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International Rice Research Institute
Biotechnology and IRRI Rice, which helps feed almost half the people on the planet, is clearly not only the most important food staple in Asia, but also in the world today. The well-regarded Washington Post recently described rice production as the world's single most important economic activity. Thus, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), an autonomous and non-profit agricultural research and training organization, has been vigorously working to help rice farmers, especially in developing countries, produce more rice while taking into account the fact that there will be less land, lass water and even less work force for rice production in the near future. Established in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations in cooperation with the Philippine Government, IRRI aims to generate and disseminate rice-related knowledge and technology of short and long-term environmental, social and economic benefit. IRRI also endeavors to enhance national rice research and extension systems. In the long run, IRRI envisions the improvement of the well being of the rice-farmers and consumers, giving emphasis to those in low economic standing. IRRI’s work, therefore, is not only focused on producing types of rice that will ensure sustainable increases in production. For more than 40 years now, IRRI’s researches and activities are also geared in protecting and preserving the ecosystem and the environment while resolving resources management problems. Moreover, IRRI has also endeavored to enhance the quality of rice to improve the health and well-being of poor farmers and consumers as well as enhance the social impact of rice production on their lives. It is in these areas where, without a doubt, biotechnology can provide exciting opportunities. It must be emphasized, however, that IRRI's role – as a public institution partially supported by Australia - is not to promote biotechnology or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Its role is to objectively evaluate the new strategies and options that biotechnology may offer the rice industry. With that, IRRI may also work with its partners in the national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES) of rice-producing nations to see if such strategies are appropriate and sustainable in different countries. Put simply, IRRI seeks the freedom to find factual answers to the very questions posed by the debate on biotechnology, especially in relation to rice. While societies in Europe, North America, and Japan have the freedom to debate the pros and cons of their development and consumption of GMOs, it would be wrong for such debate to impede basic research to study whether such technologies are safe, sustainable, and appropriate for rice-producing nations in the developing world. Such countries must be allowed the right to make their own decisions on biotechnology, which they cannot do if access to such technology is denied to them because of debates elsewhere. An excellent example of the perils of the biotechnology debate is vitamin-A rice. IRRI considers rice enriched with vitamin A through genetic modification an exciting new option provided by biotechnology. However, years of research are still required to establish whether this so-called Golden Rice will ever make it into the bowls of rice consumers in a safe and appropriate way. Even before addressing questions on food safety, it is necessary to find out if rice enriched with vitamin A will yield well, is safe for the environment, or is susceptible to pests and diseases. Then there are still more important questions to be answered in relation to food safety, consumer acceptability, and biodigestibility. However, such is the media hype over vitamin-A rice and biotechnology in general that the debate is increasingly focused on whether it should be allowed on consumer tables, when there are no answers yet to far more basic production and development questions. Unless common sense prevails, vitamin-A rice may be an idea proposed and rejected, even before assessing its possibility. Indeed, food safety is rightly a crucial issue in the biotechnology debate and must be fully addressed and resolved to the satisfaction of all sides. However, it is vital that any concerns do not prevent the basic research needed to answer the very questions such debate will generate. All sides in the GMO debate must have the facts and objective evaluations of the new opportunities provided by biotechnology if the millions of poor rice farmers and consumers in the developing world are ever to really benefit from all the promises made so far. Only research and scientific effort can find the facts and the answers needed to ensure that such real results are achieved. And it is on this area where public research can play one of its most important roles. While the private sector – with its far greater resources – does the bulk of the expensive research, a better resourced public research sector could act as an honest broker, ensuring not only that any new technologies are safe and appropriate, but that they also benefit those who really need them most – the poor. With this in mind, IRRI is continuing research on vitamin-A rice after receiving the first samples of Golden Rice in January 2001. The first tropical rice variety with the vitamin-A trait is now growing in a special greenhouse at IRRI. However, this is only the first step of a long journey that will end only when vitamin-A rice has been found to be safe for people and the environment and, most importantly, to provide some benefit to rice farmers and consumers. Contact details: |