology to incorporate desirable
milling, cooking, and processing quality
traits into breeding programs. M
. S
A
U
C
E
L
O
IS
A
G
A
N
I S
E
R
R
A
N
O
(2
)
DR. NESE Sreenivasulu (left), head of the Grain
Quality and Nutrition Center, and his team including
Dr. Rosa Paula Cuevas (far right)aim to help deliver
high-quality rice varieties.
18 19
Grain of truth
nv Micn.ii }. TnoxsoN
I
n 2000, Science |ournaI's
reaklhrough of lhe Year
vas fuII-genome sequencing
highIighling lhe accomIishmenl
of decoding a vorking drafl of lhe
lhree biIIion base airs of lhe human
genome al a cosl of US$3 biIIion.
Al lhe lime, I. Iennisi vrole lhal
Science marks lhe roduclion of
lhis lorrenl of genome dala as lhe
breaklhrough of 2000, il mighl veII
be lhe breaklhrough of lhe decade,
erhas even lhe cenlury, for aII ils
olenliaI lo aIler our viev of lhe
vorId ve Iive in.
Come 2007, anolher breaklhrough
foIIovedlhis lime focusing on
lhe remarkabIe amounl of human
genelic varialion idenlihed lhrough
lhe hrsl human HaMa ro|ecl
using lhree miIIion singIe-nucIeolide
oIymorhism (or SNI, ronounced
as sni) markers, vhich are
basicaIIy changes in lhe DNA code
lhal dier belveen individuaIs.
Subsequenl advances have Ied
scienlisls lo inoinl SNIs Iinked
lo secihc lrails lhal heI dehne
vho ve areranging from markers
associaled vilh eye coIor and biuer
lasle ercelion lo lhe redisosilion
for diabeles and AIzheimer's disease.
These achievemenls have nov
ushered in lhe age of ersonaI
genomicsgiving each individuaI
access lo knoving aboul his/her
ovn genomeand lhe rediclions
il conlains. These can be done
lhrough, for examIe, lhe genelic
lesling comany 23AndMe, vhich
uses a SNI chi vilh more lhan
900,000 SNIs simIy by sending
a saIiva samIe lhrough lhe maiI,
and IIIumina's IndividuaI Genome
Sequencing, vhich has broughl lhe
cosl of lhe ersonaI genome dovn lo
Iess lhan $10,000.
As vilh many advances in
bioIogy, cuuing-edge research
deveIoed lhrough a Iarge inux of
funding in lhe biomedicaI sciences
Rice genetics gets personal
oflen lrickIes dovn lo agricuIluraI
research as veIIa cascading eecl
lhal has slarled lo revoIulionize
rice genelics. Ior much of lhe Iasl
cenlury, rice breeders have been
laking advanlage of lhe heredily
of rice varielies vilhoul lhe benehl
of knoving lhe secihc genes lhal
conlroI lrails such as high grain yieId
or disease resislance. This is quickIy
changing because of breaklhroughs
in moIecuIar genelics across lhe gIobe
and lhe characlerizalion of lhe veaIlh
of genelic diversily in rice genebanks.
Al lhe same lime, nev lechnoIogy has
rovided raid, Iov-cosl DNA marker
ils Iaboralory infraslruclure by
invesling in cuuing-edge equimenl
for genelic lesling of DNA samIes.
In Iine vilh lhis direclion,
ve have recenlIy eslabIished lhe
Genolying Services Laboralory
(GSL) vilhin lhe IIanl reeding,
Genelics, and iolechnoIogy Division
al IRRI. The Iab aims lo ecienlIy
rovide high-quaIily, cosl-eeclive
DNA exlraclion and SNI marker
genolying services lo research and
breeding rograms vilhin IRRI and
lhe GIobaI Rice Science Iarlnershi,
lhe CGIAR Research Irogram
on Rice, across Asia and Africa.
Currenl faciIilies rovide genome-
vide moIecuIar markers for genelic
maing, diversily anaIysis, and DNA
hngerrinling as veII as lrail-secihc
markers for breeding rograms lo
seIecl secihc lrails of inleresl.
Anolher exciling deveIomenl is
lhe founding of lhe Genomic Inslilule
of Asia (GINA), a nonrohl slarlu
Iocaled on lhe IRRI camus inilialed
by lhe managing direclor of IHILA
Induslries. Using lhe Ion Torrenl
syslem, GINA is bringing raid nexl-
generalion sequencing lo fasl-lrack
genelic discovery and genolying
aclivilies al IRRI and for ils arlners.
}usl as lhe human genome sequence
and ersonaI genomics are nov
lransforming medicaI research,
simiIar advances in rice genelics
romise lo acceIerale discoveries and
suercharge eorls lovard deveIoing
imroved rice varielies lhal can meel
fulure chaIIenges. AIlhough lhe rice
Ianls may nol areciale lhe over
of ersonaI genomics, lhe rice breeder
vho needs lo seIecl lhe besl individuaI
rice Ianl in a heId of 10,000 viII
cerlainIy be lhankfuI.
Dr. Thomson is a molecular genetics and
marker applications specialist at IRRI.
Listen to a podcast on IRRI radio about
inc GSI ai. nup.//sn.in/irri-gs|
"IRRI has been a key player in the
genomics revolution in rice
making key investments to leverage
new knowledge and technology to
accelerate progress in research and
breeding."
genolying lhal enabIes aIIeIes al
imorlanl genes lo be lracked and
lransferred inlo nev imroved rice
varielies ecienlIy.
