. ~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~-*. *'.*.:. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ --------- X~ ~ ~ : t; '~ 2 3 5 5 ' ''/''/aS N,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'M 4".~~~~~~~ . . : . !: - '. : >s .., . . - ,- .:. .'.o E T F E X -49' .'*i 1' _. 1'_ tD7 _1 ''' -'T D WW MESSAGE T I ) v~e FROM TTL _ _. _ _ T F- | - T sS C '--I-. THE Jeffrey A. Sayer, Director General of CIFOR - CHAIRMAN Ismail Serageldin The economic crisis in Indonesia began During this period, CIFOR made every Before the sounds and sights of unfolding in mid-i997. A year later, effort to continue normal operations. Brasilia recede deep into the vaults it has resulted in public uprisings, a CIFOR's Board asked me to remain in of memory, I want to thank the massive decline of the national currency, Indonesia until conditions stabilized participants at the CGIAR's Mid- rising inflation, food shortages, and huge Term Meeting I998 (MTM98) for increases in unemployment and poverty. the effective way in which all compo- When Indonesia plunged deeper into CTFOR is committed to h:' - -- nents of the System worked together civil unrest, many embassies. organiza- Indonesia -- : rly its forest to reach consensus on issues that are tions, and companies evacuated foreign crucial to our mission and, at the nationals from Indonesia. community-rega-n economic stabil- same time, are fraught with many In contrast, CIFOR decided not to . , complexities. evacuate its international staff, because Through combined efforts and Bogor, where its headquarters are located, goodwill, we reached closure at remained relatively calm. All staff were and, therefore, I did not attend the IT-NI I, on a phase of consultation given the option to work at home. CGIAR Mid-Term Meeting in Brazil. and policy formulation about biotech- CIFOR provided international staff the We at CIFOR are cautiously opti- nology that began at a stakeholders option of relocating temporarily to mistic that economic and political stability meeting in April I997. That meeting CIFOR offices and or those of its part- will return to Indonesia in the near was convened against the background ners outside Indonesia. We acknowledge future. As CIFOR's host country, In- of an emerging view, particularly with gratitude IRRI's kind invitation to donesia has extended generous support among developing country scientists, accommodate CIFOR staff at Los Banios. and cooperation to us, including the gift that agrobiotechnology, with adequate Fortunately, conditions did not worsen of our excellent headquarters facilities. safeguards, could be an important, sufficiently to warrant relocation and Continued on poge 2 Continued on page 13 most staff stayed on in Indonesia. "The CGIAR News is available oni the Worldwide Web at: http://www.cgiar.org CGIAR NEWS 14 PAGE 1 t A7 .- at..LL THE INDONESIAN CRISIS AND ITS Indonesia's forests and forest communities international price of plywood remains IMPACT ON THE FORESTRY SECTOR and are producing research reports. We low, but demand has risen. While Continuedfrom page i have also posted a statement on the revived demand for Indonesian plywood CIFOR homepage. is good news for the economy, it raises ICRAF's Southeast Asia offices are also In the midst of the crisis, the concerns about forest protection as the located on this campus. Indonesia has Indonesian government's four main potential for increased damage in pro- also demarcated 300,OOO hectares in the goals are to alleviate poverty, generate duction forests and unauthorized logging Bulungan forest in East Kalimantan for employment, improve public health care, in protection forest appears to be high. CIFOR to develop as a model for long- and stabilize the national currency. The economic crisis is also leading term research-based management. Improved forest protection and manage- to expanding the agricultural sector. The CIFOR is committed to helping ment can support these goals. Forest most important commodity with respect Indonesia - particularly its forest com- protection supports the goal of poverty to this development is oil palm. A high munity - regain economic stability as alleviation in as much as forests are a key international price and low production rapidly as possible. Our scientists are source of income for Indonesia's poorest costs in Indonesia mean large profit monitoring the effects of the crisis on people. Foreign exchange income from the forest sector is an important income - - __somim source for the country. Forest protection supports the goal of employment gener- I N T H I S I S S U E ation, because as many as 700,000 to - 2,500,000 people depend on the forest 1 The Indonesian Crisis and -- its Impact on the Forestry Sector sector for employment. Given that air , Message from the Chairman pollution from the fires has been a sig- 3 Dr. Nelson Receives nificant health threat since mid-i997, MacArthur's Genius Award forest protection is important to fulfilling 4 CGIAR Honors the Year of the Ocean health care objectives. Finally, forest 6 Top honor for Dr. Paroda protection is crucial to currency stabiliza- Indonsian Forest 7 "Lost" Rice Varieties Return to tion, because avoiding further fire-related margins. The rapid pace of oil palm Cambodia costs helps maintain scarce foreign development implies increased threats 8 Achieving Sustainable Intensification exchange reserves. The estimated cost of to natural forest cover and forest-depen- in Agriculture the fires is 35 to 40 percent of existing dent peoples. A six-fold increase in the 9 IITA Pioneers Use of AfricaLink currency reserves. producer price of cocoa between mid- 10 Bed Planting Systems Up until 1997, Indonesia enjoyed 1997 and January I998 has also greatly 11 Meeting Discusses Vision For one of the most rapidly growing stimulated production. Coffee produc- Indian Agriculture economies in the world with an average tion has also increased, notably in North 12 A New Director General for IRRI 5 to 6 percent annual increase of per Sumatra. 14 Climate Change Expert Speaks capita gross national product. In the first On the basis of preliminary evi- at MTM98 half of i998, Indonesia registered nega- dence, we believe it is likely that the eco- 15 Announcements Awards tive economic growth for the first time in nomic crisis will increase pressures on 30 years. The depreciation of the currency Indonesia's natural forest cover. It fol- Issued by the CGIAR Secretariat and more competitive position of lows that Indonesia has much to gain, 18I8 H Street, NW, Washington DC, 20433, USA Indonesian commodities on the interna- even during this economic crisis, by Telephone: (1-202) 473-8951 tional market are two of the strongest increasing efforts to protect its forest Fax: (1-202) 473-8IIO factors affecting the forestry sector. The resources. PAGE 2 4, CGIAR NEWS W.