The InlernalionaI Rice Research
Inslilule (IRRI) has been a key Iayer
in lhe genomics revoIulion in rice
making key inveslmenls lo Ieverage
nev knovIedge and lechnoIogy lo
acceIerale rogress in research and
breeding. Trail deveIomenl leams al
IRRI, in coIIaboralion vilh advanced
universilies such as Universily of
CaIifornia-Davis, have successfuIIy
idenlihed high-imacl genes for
breeding. One good examIe is lhe
SUB1 gene lhal confers loIerance of
submergence in ouIar rice varielies.
Al lhe same lime, lhe T.T. Chang
Genelic Resources Cenler has vorked
lo characlerize vaIuabIe rice accessions
vilh high-densily SNI chis and
nexl-generalion sequencing. Ils
uIlimale goaI is lo sequence lhe enlire
genebank. IRRI has recenlIy ugraded
Grain of truth
nv S..n iinoi+
A
rsenic, cadmium, mercury,
and Iead are four ubiquilous
lrace eIemenls knovn lo have
a harmfuI eecl on human
heaIlh. These eIemenls are naluraIIy
resenl al very Iov concenlralions in
lhe environmenl, and human bodies
are abIe lo deloxify lhem in Iimiled
amounls.
Mosl of vhal ve knov aboul
loxicily of lhese eIemenls comes
from case sludies of eoIe vho
vere exosed lo lhe loxins lhrough
unrecognized oIIulion sources. In
lhese cases, lhe eoIe vere exosed
lo lhe loxin lhrough many vays such
as air, valer, and food simuIlaneousIy.
So far, no evidence shovs cIearIy lhal
rice consumlion, by ilseIf, has had
loxic eecls on humans.
ul, since lhe eecls of Iong-
lerm chronic exosure are nol veII
knovn, eoIe are concerned lhal
rice consumlion might exose lhem
lo lhese eIemenls and endanger
lheir heaIlh. This concern has Ied lo
inleresling scienlihc invesligalion
and discussion in lhe 7 years since I
Iasl vrole on lhis loic (see Are we at
risk from metal contamination in rice` on
age 38, VoI. 5, No. 3 of Rice Today).
Arsenic
Of lhese four eIemenls, arsenic
remains lhe biggesl concern. Arsenic
can move from lhe soiI inlo rice grain,
and rice roduced in high-arsenic
soiI has higher arsenic lhan average.
The arsenic in soiI or irrigalion
valer is somelimes high enough lo
inhibil Ianl grovlh, resuIling in
Iov yieId. Scienlisls have aIready
idenlihed rice varielies lhal grov veII
in high-arsenic condilions and can
minimize arsenic accumuIalion in lhe
grain. So, Ianl breeding rograms
can olenliaIIy deveIo even safer
varielies. AIso, rice Ianls in more
ooded soiI (anaerobic condilions)
lake u more arsenic. So, an eeclive
Rice, health, and toxic metals
vay lo Iessen arsenic ulake is lo use
moderaleIy dryer groving melhods
lhrough irrigalion managemenl. The
reIalive loxicily of dierenl chemicaI
forms of arsenic is sliII debaled. ul,
lhe science for dierenlialing among
lhese forms is rogressing raidIy. I
hoe lhal ve viII soon knov vhich
forms of arsenic are safer and vhich
forms accumuIale in rice grains
under dierenl condilions.
Cadmium
Cadmium is second as a ubIic con-
cern aboul loxins in rice. We knov
lhal rice Ianls can lake u cadmium
from oIIuled soiI and roduce grains
vilh eIevaled cadmium concenlra-
lion. Hovever, very fev reorls have
shovn cadmium concenlralions
higher lhan lhe aIIovabIe Iimil
for rice grains, even vhen lhey are
grovn in moderaleIy oIIuled soiI.
ul, nol everyone agrees on vhal lhis
aIIovabIe Iimil shouId be. Cadmium
is knovn lo be more IikeIy laken u
by rice Ianls vhen lhe soiI is aerobic
(lhe oosile of arsenic). So, one vay
lo minimize cadmium ulake vouId
be conlinuous ooding.
Sludies lo undersland and
idenlify lhe genes lhal conlroI lhe
movemenl of cadmium from rice
rools inlo lhe grains are in rogress
incIuding lhe idenlihcalion of genes
lhal essenliaIIy revenl cadmium from
reaching rice grains. These genes can
be heIfuI in Ianl breeding rograms
lo ensure lhal aII nev rice varielies
have a very Iov cadmium risk.
Mercury
The mercury conlenl of rice has
nol received much ubIic auenlion
because of olher more imorlanl food
sources of mercury (mosl nolabIy,
hsh). Mercury in rice is reorledIy
Iover lhan aIIovabIe Iimilsvilh
lhe same caveal lhal lhese Iimils
are sliII under discussion.
A olenliaI robIem is lhal,
aIlhough mercury in rice is Iover
lhan in hsh, a Iarge amounl of rice
consumed from some conlaminaled
areas may be enough lo raise lhe
overaII consumlion of mercury lo
a vorrisome IeveI. Since moderale
mercury conlaminalion is videsread
from coaI-burning exhausl, some
scienlisls have been invesligaling
hov mercury conlaminalion aecls
rice. One of lhe more loxic forms,
melhyImercury, is formed in ooded
or inlermiuenlIy ooded soiIs and
is somelimes resenl in rice grains.
Some rice varielies are beuer lhan
olhers al excIuding mercury from lhe
grains, bul ve don'l knov yel how
lhey do lhis so ve cannol recommend
vhich varielies are lhe safesl.
Lead
Lead, on lhe olher hand, received
lhe Ieasl ubIic inleresl unliI Iasl
monlh, vhen an unubIished
sludy indicaling high Iead in
rice vas resenled al a scienlihc
meeling, causing a ubIicily slir.
Hovever, lhese anomaIousIy high
concenlralions have nol been
ubIished scienlihcaIIy, and lhe
reonderance of ubIished evidence
so far indicales lhal very IiuIe Iead
accumuIales in rice grains, even in
areas vilh moderaleIy oIIuled soiI.
Conclusion
Consumers need nol change lheir
rice-ealing habils based on any
knovn risks from loxic eIemenls.
Scienlisls can nov delecl very Iov
amounls of lhese eIemenls in rice
grains. Some sludies are being
done on hov lhese eIemenls move
vilhin soiI and rice Ianls. We hoe
lhal lhese viII enabIe us lo deveIo
even safer rice varielies and rice
roduclion lechniques.
Dr. Beebout is a soil chemist at IRRI.
20 21
Scientists and staf at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) took on the challenge
of personally growing rice in the feld
Rice Survivor: IRRIs own reality show
by Bianca Paula Ferrer
A
diverse array of 20 IRRI scientists
and scholars gathered in the
great outdoors of the IRRI
Experiment Station in
December 2012 to take up
a 6-month-long farming
challenge aptly called Rice
Survivor. Divided into four
teams, they competed to
see who could produce
the highest yielding rice
cro mosl ecienlIy and
sustainably. This unique
project could be called
IRRI's hrsl reaIily shov.
On their relatively small
patch of land (1,2401,600
square meters each), the four
Rice Survivor teams had to plan
their land preparation, come up with
a water management regime, sow
seeds or transplant seedlings, look
out for pests and diseases, hand-pull
some weeds, and decide on various
management approaches to use,
said Nicola Wunderlich, agronomy
extension specialist at IRRIs Training
Center. They then had to harvest
their crop and compare results.
They had to plan the season
ahead including all the steps involved
in between, she said. Participants
recorded the sources of information
that they used in making their crop
management decisions. We especially
wanted to know how much IRRIs
Rice Knowledge Bank (RKB) was
helpful for them.
According to Rice Survivor co-
organizer Katie Nelson who is also
an agronomy extension consultant at
IRRI, In its current state, the RKB is a
great source of technical information.
It's just like a textbookuseful for
students and researchers. It explains
rice knowledge on pages 36-37 of Rice
Today Vol. 8, No. 3).
Meet the survivors
The four leams of hve ersons
each imaginatively named
themselves: Matatag (Filipino
for strong), Hayahay
(Filipino for comfortable),
the Double Trouble
Makers, and the Future
Techs.
The men and women
team members were a
mix of nationalities (seven
counlries) and scienlihc
backgrounds, but with no
experience in actually growing a
rice crop. Their disciplines included
molecular biology, social science,
geography, education, computer
science, and horticulture.
Matatag team members hailed
from India, Myanmar, USA,
and the Philippines. We chose
wetland preparation because its
traditional and we thought it would
be a good experience for us, said
Jason Beebout, a consultant at IRRI
currently working with the Cereal
Systems Initiative in South Asia-
Bangladesh project.
Members of Team Hayahay
brought a wide range of experiences
to the competition. We picked
cerlihed seed of lhe IhiIiine
rice variety NSIC Rc 222 that was
bred at IRRI, said Adam Sparks,
a postdoctoral fellow and member
of IRRIs Geographic Information
Systems unit. Our yield goal was
an ambitious 7 tons per hectare,
he added. We did traditional
transplanting and traditional primary
dry tillage; and then, we puddled the
what a technology is but, provides
less information on why or when a
technology could be used.
Our survivor teams discovered
that there are gaps of practical
information in the RKB and so
we will focus on improving this,
Ms. Nelson said. Much of the
information about managing a rice
crop came from colleagues, experts,
published research, among other
sources. Ideally, the RKB should be
the primary source of information on
rice production and we are working
towards this goal.
The RKB was launched in 2002
when the Training Center decided to
bring together all current validated
rice-farming knowledge from IRRI.
The idea is for it to become a one-
stop shop of online information for
extension and farming communities
in partner countries (see Banking our
Rice Today J uly-September 2013 21 47 Rice Today J anuary-March 2013
which a young agronomist can be
fasl-lracked. In lheir hrsl hve years,
a research agronomist should engage
20% of his/her time in extension.
The United States land-grant system
suggests that this should be the
norm for his/her vhoIe career. AIso,
during lhe hrsl hve years, bolh
research and extension agronomists
need a dehned ro|ecl lo manage.
If a young rofessionaI deveIos a
comelency earIy for an exlension
domain (for examIe, a rainfed lvo-
rice cro syslem) and lhe nuances
across lhal domain, he/she viII lhen
deveIo conhdence lo vork in any
ecosystem.
Gone are the days when a
dearlmenl head direcled aII
aclivilies. Young rofessionaIs need
sace and oorlunily lo deveIo
lheir ovn crealivily around issues.
This viII heI lhem see farmers as
sources of innovalions, and be abIe lo
lake more Ieadershi roIes in research
and extension.