---5 - - 4 9I4 - '' I. A GA R T H11 7L:tR F l f I LI X A 'A 1 Rebecca Nelson was discussing potato >- privilege of the CG: to do something diseases with a colleague from China about the ills of the world. I like to inves- when the phone rang and the represen- t tigate and understand the biology of a sit- tative of the John D. and Catherine T. uation, but I also want to look at the MacArthur Foundation told her she had i human context." received one of the world's most coveted -, One way to do that, says Nelson, is prizes: a MacArthur Fellowship, widely . through farmer field schools, which pro- known as a "genius award." fessional researchers support, but farmers, Nelson is a molecular plant patholo- \ " sK who eventually serve as the instructors, gist at CIP, but her work is not confined operate. By involving farmers in the to the laboratory and greenhouse. The Dr. Rrbecca Neisopt diagnosis and management of diseases, scientist believes the solution to many along with varietal evaluation and selec- problems in agriculture comes from and she is disseminating the results of tion and decisionmaking power, she research in which the farmer plays a part. her research to farmers in the developing hopes "to switch disease management This approach is growing in accep- world, thereby reshaping their responses from one that is centered on fungicides tance by the international agricultural to plant diseases." to one that's centered on resistance, in research community, particularly in the That's a succinct description of which fungicides become secondary to CGIAR. Nelson struck the MacArthur Rebecca Nelson's current work on inte- resistance. The best way to do this is Fouindation as especially deserving of one grated control of ]ate blight, one of the through farmer participation. It's very dif- of its fellowships, which recognize and most devastating crop diseases in the ficult to envision doing it any other way." encourage creativity. She was one of 29 world. How does Nelson plan to use her new fellows from diverse fields who were Along with other CIP researchers, grant? She'll purchase needed equip- named recently. The grant is for a five- Nelson is using biotechnology and classical ment for members of her project. She year period, and carries no restrictions. techniques to identify and eventually will rent a house for students and col- A native of Bethesda, Maryland, Nelson clone genes that provide resistance to leagues working at CIP's pilot farmer- received her Ph.D. in zoology from the late blight. As the leader of CIP's late participation site in the Peruvian Andes, University of Washington at Seattle. blight project, Dr. Nelson is working to at Cajamarca. She and her husband, free- "The creative person is at the heart create new potato varieties with stable lance journalist and writer Jonathan of a society's capacity to improve the late blight resistance and improved Miller, will increase their contributions human condition," said Adele Simmons. methods for integrated disease manage- to charities. There may be a short sabbat- president of the U.S.-based foundation, ment that are suitable for farmers in ical to Eastern Europe. But mostly, in announcing the awards. "Nelson is a developing countries. Nelson wants to continue performing plant pathologist concerned with the pro- Nelson then takes research a step the mission of applied, vitally practical duction of staple food crops in underde- further. "I always wanted to practice my research that is so central to the CGIAR veloped countries. Her studies have en- trade," she explained recently, "byblending system. "I love that mission," she said. hanced our understanding of infectious biology, in the investigative sense, with "I find that mission wonderful, beautiful, inechanisnis of agricultural patlhogens, the mission orientation that is the and stimulating." CGIAR NEWS ;AW, PAGE 3 CGIAR HONORS THE A S Y O U SOW, S O food fish available from the oceans. trophic level of the fish caught showed a SHALL YOU REAP Scientists use a scale to define the declining trend-from an average level of feeding or trophic level within the 3.3 in the early 1950s to 3.1 in '994. Scientists at ICLARM and other research marine food web: I for planktonic algae Assuming that the fish humans prefer organizations believe that present pat- at the base of the food chain to 4.6 for are mainly in the 2.5 to 4.6 range, the terns of exploitation of marine resources the highest level predator fish. Within data indicate a decline of nearly ro per- are unsustainable-the world cannot cent of the usable range over the last four continue to reap what it has not sowed. -- decades. What this means is that This view is contrary to conventional . although the total weight of fish caught wisdom that exploiting the ocean for has remained constant, the type of fish fish and marine invertebrates should be caught has deteriorated. Are we using a prosperous sector, because fisheries, fish lower down the food chain, because in contrast to agriculture and aquacul- - there are simply not enough of the top ture, reap harvests that do not need to level species to catch? The answer, be sown. according to these researchers, is an Total estimated fish catches from nat- unequivocal "Yes." ural stock worldwide have increased When the researchers extended the from around 74 million metric tons analysis to a study of specific fishing annually in I984 to 84 million metric areas, they found even greater cause for tons in I994. So why are scientists and concern. Although going down the food others concerned about overfishing, depletion of world fish stocks, and the tlhreat of a gradual loss of this important source of food? Are we indeed causing unalterable damage to aquatic ecosys- tems and destroying this valuable source of food? Researchers at ICLARM and the - - - University of British Columbia have * carefully documented and analyzed the _ k i' Photo by Ismail Serageldin , . pattern of world fish harvests since I950 to show clearly that the wealth of the this range fall each group of fish included oceans is not limitless and human inter- in the Food and Agriculture Organiz- action with it is definitely causing ation of the United Nations (FAO) statis- Phot.b, b Ism-AI Seraegld, changes that should be a serious cause tics on global fish landings. When for concern. They show that humans are researchers at ICLARM and the Univer- web is generally associated with a greater "fishing down the food web," changing sity of British Columbia assigned tropic quantity of fish caught, there comes a the marine ecosystem and reducing the levels to actual fish catches between 1950 point in the pattern of overexploitation arnount of higher quality, more desirable and I994, they found that the average where the fishery "collapses," which is PAGE 4 4r CGIAR NEWS d~~~ . .' 