Agronomists need skills to
work in a multichannel research
and extension system along with
lhe governmenl and lhe enlire
induslry. Iarmers, loo, shouId have
a slrong voice in direcling research
and extension. For the extension
domain, il is a good move lhal IRRI
is exIoring lhe deveIomenl of a
Iacemenl rogram lhal enabIes
young researchers and extension
agenls lo deveIo skiIIs lo oerale in a
multiactor system.
Agronomy has been negIecled,
bul lhe ressure for raising yieId
ceilings for food security in an
environmenlaIIy suslainabIe
way requires a new generation of
agronomisls lo lake u lhe chaIIenge.
Dr. Magor is the head of IRRIs Training
Center and program leader for Growth of
the Rice Sector.
See related video on YouTube about the
inpcriancc cj agrcncnq ai nup.//qcuiu.
|c/||5!93|0B4M
Grain of truth
nv Noii M.oo
T
here was a time in recent years
vhen il vas aarenl lhal an
agronomisl vas a lhrealened secies.
Governmenl funding focused
on infraslruclure, induslry, heaIlh,
and educationnot quite on
agricuIlure. The rivale agricuIluraI
seclor in deveIoing counlries vas
in ils infancy, and NGOs vere more
concerned vilh microhnance lhan
lechnicaI assislance lhal may give
farmers nev economic oorlunilies.
The IT induslry, banking, engineering,
and medicine vere lhe rofessions for
lhose vilh lo scores in high schooI.
This vas nol |usl a deveIoing-
counlry lrend. AcluaIIy, lhe
agricuIluraI rofession has been
geuing Iess and Iess auraclive lo brighl
young eoIe around lhe vorId.
TradilionaI agricuIluraI schooIs, in
AuslraIia for examIe, sav reduced
enroIImenls. And, vilh ressure on
universily funding, some agricuIluraI
schools were merged with the
environmenlaI sciences. The slalus of
being a farmer in sociely overaII vas
Iov. This has nol aIvays been lhe case,
though. I am the son of a farmer; for
me, il vas a source of ride.
In lhe earIy 2000s, I became
aware of these changes. As a
resuIl, lhe slalus of agronomy as a
rofession aIso became Iess ouIar.
Changing perspectives
Agriculture had become a neglected in-
duslry, vilh decIining funds since lhe
Iale 1980s. Since lhen, research, ubIic
exlension services, and infraslruclure
for agriculture had been in decline.
Come lhe 21sl cenlury, agricuIlure
and agronomy sav more robIems.
Aside from the 2008 global food crisis
and esl oulbreaks, cIimale change
made food security more uncertain.
Add to this the challenges of a steadily
rising ouIalion and scarcilies
of valer, Iand, and a roduclive
agricuIluraI syslem. AII lhese serve as
a vakeu caII and reresenl a lurning
oinl in seeing lhe imorlance of an
agronomist.
What needs to be revived
Agronomy is aboul cro roduclion.
AIlhough a researcher may seciaIize
in veed science or soiI science, he/she
must become comfortable with all
asecls of cro roduclion, incIuding
oslharvesl and lhe vaIue chain u lo
the market.
A good lurning oinl for lhe
story of agronomists is how some
organizalions vork lo suslain lheir
vaIue.
Al lhe InlernalionaI Rice Research
Inslilule (IRRI), a nev lraining course
on agronomy is beginning during
lhe 2013 dry season. Il is caIIed Rice
Survivor. In lhis rogram, young
scientists and extension agents are
foIIoving lhe rice cro over lhe season
for haIf a day er veek.
Classes are not formal and the
IRRI Rice KnovIedge ank (vvv.
knovIedgebank.irri.org) is a reference
source and viII suorl roduclion
decisions. As much as ossibIe,
the trainees are doing most of the
oeralions lhemseIves. They are
keeing a |ournaI of aII roduclion
decisions and discussions. For the
dry season lhis year, four leams
are deciding on aII asecls of cro
managemenl. The raclices lo
be chosen are direcl-seeded rice,
machine-lransIanled rice and
lradilionaI cuIlivalion, and manuaI
lransIanling. This emhasizes rice
managemenl, decision-making, and
discovery Iearning as a leam.
Some recommendations
This, ilseIf, is nol enough. To meel
lhe chaIIenge of buiIding conhdence
al lhe farm IeveI, researchers shouId
have a araIIeI viIIage exerimenl for
each slalion exerimenl as veII as an
oorlunily for farmer focus grou
discussions. Issues such as land
rearalion, cro eslabIishmenl, cro
managemenl, and, mosl imorlanlIy,
lhe rohlabiIily of groving rice
require such an interface.
We also need to look at the
auracliveness of a career alh, in
The world needs more AGRONOMISTS
22
23
Center. The middle part of the plot
was slightly higher. You can actually
feeI lhe dierence vhen veeding.
Weeding the part, which had less
water, was very tough. Next time,
Id encourage laser leveling because
a IeveI heId makes valer and veed
management much easier.
Grains of gold
Most participants helped rival
teams during the labor-intensive
transplanting,
weeding, and
other farm
activities.
It didnt
feel like several
teams working
for themselves in
individual plots.
It was more like
one big team
working together
across several
plots, said Dr.
Quilty. Rice
Survivor gave us
an opportunity to
really know some
IRRI colleagues
with whom
we normally
wouldnt
otherwise interact. Even if its just for
advice, we know now whom to ask.
Rowena Oane, a biochemist
who spends most of her time in a
molecular lab at the Plant Breeding,
Genetics, and Biotechnology
Division, learned to appreciate the
management aspect of growing a rice
crop. She also found that succeeding
in rice farming requires three key
factors: technical knowledge, time,
and resources.
Iach leam seIecled dierenl
rice-farming strategies enabling them
lo lry dierenl IRRI lechnoIogies
and approaches, said Rowell
Dikitanan, an economist with Team
Double Trouble Makers. Now that
I've become famiIiar vilh dierenl
ways of growing rice, its easier for
me in my regular job when I interact
with farmer-interviewees who are
adopting similar technologies.
Team Hayahays Man Marcaida,
who works in water management
in CESD, said, Farming is a
community undertaking. We started
as competitors ready to beat the
other teams, but instead we actually
helped one another with various
management activities, even coming
up with collective decisions involving
water management and controlling
rats. It highlights that collaboration is
very important for what we do here
at IRRI.
The third criterion,
sustainability, had to be dropped this
time around. Judging sustainability
roved loo dicuIl as lhe leams
couldnt measure the amount of
water used and some other inputs,
said Ms. Wunderlich. But, we are
working on a possible assessment
scheme for sustainability in a future
episode of Rice Survivor.
Beyond the fact that all the
participants survived, special
recognition
was given to
some exemplary
survivors. Ms.
Annie Barreto
received the
Proudest Farmer
award since she
was a standout
in caring for her
heId on a daiIy
basis. Dr. Magor
was named
Most Obsessive
Weeder. Sarah
Beebout won
the Best Record
Keeping award
while Jason
Beebout was
named Most
Altruistic.
Ms. Rowena Castillo was the Best
Communicator while Dr. Quilty was
the Best Team Player.
I think each team member
came out a winner, concluded Dr.
Magor. This challenge provided
a rich practical experience for all
participants in coming to grips
with growing rice. It provided
satisfaction for each person. The
sense of solidarity and learning from
each other and the IRRI Experiment
Slalion sla vas a Ius for each of us
and for IRRI.
Ms. Ferrer is a public relations specialist
at IRRI.
Follow the adventures of the Rice
Survivors at nup.//riccsurtitcr.||cgspci.
ccn/. Listen to nine survivor podcasts on
IRRI Radio at nups.//scun!c|cu!.ccn/
irri-ra!ic/scis/ricc-surtitcr.
RICE SURVIVORS get to know
more about some rice diseases
from rice pathology expert
Nancy Castilla (center).
At the fnish line
So how did the teams fare at the end
of the challenge? Well, all survived
with varying degrees of success.
The Double Trouble Makers
harvested 7.3 tons per hectare from
NSIC Rc 222the highest from a
single rice variety. They also got 6.0
tons per hectare from their other
variety, Pirurutong. Team Hayahay
got a combined yield of 6.8 tons per
hectare from their two varieties,
NSIC Rc 222 and NSIC Rc 148.
Teams Matatag and Future Techs
harvested 4.9 and 4.8 tons per hectare,
respectively.
Team Double Trouble Makers also
von in lerms of overaII rohlabiIily.
Ils rohl vas US$408 (IhI17,471)
while Team Hayahay that gained
$281 (IhI12,074) came in second.
Team Matatag and Team Future Techs
rohled $223 (IhI9,566) and $89
(PhP3,816), respectively.
heId. Afler lhal, ve did a secondary
vel liIIage and lhen a hnaI smoolhing
before we transplanted.
Our team decided to do a
regular puddled and transplanted
heId, exIained Sarah eeboul,
a soil chemist on Team Double
Trouble Makers. We decided on this
traditional cultivation because there
are a lot of weeds here in this part of
the research farm. And, its very well-
suited for lowland rice production.
We also tried mechanical
transplanting rather than hand
lransIanling of lvo dierenl
varieties, Dr. Beebout added. In one
half of the plot, we tried a popular
cultivar, NSIC Rc 222, while in the
other half, we tried traditional variety
Pirurutong, which has purple grain.
Team Future Techs was the
only group that tried direct seeding.
We opted for mechanized seeding
using a 4-vheeI lraclor auached lo a
seeder, said Bhagirath Chauhan, a
weed expert. We think the future
of rice farming is in mechanization
because geuing Iabor al crilicaI limes
such as transplanting is becoming
more dicuIl, he exIained.
The diversity of approaches
the teams took in how to establish
and manage their rice crops and
the various management methods
emIoyed reecls hov farmers
themselves operate and make
decisions.
Let the games begin
The hrsl reaI hysicaI chaIIenge for
the teams started with transplanting
the rice plants. Everyone quickly
realized that this is hard work!
Il's my hrsl exerience lo uII
out the seedlings and sow them
row by row, said Valerien Pede, an
economist on Team Hayahay. It was
quite challenging. When I looked
back and saw how crooked the rows
were, I said to myself, Wow, they
look terrible! related Dr. Pede. I
checked what the more experienced
guys were doing and then realized I
was not doing it right. So, I adjusted.
Anyway, I enjoyed the learning
process.
After transplanting, the
challenges kept rolling in. There were
a few surprises, which worked well
for some, but not so well for others.
For example, Team Double
Trouble Makers experimented with
alternate wet and dry irrigation, which
entailed keeping the plot dry for some
time. Unfortunately, a well-meaning
farm worker irrigated their plot, plus
water seeped in from the adjacent
plots. So, they switched back to the
more lradilionaI conlinuous ooding
irrigation.
The curse of the snails
Golden apple snails were one of
the most serious concerns for all
competitors. You can take one
step, and maybe pick up 50 snails,
and then take another step and do
the same, said Jason Beebout. Its
overwhelming.