'Ž /. .'^ ' > X f,'u. ''' ei - Y\ir L J >\ t.R (ii I 19 1HL E UKiEE AN usually caused by a major shift in the webs may initially result in larger Threats to the World's Coral Reefs. ecosystem. Then even fishing lower catches, it eventually leads to a collapse Produced in collaboration with ICLARM, down the food web results in a lower of the fishery. The study concludes that World Resources Institute, the World overall catch. Data from the North fisheries management should "empha- Conservation Monitoring Centre, and Atlantic fisheries, perhaps the longest size the rebuilding of fish populations the United Nations Environment and most intensively fished area in the embedded within functional food webs." Programme, Reefs at Risk is the first world, support this hypothesis. Given its mandate, ICLARM has already detailed, map-based global assessment Fish biologists have been saying for been working on this through its study of coral reefs and human-made threats some time that the current patterns of of the impact of marine protected areas to these ecosystems. It marks a signifi- exploitation are unsustainable and we on regeneration of fish stocks and con- cant advance in understanding the con- are seriously depleting stocks of larger servation of biodiversity. dition of coral reefs. and more valuable fish. The ICLARM- To model areas where reef damage University of British Columbia study, is predicted to occur, the study draws on which used scientific analysis and an R E E F S AT R SK information from sites known to be ecosystem approach, provides support degraded, top coral reef scientists, and for the view that we are moving from Human activity threatens nearly 6o global data sets. long-lived piscivorous bottom fish percent of the earth's coral reefs, placing Coral reefs are among the most bio- towards short-lived, low trophic level much of the world's marine biodiversity logically diverse ecosystems on the plan- invertebrates and planktivorous pelagic at risk, according to the new study et, but until recently almost nothing was fish. And although fishing down food Reefs at Risk: A Map-Based Indicator of known about their conditions. The study offers a stark warning: human activities are posing grave dangers to reefs in most pj 44 of the world's oceans. Given that countries benefit from r -e- ~$ is m tourism-related recreational value alone provided by their reefs, threats to coral --ga reefs can be economically devastating. X <- 1 ; t s s Reefs are also a vital source of food for --s \;t s % tB -- lew i many developing countries. *- Wi¢>-t-i-8- - -Jr u 4 @ FN , . Sylvia Earle writes that Reefs at Risk l its \ -' L r i _ * d-nS;s;Sg5gf j tmakes it possible to pull back and gain -. - - fi ,, 1Ft 5§_ perspective on past problems as an effec- *§t'-s - - - -; r > 1 8 ; tive way to participate-and perhaps pre- - , ,, J vent potential disasters in the making. The fate of coral reefs, the ocean, and . - _ _ ;h~ SH e___ x - ~ fr humankind forty years from now and 4 X i d -. \-!- .,# forevermore will depend on the intelli- * _ r ff e ' S 2 1 . *. '. v ,~gence, motivation, and caring of people P'l.otc bD Isrn-l S-raDoldir now alive." CGIAR NEWS <4 PAGE 5 TOP HONOR FOR DR. PARODA The Government of India has conferred "Padma Bhushan"- one of India's most prestigious civilian awards - on Dr. R.S. Paroda for "distinguished and excellent service in the field of science and engi- . # neering (plant breeding)." Dr. Paroda, currently Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and .t7 Secretary, Department of Agricultural , Research and Education (DARE), Govern- frq. ment of India, has a long affiliation with - , the CGIAR family. At the May I998 ., Brasilia Mid-Term Meeting, he was unan- imously elected as Chairman of the Steering Committee, Global Forum on i . Agricultural Research (GFAR). Dr. Paroda spoke to CGIAR News Dr. Paroda receives awardfrom the Honorabie President of India, Mr. K. R. Narayanan about his work, the award, and his new responsibilities with GFAR. is that continued growth in the agricul- system. Indeed, at $240 million, the tural sector is crucial for India's broader NATP is the first project of its size for Q 9: What were your thoughts on development, because agriculture ac- agricultural research and extension in a being awarded the Padma Bhushan? counts for 28 percent of India's gross single country, entirely prepared and A: The announcement came as a com- domestic product and 15 percent of driven by the national agricultural plete, but very pleasant surprise. I was in exports. India has invested heavily in system. I am confident that it will help Washington, negotiating the National public agricultural research and exten- to spur rural growth and deliver the Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) sion systems, and these investments benefits of modern science to India's at the World Bank, when I heard the good contributed to the tremendous success in poor farmers working in ecologically- news. The award is a source of tremen- food grain production: from 5i million fragile environments. dous satisfaction-both personally and tons in I95I to over I96 million tons. professionally-and encourages me to But we cannot rest on our laurels. * Q: What role do you envisage for redouble efforts in the cause of Indian Demands for agricultural technology are agriculture and service to the nation. The changing, requiring us to break yield A: GFAR is an excellent initiative, and I award also highlights the importance the plateaus and embrace frontier sciences, congratulate the CGIAR, and Chairman Government of India attaches to rural such as biotechnology. Serageldin for creating a forum that has development. The NATP project will accelerate the potential to play a catalytic role in pro- agricultural growth through the reform moting agricultural research at the global 4' Q: What is the NATP project? and strengthening of Indian's agricultural level. In Brasilia, I was delighted to be A: The basic premise of the NATP project technology development and dissemination elected as Chairman of GFAR's Steering PAGE 6 4 CGIAR NEWS Committee. I have always felt that GFAR uncommon opportunities for strength- especially where weaker NARS are is uniquely positioned to serve the ening ties between international, regional, looking to the CG system for support. In interests of developing country NARS by and national agricultural research enti- this context, it is important to recognize helping address those concerns that are ties. It is clear that developing country that many of the critical themes of our outside the mandate of the CG System. NARS have varying capabilities. Some time - biotechnology, genetic resources The forum is an