In the beginning, his team was
looking at a good crop stand of one to
two tillers per hill, but they had to re-
plant after the snails had a chomping
frenzy on their seedlings. One thing
that Ive learned is that we should
have thought about snails before the
seedlings ever went into the ground,
Mr. Beebout said.
More feld surprises
Team Future Techs didnt have any
problem with snails because they
went for dry direct seeding, so they
didnt irrigate their plot. But, they had
to contend with their own problem
when using this practiceweeds.
We didnt get it right at the start
of the season, said James Quilty, a
postdoctoral fellow in IRRIs Crop
and Environmental Sciences Division
(CESD). Our crop establishment
was poor and as for crop protection,
there wasnt any. They direct seeded
their plot right before the start of the
Christmas season. With the Institute
closed for the holidays, by the time
the team returned to its plot in
January, lots of weeds were there.
Since we did not use herbicides,
we had to pull the weeds with our
bare hands, said Dr. Quilty, and it
was very labor-intensive.
Like Team Future Techs, Team
Hayahay also had a weed problem.
One thing that came through for us
vas lhe need for a IeveIed heId, said
Noel Magor, head of IRRIs Training
GOLDEN APPLE snails
were one of the
serious concerns for
all competitors.
RICE SURVIVORS talk about their plans and
strategies for the entire dry season series of
Rice Survivor.
IS
A
G
A
N
I S
E
R
R
A
N
O
(2
)
N
E
A
L
E
M
A
R
V
IN
P
A
G
U
IR
IG
A
N
24 25
C
ongee is the frst meal of the
day in many parts of Asia,
and it makes a wonderful
snack too. It is simply rice
cooked in an excess of stock such as
pork or chicken, with a range of savory
additives. In Lao PDR, it is called khao
piak khao, which literally means wet
rice. Both the stock and rice require
some forward-planning, but it is well
rewarded.
Whats cooking?
Watch Dr. Vial demonstrate how to prepare this dish in a 8:52 video on YouTube at http://snipurl.com/lao_congee.
C
H
R
IS
Q
U
IN
T
A
N
A
(3
)
Boil stock
In a large pot, put 45 liters of water, then add:
A large piece of pork or chicken (up to 1 kilogram)
A few pieces of ginger, according to taste
23 whole onions, according to taste
23 whole small coriander plants
Boil slowly for 3060 minutes. Powdered stock with added
ginger is a much quicker option if you have less time.
Cook rice
Add a cup of rice (good for four persons) to about 2 liters of
stock, but you can dilute the stock according to taste. Some
people use some or all glutinous rice for a creamier texture. Boil
slowly for 3060 minutes. Rice can be cooked ahead of time
(cooked in the standard way, one part rice and one part water),
then simmer the precooked rice in stock when required.
Add toppings
Some suggested toppings are the following, for one person:
A tablespoon of fried garlic
A tablespoon of chopped spring onions
A tablespoon of chopped coriander
One sliced boiled egg
A pinch of dried or fresh chillies
Add ground pepper and soy sauce to taste.
Note: Other toppings are limited only by your imagination!
Source of the recipe: Thanks to my instructor Deng, the proprietor
of Kungs Caf Lao, just around the corner from Wat Simuang,
Vientiane, Lao PDR.
D
r. Vial came to the Philippines to
head IRRIs Experiment Station
in early 2011, after a 15-year career
in the Australian rice industry, then 3
years pursuing a PhD and consulting to
an Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research (ACIAR) lowland
rice project in Lao PDR. Three years in
Lao PDR exposed him and his family
to the full range of Southeast Asian
cooking. Congee proved a particular
favorite for him, his wife, Sue, and two
boys, Digby and Rory.
Laotian
congee
by Leigh Vial
B
iryani isarice-basedmeal made
withspices, rice(usually basmati),
and meat, fsh, eggs, or vegetables.
The name is derived from the
Persian word bery, which means fried or
roasted.
The dish originated from Iran (Persia)
and was brought to the Indian subcontinent
by Iranian travelers and merchants. Biryani
is popular not only in South Asia but also
in Arabia and within various South Asian
communities in Western countries. It has many
local variants.
The recipe presented here by Sam Mohanty,
head of the Social Sciences Division at the
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), is
a somewhat simplifed Indian version of what he
says can be a very complex confection.
Dr. Mohanty, who joined IRRI in 2008, is a
widely published and award-winning economist
with a knack for cooking for his family when he
is not searching for the direction of the global
rice market (see Rice Facts on pages 44-45).
S A M ' S
Chicken Biryani
Whats cooking?
Watch Dr. Mohanty demonstrate how to prepare this dish in a 12:26 video on YouTube at http://snipurl.com/sams_chicken_biryani.
Ingredients
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 small potatoes, peeled and halved
6 eggs, boiled and peeled
34 large onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon ginger paste
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon salt (according to taste)
23 medium tomatoes, chopped
23 green chilies (according to taste)
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1520 fresh mint leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
3 pounds skinless chicken pieces (thigh and leg)
8 pods green cardamom
10 pods black cardamom
56 bay leaves
8 whole cloves
1 (1 inch) piece cinnamon stick
1 pound basmati rice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Directions
1. Clean and wash the chicken. Marinate the chicken with yogurt, salt,
turmeric, and chili powder for 2 hours.
2. In a pot, add vegetable oil and fry the onions until they are soft and
golden. Add garlic and ginger paste and the whole spices. Fry and
continuously stir for 5 minutes. Add green chilies and tomatoes and
fry for another 5 minutes. Cover and cook over low heat, stirring
occasionally until the tomatoes are cooked to a pulp. It may be
necessary to add a little hot water if the mixture becomes too dry
and starts to stick to the pot.
3. When the mixture is thick and smooth, add the marinated chicken
pieces and potatoes and stir well to coat them with the spice
mixture. Cover and cook over very low heat until the chicken is
tenderapproximately 35 to 45 minutes. There should be only a
little very thick gravy left when the chicken is fnished cooking. If
necessary, cook uncovered for a few minutes to reduce the amount
of gravy.
4. Wash rice well and soak it for 30 minutes.
5. Put plenty of water in another pot, add salt, and boil the water.
Once the water starts to boil, drain the soaked rice and put it in the
boiling water. Boil it again at a high temperature for 57 minutes.
6. Par cook the rice (meaning 3/4 cooked, while the rest will just get
cooked later). Do not boil the rice too much.
7. Put cilantro leaves on top of the cooked chicken, stir them in, then
add mint on top. Drain and add the par-cooked rice on top of this
mixture.
8. Cover the pot tightly, turn heat to very low, and steam for 20
minutes. Do not lift the lid or stir while cooking.
9. Spoon the biryani onto a serving dish and garnish with halved
boiled eggs.
C
H
R
IS
Q
U
IN
T
A
N
A
(2
)
26 27
28 29
SCIENCE LOVE, once upon a time in Mexico. Husband and wife Jun and Teri Ulatboth
IRRI associate scientistslook set for an archaeological adventure with Rice Today issues
in hand. The photo was taken at the Pirmides in Teotihuacn, Mexico, a UNESCO World
Heritage site, where pyramidal structures were said to have existed since 100 BC.
SUNNY AT THE BAY. Rice Today editor Lanie Reyes
of the International Rice Research Institute smiles
along the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Orissa State,
India. The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the
world.
ALL THE way to Timbuktu. (left to right) IRRIs plant
breeder Glenn Gregorio and plant physiologist Abdelbagi
Ismail take Rice Today to Djinguereber Mosque, Timbuktu,
UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mali, Africa.
FARMERS DAY. Proceso Alcala, agriculture secretary of the Philippines, and
Dr. Robert Zeigler, IRRI director general, enjoy a good read of Rice Today,
while spending a day with farmers at IRRI headquarters in Los Baos, Laguna,
Philippines.
IN THE company of twin giants. Sharlene Santos-Peralta,
IRRI public relations staff, and Rice Today are framed by the
famed Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. At more than 450
meters high, they are the tallest twin buildings in the world
and a symbol of Malaysias pride.
FUTURE INVESTMENTS.IRRI and Landbank, a nancial institution of the Philippine government, recently launched a scholarship program for the next generation of rice
scientists. In photo: (second from left) Land Bank President and CEO Gilda Pico, IRRI Deputy Director General for Communication and Partnerships V. Bruce J. Tolentino
(third from left), Landbank senior representatives, and IRRI staff.
RICE TODAY, paiting! Paiting is a Konglish
(nonstandard abbreviations or combinations
of English words invented by Koreans) term
derived from ghting. It is used to encourage
someone, often in sports or whenever facing a
challenge. This expression is usually accompanied
by a st pump, a gesture denoting enthusiasm,
exuberance, or victoryshown here by members
of the Korean Womens Association in the
Philippines, together with IRRI scientist Joong
Hyoun Chin and his wife, Jeehyoung Shim-Chin
(second from left), as they cheer and rally for
Rice Today.
Books
Read the Almanac on Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GZC56TC
S
ince the rst edition
was completed in 2010,
research partners in the ADB-
IRRI Rice Planthopper Project
have been conducting
routine monitoring as well
as evaluating repellents,
studying reversion of
resistance, and using
molecular techniques. Several
workshops were held to
compare results and discuss
the methods, analyses, and
interpretation.
The feedbacks were
the basis of this second
edition of the book. The
other update of this book is that Professor Z. Liu of Nanjing
University, now one of the authors, has contributed to beef
up the contents of this book. In fact, four more chapters are
added in this edition.
In general, this book provides step-by-step procedures
for readers to design experiments and use the program for
analyses. It describes insecticide resistance reversion and how
to use the resistance stability point as a steadier baseline for
comparing resistance. Also, it provides information on the use
of molecular tools to detect eld resistance.
In a nutshell, this second edition of the book is now more
complete and provides readers the whole range of research
methods in toxicology and insecticide resistance monitoring.
Although all the methods described are applied on rice
planthoppers, the principles and methods can be mainly
applied to other test organisms.
Research Methods in Toxicology and Insecticide
Resistance Monitoring of Rice Planthoppers
(Second edition)
By K.L. Heong, K.H. Tan, C.P.F. Garcia, Z. Liu, and Z. Lu
Published by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and
the Asian Development Bank (ADB). 145 pages.
TRAINING COURSES AT IRRI
For inquiries, contact IRRITraining@irri.org, m.maghuyop@irri.org, or a.aquino@irri.org. Phone: (63-2) 580-5600 ext 2538 or +639178639317; fax: (63-2) 580-5699, 891-1292, or
845-0606; mailing address: The IRRI Training Center, DAPOBox 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines (Attention: TCCourse Coordinator); Web site: www.training.irri.org.
Note: Fees and schedules are subject to change without prior notice.