absolute necessity regional fora are already active. Some are and enhancement, intellectual property because it brings about complementarity starting up, and will need our sustained rights, and global climate change to between diverse stakeholders such as the support. Therefore, my intention is to name a few - all transcend national CGIAR, NARS, donor community, and galvanize regional fora so that we can boundaries, and it is only through a our ultimate clients: the poor farmers of benefit from each others' experiences. global, coordinated effort that we can developing countries. Communication and information hope to make a difference. I am con- dissemination will be at the core of this vinced that if the GFAR did not exist, it Q: What next steps will you be effort, and it is my earnest hope that we would have had to be invented! taking to achieve GFAR's potential? will be able to provide unbiased advice A: The establishment of GFAR offers and support on a range of critical issues, RH) V,ARIF t E 'N N$- U, TO CAMBODIA Phnom Penh, Cambodia -Three "new" "When people were forced to relo- varieties: CAR ii, a high-quality, medi- traditional varieties of rice are once again cate by the Khmer Rouge government, um-maturing variety with extra-long, growing in Cambodian farmers' fields, they brought rice seeds from their own slender grains; and two good-quality, thanks to their conservation in IRRI's areas, but often these varieties were not late-maturing varieties-CAR 12 (with International Rice Genebank in the suited to their new locations," explains mild aroma) and CAR I3. "CAR" signi- Philippines. Edwin Javier, a Filipino plant breeder fies Cambodian rice. Cambodia's rainfed Because Cambodia possessed no with the Canmbodia-IRRI-Australia lowland rice ecosystem is highly diverse, cold storage facilities, its collection of Project (CIAP). requiring varieties of different growth rice germplasm was sent to IRRI in the In the I98os, after the strife had durations and photoperiod sensitivity. early I970S for safekeeping. Many of ended, seed samples of the lost "We can really attest to the value of these traditional varieties subsequently Cambodian rices were returned by IRRI conserving germplasm in the Inter- disappeared in Cambodia during the at the request of the new government. national Rice Genebank at IRRI," says long years of civil strife in that country as Recently, the Varietal Recommend- Dr. Javier. Eight of the 24 total varieties genebanks were destroyed or seed collec- ations Committee of Cambodia released released since I990 have been from this tions consumed by starving people. three strongly photoperiod-sensitive rice "lost" germplasm. CGIAR NEWS & PAGE 7 ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION IN AGRICULTURE Timothy G. Reeves, Director General, CIMMYT To be sustainable, farming systems must l I be economically viable, environmentally sound, socially acceptable, and politically supportable. To intensify agricultural Improved on-farm management, com- systems in sustainable ways, we must ; i crop varieties, is likely to miake the seek a new approach to research, one c v i tha adrsss holsstmsmre- ibiggest contribution to agricultural sus- that addresses whole systems, more effectively combines new technologies tainability in the coming decade. Five key and traditional knowledge, and better interventions will be the foundation for integrates farmers and communities into sustainable agriculture in many parts of the world: crop nutrition, soil organic r-esearch, development, and extension.i We at CIMMYT summarize this new matter, crop rotations, soil tillage, and T s ~~~integrated pest/weed management. paradigm as G (germplasm) x E (envi- - ronment) x M (management) x P (peo- ple). The following explores this new V THE ROLE OF PEOPLE (O P paradigm in terms of wheat and maize farming, but the paradigm can be Timothy G Reeves, Director General, CIMMYT If sustainable intensification of agricul- applied to all types of farming. ture is to be achieved, far greater emphasis farming areas reduces pressure to culti- must be given to an effective combina- [ T H E R O L E O F G E N O T Y P E ( G ) | vate more marginal (and often more frag- tion of farmers' traditional knowledge ile) environments; and higher produc- with the contributions of science. I o , et mtivity reduces poverty through lower food Just as sustainable agriculture requires a Improved, more robust wheat and maize genotypes add to the resilience of farm- prices and increased employment oppor- new research paradigm, it also requires a tunities. new paradigm for involving people - the ing systems and reduce production costs research-adoption continuum, which by using available soil nutrients and moisture more efficiently, tolerating THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENT iE) includes research, extension, industry, abiotic stresses such as nutrient defi- partners have a role in the process, from ciencies, soil toxicities, or drought, and CIMMYT is making an increased effort priority setting to adoption. contributing to biodiversity in farmers' to characterize maize and wheat produc- fields. tion environments. This work is impor- In addition, improved genotypes tant for understanding sustainability BRINGING IT TOGEIHER make other important contributions to challenges and to better target possible In working along the research con- sustainability: higher productivity means solutions. At CIMMYT we have long tinuum towards farmers' adoption of less land is required to produce the same practiced the use of mega-environments sustainable systems, three challenges harvests; higher productivity in favorable to guide plant breeding. present themselves. (I) A range of techno- PAGE 8 v& CGIAR NEWS logies must be integrated at the farm level. (2) There must be an effective and efficient way to "scale up" from individ- I I lEA PIONEE RS USE OF ual research sites. This issue is particu- larly iilportanit for CGIAR ceniters working A F RI C A L I N K ecoregionally. (3) Key information must be developed and disseminated among all The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has called IITA partners if they are to contribute effec- a "pioneer" for using the Internet in USAID's AfricaLink program to connect tively to sustainable farming systems. national agricultural researchers in Africa with the resources of the Institute's The tools of modern science show library and international staff. significant potential to meet these chal- The pioneering event began when Jack Reeves, head of IITA's Information lenges. Computer simulation models, Services Program, sent a short message to the National Agriculture and Animal GIS, and user-friendly information sys- Research Institute (NAARI), Namulonge, Uganda, to test a recently installed tems are key elements of research for high-frequency radio link with NAARI. The link connected NAARI to the sustainable intensification of agriculture, national telephone system, in Kampala, and through an Internet service Aside from helping to develop risk man- provider (ISP) to the Internet and thereby the world. agement strategies at both the farm and A reply soon came from the NAARI: "Thanks for the congratulatory mes- national levels, these tools are also the sage. Indeed, we have gone on E-mail. You are welcome aboard the information most effective means of extrapolating superhighway with NAARI.-Innocent Rugambwa, librarian." information in time and space-that is, in "I was thrilled when I received the message. A line from 'Casablanca' came addressing the issue of how to "scale up." to mind: This looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship," Reeves said. He immediately initiated a test to demonstrate AfricaLink's potential. A J 11 V 1' I 1 NI P AC '1 "The first thing I did was to propose to Innocent that NAARI scientists, To truly address the GxExMxP para- through her, could call upon the services and resources of IITA such as the digm, we need strategic partnerships, library and international staff," he explained. and as partners, we must bring to the Requests soon began traveling in. The most sophisticated test was trans- table all available and appropriate tech- mitting NAARI texts and graphics from journal articles archived in IITA's nologies. We know that "business as library. A request came for copies of pages from seven publications. usual" will not achieve sustainable inten- "We knew that we would have to find solutions to file conversion and com- sification of agriculture in farmers' fields. pression, to enable us to optimize file sizes to the absolute minimum, while CIMMYT has changed in ways that build retaining all relevant information. Tables, equations, and figures were our on its strengths in G while giving greater focus. Through experimentation with file formats, and acceptable reduction of emphasis to ExMxP. We seek to build quality, a document's file size can be reduced by go percent," explained Paul strong alliances with partners who have Philpot, IITA's Multimedia Consultant. strengths in these strategic areas-be they Within 3 hours of receiving the request, the information was ready for national research systems, advanced sending as attachments to NAARI via CGNET. research institutes, nongovernmental And the rest is history. Requests continue for information and expertise. organizations. the private sector, or other "I hope that our success will spur use of the Internet and E-mail as connec- international centers. tivity becomes available to more national agricultural research systems in (The full publication of Achieving Africa. AfricaLink is potentially revolutionary," Reeves said. Sustainable Intensification in Agriculture In East and Central Africa, AfricaLink is implemented by ICRAF, which is available from CIMMYT publications.) also provides the wireless communication for Namulonge in Uganda. CGIAR NEWS fr PAGE 9 BED PLANTING SYSTEMS Working in collaboration with Mexican Researchers at CIMMYT and institu- The distinct ecological benefits of researchers and farmers, CIMMYT has tions, such as Punjab Agricultural bed planting are particularly relevant. developed bed planting systems for University, are currently assessing the The system helps reduce the negative wheat that reduce the ecological impact system's suitability for other irrigated impact of wheat farming on the environ- of wheat cropping in irrigated environ- wheat-producing areas of the developing ment by improving water use efficiency ments. The system was originally world-for example, the Indian Punjab. and conservation, reducing the need for developed in Mexico's Yaqui Valley, With raised beds, farmers can tailor applying herbicides, helping to control where more than 90 percent of the farm- nitrogen applications to suit their pro- erosion, reducing the amount of nitro- ers have adopted the practice. duction goals and satisfy the crop's nutri- gen that "leaks" into the environment, In the system, farmers plant wheat ent needs. If nitrogen is applied just providing environmentally friendly on top of raised beds that are usually when the wheat plant starts to pull it options for managing crop residues, superficially reshaped for sowing the rapidly from the soil, yields increase, reducing soil compaction, and bettering next crop. Residues may be incorporated grain protein content improves, and the soil physical structure over time. grain's nutritional value is enhanced. The new system requires specifically Researchers have also determined that designed machinery. In Mexico, farmers, >. : -t by applying nitrogen at certain times, the researchers from national agricultural r - - X amount applied can be reduced and less research systems, and CIMMYT scientists ; !- - '( nitrogen is wasted through "leakage." have developed prototype equipment for f t. s , Yaqui Valley farmers have mainly forming and reshaping beds and adopted bed planting, because the sys- controlling weeds between the beds. In tem reduces production costs. In the the Indian Punjab, a local manufacturer Valley, the system has reduced costs by has built a prototype low-cost planter that about 30 percent. plants three rows of wheat on the beds at -I. In northwestern India, wheat farmers the same time as the beds are formed. If -_ r face two major constraints: weeds and it becomes widely available, farmers in |w j lodging. Bed planting can contribute to the region may find it easier to adopt bed solving both problems. planting. CIMMYT Scientist during reshaping or chopped and left on S _ ...- !I the soil surface. Irrigation is applied - through the furrows between the beds, which greatly enhances water conserva- tion and drainage. The great benefit for wheat produc- tion resulting from bed planting is the tremendously enhanced field access, which facilitates controlling weeds and other pests, handling nutrients, reducing tillage, and managing crop residues. Bed planting in India PAGE 10 "4' CGIAR NEWS MEETING DISCUSSES VISION FOR INDIAN AG-RICULT1JRE 1 k. Z - ~ , .-- Ismail Serageldin, CGIAR Chairman, protect the outcome of these efforts in farmers, and civil society. He cau- was the keynote speaker at the terms of products and processes, have tioned policymakers and researchers National Academy of Agricultural profound consequences for 'public that unless they mobilize science for Sciences' brainstorming session on goods' type research in which pro- the benefit of the farming community, "Scientists' Perception for Agriculture ducts are available freely. Moreover, it would spell the difference between -2020." American courts are defining the rules nations facing misery or well-being. The meeting, held in New Delhi of the game-regarding sharing knowl- in a sobering assessment, Mr. this summer, attracted many of edge, products, processes, genes, and Serageldin noted that the challenges to India's top agricultural scientists and germ-plasm-raising the specter of the agricultural sector and achieving policymakers. Mr. Serageldin briefed 'scientific apartheid' where developing food security are formidable with the audience about the spectacular countries run the risk of being locked 840 million people hungry, 2 billion developments taking place in biologi- out of the benefits of modern science. malnourished, and the environment cal sciences, and their potential to Mr. Serageldin called for a new under assault. Modern molecular transform agriculture. He noted that 'private-public' compact where the sciences offer considerable promise, the private sector is making phenome- best of cutting-edge science could be but also raise a complex mix of nal investments in biotechnology -$8 applied to staple food crops of devel- issues-ecological, ethical, legal, and to 9 billion annually in the United oping countries. The need is to find social-that must be confronted if the States alone and many agriculture- imaginative ways of developing con- products of biotechnology are to be related breakthroughs are occurring structive and equitable partnerships safely deployed in the service of within a proprietary science regime. among the private and public sectors, humanity. Extensive patenting laws, which national and international programs, CGIAR NEWS 4' PAGE 11 NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR IRRI Dr. Ronald P. Cantrell is the new Director at a better time. Population increases are General of IRRI. Dr. Cantrell, head of the accelerating demand for cereals just as agronomy department of Iowa State analysts are detecting what they call a dis- University, is a plant breeder with exten- --- turbing plateau in yield. Cantrell does sive experience in international agricul- not feel that agricultural research has tural research. After receiving degrees at reached the upper limits in rice produc- Texas Tech in agronomy and Purdue tion, but rather that the rate of produc- University in genetics and plant breed- tion increase is slowing-understandable ing, he led a farming system project in in light of the rapid initial gains of the Burkina Faso from I982 to 1984. "I'm . - . early Green Revolution years. not sure that in the very brief period of t "But these new tools are going to time I had in West Africa, I contributed t t allow us to pick up that rate of progress. mnuch," he said in a recent interview. Likewise, they're going to allow us to "What I gained was an awareness and a incorporate more qualities like native growing interest in international research f resistance and reduce the dependency on for the poor people of the world." 8 chemicals. And there are gains that can When asked if he would like to direct Dr. Ronald P. Cantrell, Director General, IRRI be made from the agronomic side, new CIMMYT's maize program, the decision tools from the remote sensing field like was easy: "It seemed really appealing to This similarity is underscored by devices that will measure the reflectance me, because I thought the international the new technologies now available to of light on plant leaves to give you an centers were capable of doing some researchers. "We're learning through a indication of nutrient levels ... All this things that I didn't see being done lot of the new molecular tools that we sounds futuristic, but it's happening very through the university system." He was have so much in common among the rapidly in the developing world, and it's at CIMMYT from I984 to I990 before various crops.. . We have the tools now to going to be important for IRRI to know joining Iowa State's respected agronomy go in and tag genes and transfer them to what they are and to see if there are appli- department. different material, to incorporate the cations for small-farmer conditions." IRRI's new director acknowledges gene into varieties. Those are tools we At the same time he is concerned that it's a big change from cattle ranching haven't had in the past. It's been very with rice yield and the crop's environ- in Texas, or even maize improvement in difficult to utilize what people call 'exotic mental friendliness, the new director Mexico or Iowa, to the grain that provides germplasm,' but now you can identify general will preside over IRRI at a time of food energy for a quarter of humanity. genes that you want to transfer that are significant change. As residents of the Yet, producers of rice face similar goals needed in your elite material, as opposed developing world raise their standard of and problems as other farmers. "It doesn't to our more traditional way of making living, Cantrell thinks, they will view rice matter whether you're growing maize in crosses and visibly selecting in the field." less as a commodity and more as a source Latin America or sorghum in India or The new technologies won't supplant of specialized products. "We'll need to do Africa or rice in the Philippines or China: classical plant breeding methods, "but research to change that rice kernel to pro- What subsistence farmers want to do, they are going to amplify that work and vide the products that the consumer and what their goals are, are pretty much make it better." wants," he says. "I'm really looking for- the same," says Cantrell. The new tools couldn't have arrived ward to the challenge." 4 PAGE 12 4' CGIAR NEWS M E S SAGE reasons, all of us-including our partners FACING THE FUTURE and beneficiaries-can find great satisfac- tion in what was accomplished. How the CGIAR System functions, the FROM Our future actions will have to be research agenda supported by the Group elaborated in alliance with many part- and implemented by the centers, T H E C H A I R M A N ners. Since MTM98, the World Bank has and numerous connected questions will already brought together a number of our receive common focus in the forthcoming partners in an important workshop on report of the distinguished System "Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in Review Panel led by Maurice Strong. We additional tool in the world's continuing Agriculture." It is noteworthy that during await the System Review report with efforts to eliminate poverty and hunger, great anticipation, expecting the wisdom while protectinig the enivironment. of the panel to guide us as we confront Stakeholders reviewed the state-of-the-art "We must ensurE that our voice and the future. We stand ready to adapt as both within and outside the CGIAR needed in the light of its recommenda- System, and discussed the needs and views, on behalf of the poor and the tions. opportunities for CGIAR programs and Among the problems that need investment in biotechnology research. environment, are heard in the mul- resolution is an erosion of support for From that beginning we intensively tiplicity of fora where discussions official development assistance (ODA) in examined the substance of the issues many countries of the industrialized and, finally, agreed at MTM98 on a are shaping the basis of a new glob- North. The combined ODA of countries number of action-oriented propositions. belonging to the Development Assistance We have agreed on the potential at regime. Ismail Serageldin Committee (DAC) of OECD has declined importance of biotechnology as an consistently in recent years. It dropped instrument to help the poor and the envi- from $58.9 billion in I995 to $55.5 billion ronment, although we reject the notion the course of the workshop participants in I996, and to $47.5 billion in I1997. The that it is some kind of magic bullet. from two national systems, Embrapa aggregate ratio of ODA to GNP in DAC Whatever we undertake will be within the (Brazil) and ICAR (India), both CGIAR countries, similarly, has dropped from ambit of our ethical principles, and with members, declared their strong interest 0.27 percent (1995) to 0.25 percent necessary precautions to ensure safety. in carrying out analysis of strategic (I996) to 0.22 percent last year. Only Up to now, this promising aspect of agri- issues concerning technology innovation, four countries-Denmark, Norway, the cultural science has been very much a including IPR in the development of Netherlands and Sweden-met or exceeded part of the commercialization of science. agriculture. the target adopted at the UN of a 0.7 Henceforth, the mobilization of its These and related issues will be percent ODA to GNP ratio. potential for public good-related research discussed on numerous platforms, for This is a trend that cannot be will be enhanced. We have clarified our instance at meetings of the Conference of ignored by the CGIAR, whose contribu- stand and the CGIAR centers' current Parties of the Convention on Biological tions are from ODA budgets. We need to practice on genetic resource manage- Diversity, and the World Trade Organiz- be creative, to explore all new avenues for ment, collaboration with the private ation. We must ensure that our voice and funding, ever vigilant, and re-double our sector, patenting and other important views, on behalf of the poor and the envi- resource mobilization effort. In this issues. ronment, are heard in the multiplicity of connection, independent, impact evalua- Our deliberations and decisions fora where discussions are shaping the tion is an essential instrument of confi- have, as well, reaffirmed the scientific basis of a new global regime. dence building in the ODA community, credibility of the System. Thus, for many and needs to be strengthened. CGIAR NEWS 40p PAGE 13 Scientists predict that climate change fl 35 j - . the forestry sector over the next 50 years will result in increased weather extremes by slowing deforestation and establish- (storms, floods, and droughts), loss of A ing tree plantations. Agricultural prac- biodiversity in tropical forests, loss of tices that can reduce greenhouse gases fertile coastal lands, increased incidence > ,_ , include the following: altered manage of pests, and other changes. This could ment of agricultural soils and range- have significant implications for the ¶jjj P^ lands; improved efficiency of fertilizer work of the CGIAR. Agricultural produc- use; restoration of degraded agricultural tion throughout the world could face lands and rangelands; methane recovery enormous difficulties as a result of glob- from storage of manure. al warming. In addition, agriculture is a significant contributor to anthropogenic "We need to think through sources of greenhouse gases and is approaches, not only in the energy responsible for about 70 percent of sector, but also in land management, of the total amount of methane and about During his presentation, Dr. Watson how to sequester carbon more effectively (9o percent of all nitrous oxide. Thus, explained how climate change could have both in above-ground biomass and forest agricultural research could potentially severe consequences for agricultural sys- and, and below-ground biomass in contribute to mitigation strategies that tems, forestry systems, human health, both agricultural systems and forestry reduce emissions. and ecological systems. Although global systems," Dr. Watson said. He invited agricultural production would be main- and encouraged CGIAR scientists to At MTM98, Dr. Robert Watson, tained, there could be significant region- work in partnership with the [PCC on Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on al effects, with reduced production in the these issues. The IPCC, an international Climate Change (IPCC) and Director tropics and subtropics, where many of body of 2,500 scientists from around of the World Bank's Environment the world's poorest live. Climate change the world, was created by the World Department, provided an overview of the experts predict increased risk of hunger Meteorological Organization and the UN latest scientific findings on climate and famine in Sub-Saharan Africa, Environment Programme to provide change and the significance for forestry South, East and Southeast Asia, and the authoritative global information on and agriculture. Given population tropical areas of Latin America as well as climate change. growth, economic growth, and taking some Pacific Island nations. The incre- into account energy prices and the avail- mental costs of adaptation could burden The CGIAR Technical Advisory ability of new energy technologies, scien- developing countries and analysts are Committee (TAC) is currently overseeing fists project that carbon dioxide concen- uncertain about developing countries' an assessment of ongoing CGIAR work trations would increase from 360 to 500 capacity to adapt in the face of projected that relates directly or indirectly to cli- parts per million by the year 2100. population growth. mate change mitigation and adaptation. According to computer climate models, A report by Dr. Alison Withey, who is temperatures will change between i and According to Dr. Watson, a number currently working with the U.S. Agency 3.5 degrees (centigrade), and sea level of mitigation options exist for agriculture for International Development will be will rise between IS and 95 centimeters. and forestry. Substantial amounts of car- discussed at TAC's September i998 bon can be sequestered or conserved in meeting. PAGE 14 t4 CGIAR NEWS t~~~~~. 'I.. - ;44 .C At0~V7>4;'i' . . . ' 6- ANNOUNCEMENTS 4 The CGIAR had a presence at the ent of the Fukui International IFAD "From Hope to Harvest" exhib- Koshihikari Rice Prize for outstand- it, which was held at the U.S. Capitol ing achievements in rice cultural J Uganda has joined the CGIAR, there- in Washington, D.C., this summer. development in the region. He will by increasing the total membership to The exhibit offered viewers an oppor- be sorely missed. Dr. R. K. Singh, 58, and the number of developing tunity to see how innovative and sen- IRRI, and Dr. Medan Dey, ICLARM, country members to 20. sitive collaboration between all sec- were also injured in the accident. * Amir Kassam from the TAC tors of society can make a difference 4 CIP has joined forces with the Swiss Secretariat will join WARDA in in combating hunger and rural Development Cooperation and the Secrtambriat willujoi WARDAtin poverty. Ministry of Agriculture of Bolivia and September as Deputy Director pvry General of Programs. v Dr. Dharmawansa Senadihira, a its National Potato Research Program distinguished plant breeding and to create a new research foundation, rGordon MacNeil from the CGIAR genetics scientist from IRRI, was PROINPA (Promoci6n e Investig- Secretariat has been appointed killed in a bus accident in Bangladesh aci6n de los Productos Andinos). on July 7, I998, where he was attend- The foundation is dedicated to pro- Guido Gryseels has been appointed ing an international conference, Dr. moting and researching Andean crops Executive Secretary of the Impact Senadihira was from Sri Lanka and in Bolivia. Assessment Evaluation Group. had recently been selected as recipi- AWARDS to a multidisciplinary team that contributed to the "Development of Integrated Pest Management in Groundnut with Special Attention to Defoliating Insects." JOHN RYAN RECEIVES AWARD FOR SOIL RESEARCH Scientists from ICRISAT, the national agricultural John Ryan of ICARDA received the International Soil research programs of India and Vietnam, nongovern- Science Award from the International Soil Society of mental organizations, farmers, and media representatives America for his work in dryland areas. As the head of the from Andhra Pradesh made up the team. soils laboratory at ICARDA, Dr. Ryan is responsible for soil test standardization throughout the West Asia-North GIRO ORITA HONORED BY THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN Africa region. He has a career publication record that A long-term ICARDA scientist, Dr. Giro Orita, has been includes seven books and over 250 journal articles, pro- awarded the Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver ceedings, and abstracts to his credit. Dr. Ryan contributes Rays, the highest decoration in Japan for Japanese experts to regional and international meetings and serves as a working overseas, by His Majesty Emperor of Japan reviewer for several journals. Akihito. A Japanese veterinarian, Dr. Giro Orita rendered outstanding service to animal health in Syria for 34 years. 1PM TEAM WINS SECOND MASHLER AWARD In I983, Dr. Orita began working with ICARDA on the AT ICRISAT health of sheep and goats. Although he retired from The second Doreen Margaret Mashler Distinguished ICARDA in I99o, he has retained a strong link as an Scientific Achievement Award was presented at ICRI SAT Honorary Senior Scientist. CGIAR NEWS -4W PAGE 15 ;- ~~T CGIAR Chairman CGIAR CENTERS Ismail Serageldin International Center for Tropical International Food Policy Research Agriculture (CIAT) Institute (IFPRI) CGIAR Executive Secretary Cali, Colombia Washington, DC, United States Alexander von der Osten Phone: (57-2) 4450000 Phone: (1-202) 862-5600 Web: http://www.cgiar.org/ciat Web: http://www.cgiar.org/ ifpri Cosponsors Center for International Forestry . International Irrigation Food and Agriculture Organization of Research (CIFOR) Management Institute (IIMI) the United Nations Bogor, Indonesia Colombo, Sri Lanka Phone: (62-25I) 622 622 (operator) Phone: (94-1) 867404 Web: http://wxvw.cgiar.org/cifor Web: http://www.cgiar.org/iimi United Nations Environment Programme International Center for the International Institute of Tropical The World Bank Improvement of Maize and Wheat Agriculture (IITA) (CIMMYT) Ibadan, Nigeria CGIAR Members Mexico City, Mexico Phone: (234-2) 2412626 Phone: (52-5) 726 90 9I Web: http://www.cgiar.org/iita Countries Web: http://www.cimmyt.mx Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, International Livestock Research Canada, China, Colombia, COte dIlvoire, Denmark, International Potato Center (CIP) Institute (ILRI) Lima, Peru Nairobi, Kenya Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Phone: (5I-I) 349-60I7 Phone: (254-2) 630743 Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Fax: (5i-s) 349-5638 Web: http://www.cgiar.org/ilri Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Web: http://www.cgiar.org/cip *InternationaI Plant Genetic Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, International Center for Agricultural Resources Institute (IPGRI) I'ortugal, Romania, Russian Federation, South Research In the Dry Areas Rome, Italy Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, (ICARDA) Phone: (39-6) 5I892i Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic Web: http://www.cgiar.org/ipgri Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America Phone: (963-2I) 213433 Web: http://www.cgiar.org/icarda International Rice Research Foundations Institute (IRRI) . International Center for Living Los Basios, Philippines Ford Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Aquatic Resources Management Phone: (63-2) 8450563 Rockefeller Foundation (ICLARM) Web: http://www.cgiar.org/irri Makati City, Philippines International and Regional Organizations Phone: (63-2) 8I2-864I tO 47 International Service for National Web: http://www.cgiar.org/idarm Agricultural Research (ISNAR) African Development Bank, Arab Fund for The Hague, The Netherlands Economic and Social Development, Asian International Centre for Research Phone: (3I-70) 3496I00 in Agroforestry (ICRAF) Web: http://www.cgiar.org/isnar Development Bank, European Commission, Food Nairobi, Kenya and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Phone: (254-2) 52I450 West Africa Rice Development Inter-American Development Bank, International Web: http://www.cgiar.org/icraf Association (WARDA) Bouake, Cote d'lvoire Development Research Centre. International Fund International Crops Research Phone: (225) 634514 for Agricultural Development, Opec Fund for Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics Web: http://www.cgiar.org/warda International Development, United Nations (ICRISAT) Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India Development Programme. United Nations Phone: (9I-40) 59616i Environment Programme, World Bank Web: http://www.cgiar.org/icrisat N; CGIAR NEWS @ Printed on Recycled Paper