Course title Date Venue
Basics of Rice Production (First ofering) 1-3 April IRRI, Philippines
Rice: Postproduction to Market Training Course (First ofering) 21 April-2 May IRRI, Philippines
SNP Data Analysis 5-9 May IRRI, Philippines
Rice: Research to Production 19 May-6 June IRRI, Philippines
Rice Production Techniques for Research Technicians (for African participants) 28 July-15 August IRRI, Philippines
Basics of Rice Production (Second ofering) 9-11 September IRRI, Philippines
Scientifc Writing Workshop 10-14 November IRRI, Philippines
T
he fourth edition of the
Rice Almanac continues
the tradition of the rst three
editions by showcasing
rice as the most important
staple food in the world. It
also breaks new ground in
its coverage of issues related
to rice production, both
environmentalincluding
climate changeand its
importance for food security
and the global economy.
It also further expands its
coverage to include 81 of the
117 rice-producing countries
representing 99.9% of the
worlds rice production.
Published by GRiSP, the CGIAR Research Program on Rice,
this book is a product of collaboration among key institutions.
In addition to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI),
Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), and International Center for
Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), other major partners in GRiSP
include the Centre de coopration internationale en recherche
agronomique pour le dveloppement (Cirad), LInstitut de
recherche pour le dveloppement (IRD, formerly ORSTOM),
and the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural
Sciences (JIRCAS).
The statistics presented are derived primarily from FAO,
which include ocial country data (FAOSTAT), surveys, reports,
and personal communications; IRRIs RICESTAT database, which
is based on primary data from requests and questionnaires and
secondary data from statistical publications and international
organizations including the International Labor Organization and
the World Bank; and regional data from AfricaRice and CIAT.
For orders, send email to: riceworldbookstore@irri.org or visit
http://books.irri.org.
Rice Almanac (Fourth edition)
Published by the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP).
283 pages.
T
he International Rice Congress
is the largest gathering of rice
scientists and experts who
come from all over the world
to share their latest research work.
The upcoming Congress (IRC2014),
which will be held on 27 October-
1 November 2014 in Bangkok,
Thailand, will focus on increasing
the food security of half the worlds
population.
Why attend?
IRC2014 is a forum for exchanging
ideas, experiences, and best practices,
and learning about the latest
developments in rice science as
well as key issues in the rice
industry. But, it is also a great
opportunity for participants
to be part of a community for
networking and contributing
to trends and initiatives.
Participants will be
among 2,500 intelligent,
innovative, and engaging
players in global rice science and
industrysurely a rich learning
and networking environment,
said Bruce Tolentino, IRC2014 chair
and deputy director general for
communication and partnerships
at the International Rice Research
Institute.
Participants perspectives will
be broadened because IRC2014 will
enable delegates to meet and interact
with a wide range of delegates,
scientists, and other rice industry
players, he added. This promotes
synergy in meeting shared challenges
together.
What to expect
With its theme, Rice for the world,
we are obviously looking at the
whole range of topics from growing
rice in the deltas to looking at
root physiology, for example, or
Held every 4 years, the International Rice Congress brings together the brightest minds to discuss
inc |aicsi scicniic n!ings, in!usirq ircn!s, an! cnangcs in inc narkcip|acc
from climate-ready rice to real-
time satellite mapping and remote
sensing, said Mike Jackson, science
chair of IRC2014.
The IRC2014 organizing team
wants to be quite innovative. Each
morning and afternoon, there will be
a plenary lecture given by speakers
who are not necessarily rice scientists.
We have invited several
speakers who will bring new
Jackson. We want to encourage the
participation of rice researchers and
experts everywhere, especially young
rice scientists, and give everybody a
chance to have their work presented.
Most rice researchers or graduate
students for MS or PhD degrees
working in a relevant rice research
discipline under the age of 35
are considered to be young rice
scientists.
They should think seriously
about presenting their work at
IRC2014, added Dr. Jackson. They
never know; theirs might be selected
for the oral program. If not, they
can always present a poster.
However, those below 35
years of age who received their
PhD degree before 1 January
2012 will not be considered
in this category. Well, its
possible that someone like
this could be already on
their second postdoctoral
fellowship, and wed like to even
the opportunities somewhat,
explained Dr. Jackson.
The Ca|| jcr Papcrs an! Pcsicrs-
Submission of Abstracts will begin
in mid-January once the IRC2014
website has been launched. For oral
presentations, young rice scientists
must be the lead author. All abstracts
for oral presentations will be selected
on merit, and, if their abstracts are
chosen, each young rice scientist
will receive a travel grant and free
registration.
This is a huge event, stated Dr.
Jackson. Imagine it as an excellent
networking opportunity. There will
be more than 200 oral papers and
perhaps as many as 800 or more
posters.
Interested parties can visit the
IRC2014 vebsile (hu://ricecongress.
com/) for furlher announcemenls and
the latest information.
perspectives on agricultural
development issues relevant to rice
science, Dr. Jackson added.
We also want to add a great deal
of value by carefully identifying the
best speakers, said Dr. Tolentino.
They must have the necessary
expertise, practical experience, and
the ability to engage audiences in an
interesting way.
Open invitation to young
scientists
We are in the process of building
a program that is broad in its scope,
scienlihcaIIy very slrong, and
interesting in its detail, said Dr.
30 31
24

Rice Today Special Supplement For Devex Partnerships and Career Forum in Manila

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Originaltitel

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Rice Today Special Supplement For Devex Partnerships and Career Forum in Manila

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

www.irri.

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen