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Bulletin
20-24 November No. 2006.45
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 27 Days Before Christmas |
ASEAN
endorses important rice activities for Southeast
Asia
 Singapore – Rice production in Southeast Asia, arguably the region’s most important industry, has received a major boost with the endorsement of three new strategies by the agricultural ministers of the ten-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Implemented and coordinated by IRRI, the new measures are aimed at three major challenges facing rice production in ASEAN:
- The environment. ASEAN has endorsed the development of a series of environmental indicators for rice production in the region focused on production, biodiversity, pollution, land degradation, and water.
- Getting the latest
knowledge and information to rice farmers. ASEAN
has endorsed the further development of IRRI's Rice Knowledge Bank for rice farmers, Asia’s first digital extension service in agriculture.
- Developing the next generation of rice farmers and scientists. Few young people in Asia today are interested in rice production, despite its obvious importance to the region, so ASEAN has endorsed the development of
rice camps for young Asians to encourage them to consider a career in rice.
The decision to endorse the three new activities was made at the 28th meeting of the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF)
in Singapore on 16 November.
Click here to read the full details of the ASEAN ministerial joint statement.
“To have the ten nations of ASEAN endorse these very important activities at the ministerial level is obviously a crucial step forward, and we are very grateful for such high-level political support,”
Director General Dr. Robert S. Zeigler said. “With major Asian rice producers such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia,
the Philippines, and Myanmar now officially part of these activities, we hope to reach out to other countries in Asia--especially China and India--for their support also.”
Dr. Zeigler said having all ASEAN
members supporting the Rice Knowledge Bank makes it one of the most important tools for Asian agriculture now available on the Internet. “ASEAN is also now a world leader in the development of environmental indicators for agriculture, as this level of ministerial support has not been achieved anywhere else,”
he added.
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| IRRI Annual Program Review continues through Thursday (23 November)
 The IRRI
Annual Program Review (APR) continues this week through Thursday (23 November) in Umali ABC (photo). This meeting is one of the few occasions in the year when all IRRI staff involved in the MTP programs, including IRRI liaison scientists, regional/country representatives, and outposted IRS, get together to discuss scientific, programmatic, and research management issues of the Institute. Major discussions this year involve the targets and outputs of the seven new
programs in IRRI’s MTP 2007-09.
Presenters are urged to lodge their
PowerPoint presentations in the appropriate subfolder on the T: drive at
T:/APR2006. The files will then be transferred to the more permanent repository on the K: drive at
K:/APR2006. OU heads are encouraged to urge NRS to attend relevant sessions and the DG has invited spouses to attend as well. Click here to view the remaining APR schedule, which has some adjustments due to some changes in the order of presentations.
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| DG holds 9th monthly breakfast with employees
Nineteen employees (photo) joined the DG last Friday (17 November) for the 9th in his series of monthly breakfasts.
During
the informal gathering, a variety of topics was discussed, which the DG passed on to appropriate staff/OUs for responses. One question was,
if a spouse is employed by another institution that offers health care, can that spouse be dropped and an adult child added to the IRRI coverage to replace the spouse? Answer: The standing policy does not allow any such substitutions. continued 
In the photo (L-R): Noel Lantican, Ildefonso Cosico, Rodrigo Fule, Pablo Erasga, Lucio Caramihan, Jocelyn Go, Cornelia Garcia, Zorayda Menguito, DG, Angelita Romena, Gina Ypil, Jonnel de Jesus, Evangelina Ella, Frances Tesoro, Rodolfo Toledo, Ana Lyn Genil, Cynthia Quintos, Andres Godwin Sajise, Johnny Goloyugo, and Julian Lapitan.
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New Greenpeace report sets out future for world's most important staple food
 A new report from Greenpeace,
Future of Rice, describes "varied ways" in which scientists and farmers are improving rice production, such as through marker-assisted selection, without relying on genetic engineering.
According to the Greenpeace press release, the report "debunks the myth" that genetic engineering companies can secure the future of rice. Greenpeace launched its report at a press conference in India, accompanied by Indian farmers protesting field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops.
Commenting on the report,
which contains many IRRI references in the rice
literature, K. Nammalwar, a well-known Indian organic farming scientist, says: "The real solutions to ensure sustainable rice production already exist in farms around the world. These solutions, based on traditional knowledge combined with cutting-edge technology, are far more reliable and acceptable than destructive industrial agriculture and imprecise genetic engineering." Divya Raghunandan of Greenpeace India points to recent incidents in China and the U.S. where unapproved GM rice has become intermixed with the food supply, and urges the Indian government to "take the lead
in developing a long-term, sustainable, GM-free rice supply." Click here to access the report on the Greenpeace Web site.
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Former IRRI BOT Chair Rudy Rabbinge named Science Council Chair
 Roelof "Rudy" Rabbinge,
former IRRI BOT Chair (1995-2000), has been appointed by the CGIAR as
Science Council chair (2007-09), succeeding Per Pinstrup-Andersen.
Dr. Rabbinge is currently chairman/dean of the Wageningen Graduate Schools in the Netherlands and university professor for
sustainable development and systems innovation. He led various missions and agricultural programs in developing countries and served as editor of several journals. He was also co-chair of the InterAcademy
Panel on Food Security and Agricultural Productivity
in Africa. He is presently a member of the Senate of
the Netherlands Parliament and chairman of the Royal Institute of the Tropics, and
he serves on the boards of various international agribusiness firms.
Born in The Netherlands on 8 November 1946, he holds degrees in phytopathology, entomology, theoretical production ecology, and philosophy of science.
Dr. Rabbinge has been invited to join the AGM06 and participate as an observer at the business meeting. It will be an opportunity to introduce him as
Science Council chair-designate.
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CERS seminar to tackle Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003
The House of Representatives Committee on Population and Family Relations chaired by Congressman Reynaldo Uy (1st District, Samar) and IRRI Community and Employee Relations Services (CERS) will conduct a seminar-consultation for senior citizens in Laguna on the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003 at the D.L. Umali conference room on 6 December.
House Committee members Ed Zialcita (1st District, Parañaque) and Mario Aguja (Akbayan Party List) are expected to join Congressman Uy during the seminar-consultation and tour of IRRI facilities.
The senior citizens invited to attend the seminar will come from Calamba City and the municipalities of Los Baños, Bay, Pila, Sta. Cruz, and Victoria. Also invited are representatives from the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA)
of those municipalities and city government.
The photo above shows CERS Manager Chat Ocampo discussing the CERS seminar-consultation with senior citizens. continued
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| NAST to present Philippine agriculture strategic plan
The National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST, Philippines) will present to the public the rice industry strategic plan under the Philippine Agriculture in 2020 Stratplan at the Traders Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Manila, on 23 November.
  The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), Asia Rice Foundation (ARF), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), and the Butil (Grain) Party are cosponsors of the long-term Philippine Agriculture in 2020 strategic plan.
Executive Assistant Ramon Oliveros (left) of the Office of the DDG-OSS and Information Services Specialist Johnny F. Goloyugo (right) of CERS
will represent IRRI during the public presentation of the strategic plan.
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Note from Gary Atlin in Mexico
Dear friends,
Karen and I have left IRRI for a new position at CIMMYT. We had a wonderful 6 years at IRRI, and will miss all of our friends and colleagues, but I’m sure we’ll be back to visit often. If you need to get in touch with me, my e-mail address is the same as ever: g.atlin@cgiar.org. It wasn’t working for about 2 days, so, if you sent me anything and it bounced, please re-send. Karen’s
e-mail is karenklee@atlin.org.
Our mailing address is: CIMMYT,
Apdo. Postal 6-641,
06600 Mexico, D.F., Mexico.
Tel: +52(595) 9521900;
Fax: +52(595) 9521983.
Best of luck to you all! Warm regards,
Gary.
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IRRI football teams participate in the 11th Alaska Football Cup
 On 12 November, the IRRI
men’s and ladies’ football teams competed in the 11th Alaska Football Cup at the Ayala Alabang Country Club.
The men’s team played in the Men’s Open category, where they were pitted against Philippine Military Academy, Makati All-Japan, Kaya, and Union FC. The IRRI
men’s team was composed of Rhulyx Mendoza, Arnold Manza, Adam Barclay, Kofi Bimpong, Icoy Mercado, Fujita Daisuke, Jon Mendoza, Khammanichanh Thongsavanh, Karl Robles, Yobi Almazan, and
the Telosa brothers, Anthony and Jojo.
The IRRI ladies’ team
played in the Ladies’ Open category and was bracketed with De La Salle University, Pampanga Agricultural College, UP Laya, and University of Santo Tomas. The team was composed of Tetet Banaticla, Mutya Aller, Val Corrales, Mae Merluza, Darlene Sanchez, Gay Carrillo, Mildred Mejino, Aileen Lapitan, Sandy Magcayang, Cindy Salazar, Janice Bautista, and Elysse Herrald-Woods.
Gay Carrillo and Darlene Sanchez scored a goal each
in separate matches to win 1-0 over Pampanga Agricultural College and UP Laya, respectively. The
team tied 0-0 with UST but suffered a loss to top contender DLSU through a lone penalty. Click here to watch a photo presentation of the event.
The Alaska Cup, now in its 11th year, is the biggest 7-a-side football event in the Philippines, with more than 300 teams participating each year. Click here to read an account of the game by Aileen Lapitan.
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From the DG's desk
Special year-end activities 2006
I would like to announce several year-end activities.
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 As in past years, employees who have completed 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of service in 2006 will be eligible to receive a plaque and a cash award (NRS only). The IRRI Treasury will release the cash awards in December, whereas the respective organizational unit (OU) heads will present the plaques within their OUs before the year-end break.
- A special lunch to honor all employees who have achieved 25, 30, 35, or 40 years of service in 2006 will be held at the IRRI Dining Room on Monday, 18 December, at 12:00 noon. Honorees will receive a personal invitation for themselves, their spouse, and their immediate supervisor.
- The afternoon of Friday, 15 December, has been set aside for the Institute-wide Christmas party for all IRRI headquarters staff, with the theme, Rice Up! It’s Christmas. This will be held in front of Drilon Hall. Various activities prior to the event will be arranged and announced by the Christmas Party Committee.
- Each core and project NRS on board since 1 October 2006 will receive a food basket and a cash gift of Php2,000 during the second week of December 2006.
- Scholars, Kabesilya leaders, agency, emergency, and contractual personnel, as well as staff engaged on professional service appointments, will receive a token Christmas gift provided that they have served at least six months as of 1 October 2006.
- During the 23 December–1 January 2007 period, the Institute will be closed for the annual special year-end holiday. On Tuesday, 2 January 2007, IRRI will reopen and the 2007 work year will begin. Please note that if the Philippine government declares a holiday on 2 January 2007, work will resume the following day, 3 January.
As the festive season gets under way, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to all IRRI staff and their families.
30 November 2006, Thursday: working
day; 1 December 2006,
Friday: nonworking day
President Gloria M. Arroyo has declared 1 December 2006, Friday, as a non-working
holiday throughout the country, while 30 November 2006, Bonifacio Day, has been
declared a working day.
All activities and celebrations in observance of Bonifacio Day
will be observed on 30 November.
Essential services shall be maintained as usual. Employees who are on staggered
schedule and assigned to work on said non-working day should report for work as
scheduled. Non-supervisory employees who may be required to work on this day will
be paid additional compensation in accordance with statutory and Institute
regulations.
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Click here
to keep up-to-date with the
latest news and features about rice from Web sites
worldwide:
* USAID supports return of rice production to Chokwé, Mozambique
*
Lomibao optimistic RP
will stop rice importation by 2010
* Berbice rice millers, farmers in support of VAT
* Rice
Production In Philippines' Central Visayas Rises 18% Jan-Oct
* Export Bans Surprise Markets
* Ifugao farmers resume rice cropping as tungro virus weakens
* And much, much more
Click here to read about news and events at the TC via its Web site.
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 NEWS ALERT
Click here to read news and feature stories and see more about what's new via the DPPC Web site. |
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Subm ergence tolerance:
molecular mechanisms in waterproof rice
In last week's Thursday seminar (16 November), Sigrid Heuer,
PBGB scientist, discussed submergence tolerance and how it
works, using sequence information for molecular marker
development and screening for novel tolerance genes.
Click here to view her PowerPoint presentation. Click here
to follow along with the audio of her presentation.
Note: Thirty-four past Thursday seminars (since 26 May 2005) have been archived on the K: drive at
K:/IRRI
Thursday Seminars. PowerPoint files are included for all of these seminars with audio files (to follow along) available for most of them.
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 Indian scientists who
have served IRRI--how many
can you identify?
During the 2nd International Rice Congress in New Delhi, India, 9-13 October, a poster with
the illustrated likenesses of Indian scientists who have
served IRRI on the staff and/or the BOT was featured at the
IRRI exhibit. The purpose of the poster, whose 38 likenesses
were drawn by New Delhi artist L.B. Singh, was to highlight IRRI-India collaboration throughout
the Institute's 46-year history.
You can probably easily identify those
illustrated at left, but how many more can you name? Click here to find out.
The answers will be revealed in next week's Bulletin.
IRRI Mozartians celebrate Mozart's life in Sunday
performance
 To celebrate the
music of Mozart, the organization of IRRI Mozartians held a mini-concert on
on Sunday afternoon (19 November) at the Havener Auditorium. Click here
to view a 5:18-minute video glimpse of the performances. Watch
the Bulletin for occasional additional clips from this very
entertaining program, which showcases the incredible talents
of the IRRI staff.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (right) was the musical genius who gave us the golden oldie, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music). He was born in Salzburg on 27 January 1756 and died in Vienna on 5 December 1791. In his short life, he produced 23 operas, 41 symphonies, 27 piano concertos, and many other instrumental and vocal compositions. The 250th anniversary of his birth is being celebrated worldwide throughout 2006.
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 21 November: 2000, The Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) in Phnom Penh is inaugurated, which is the fruit of many years of work involving the Cambodia-IRRI-Australia project (CIAP).
22 November: 2002, J.K. Ladha, soil nutritionist, is named a fellow of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA) and Sant Virmani, plant breeder, receives International Service in Crop Science Award from the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA).
 23 November: 1962, Princess (later Queen) Beatrix of Netherlands visits IRRI; 2003, David J. Mackill, head of the Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biochemistry Division, is selected as a fellow of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA); 2004, 1) Shaobing Peng, senior crop physiologist, is named a fellow of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA). 2) Director General Ron Cantrell announces the establish-ment of the IRRI Environmental Council (IEC), with the mandate of providing a mechanism to ensure the long-term implementation, continued development, and evolution as well as success of the IRRI Environmental Agenda (IEA).
24 November: 2004, J.K. Ladha, soil nutritionist, is selected as a fellow of the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA).
Click here
to view significant dates throughout
the calendar year. If you have some dates to add or correct,
please contact Gene Hettel.
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 IT tips & info from Paul O'Nolan
 New:
Webcam view of IRRI long-term trials
and Mt. Banahaw
Virtual visits to IRRI will soon be possible.
You will be able to check on the weather in Los
Baños and admire the spectacular scenery via a
webcam on the Internet. A camera has been
mounted on Chandler Hall with a view of the
long-term rice trials and Mt. Banahaw. It's
already accessible via the Internet. The address
will be published later, after our new Internet
link is operational (the contract for this will
be signed this Thursday and the link should
be active shortly afterwards). We need to ensure
that there isn't too much traffic on our network
from too many simultaneous users; our faster
Internet link will help.
Joy of training
Click here to view the IT Learning Center SharePoint site and have access to learning materials, training schedules, course outlines, Joy of Training tips, and a whole lot more!
IT Training Schedule, December 2006
To register, e-mail IRRI ITLC or call x2656.
 Language Hints by Bill Hardy
Don’t use “would” if “will” is more appropriate: “The afternoon session (would? will?) start at 1330 instead of 1315.” Use “The afternoon session will start at 1330 instead of 1315.”
Does the following sentence contain a mistake?: “A virus may also show no symptoms but may be programmed to deliver it’s payload on a specific date or time.” “It’s” is a contraction for “it is” or “it has” so “to deliver it is payload” or “to deliver it has payload” makes no sense. This sentence would be clearer if it said “A virus may also show no symptoms but be programmed to deliver its payload on a specific date or at a specific time.” Note the difference.
Too many acronyms? Well, you should have been warned before attending the Annual Program Review. Choose your favorite: MTP, SNPs, INRM, IPM, MAS, MDGs, CPWF, CURE, GCP, CRIL, RWC, GMRO, RISE, and DSR. If you don’t know one of these, ask your program leader. What about TMA?: too many #$*&! acronyms!
 Library corner
Books of popular interest
Eating and healing: traditional food as medicine by A. Pieroni, L.L. Price. Food Products Press, 2006. 406 p. RS164.E26 2006
This book explores the gray area between food and medicine and the diverse ways in which these two cosmos overlap and penetrate each other in traditional and indigenous cultures. Spanning geographical diversity, it looks in depth on wild and semidomesticated foods--wild plants, seaweed, mushrooms, etc. One of the authors, Dr. Lisa Price, used to be a senior scientist at IRRI.
Retaining your best people. Harvard Business School Press, 2006. 172 p. HF5549.5.R58R48 2006
It is usually a tough responsibility for managers to keep an organization’s “top-shelf talents.” This guide offers an array of effective solutions, including how to recognize early warning signs of defection, use effective reward systems, create new learning opportunities, and exploit the unique abilities of young professionals.
The road to scientific success: inspiring life stories of prominent researchers by D.D.L. Chung, ed. World Scientific Publishing, 2006. 230 p. Reference Q141.R49 2006
This is the initial volume of a new book series. Nobel prize winners and other successful scientists share their life experiences in relation to how success was attained, how careers were nurtured, how their research was directed, how goals were set, and the difficulties met.
Taking control of your time. Harvard Business School Press, 2005. 154 p. HD69.T54R47 2005
This guide provides tested strategies for managing work overload, prioritizing demands, and sharpening focus. It aims to enable managers to make smart decisions fast, formulate effective plans, anticipate events, and avoid burnout and stress-related problems.
Newly acquired rice technical literature
Gutjahr, C. Acrylamide inhibits gravitropism and affects microtubules in rice coleoptiles. Protoplasma 227(2/4): 211-222. 2006. Reprint 2006/4710
Lee, M. O. Two novel protein kinases, OsMSRPK1 and OsMSURPK2, are regulated by diverse environmental stresses in rice. J. Plant Biol. 49(3): 247-256. June 2006. Reprint 2006/4729
Lu, J. The accumulation of deleterious mutations in rice genomes: a hypothesis on the cost of domestication. Trends Genet. 22(3): 126-131. Mar. 2006. Reprint 2006/4725
Nozu, Y. Proteomic analysis of rice leaf, stem and root tissues during growth course. Proteomics 6(12): 3665-3670. June 2006. Reprint 2006/4707
Pagliano, C. Evidence for PSII donor-side damage and photoinhibition induced by cadmium treatment on rice (Oryza sativa L.). J. Photochem. Photobiol. B. Biol. 84: 70-78. 2006. Reprint 2006/4727
Wang, H. Y. Cry1Ab protein from Bt transgenic rice does not reside in rhizosphere soil. Environ. Pollut. 143(3): 449-455. Oct. 2006. Reprint 2006/4711
Additions to the rice theses collection
Some useful Web sites
Online Education Database: Accredited Online Schools and Programs
Directory of accredited colleges and universities with full or partial online course and degree offerings. Browse by school, program, or degree level. Site also features a library of articles.
Plant Cultures: Exploring Plants & People
The central aim of Plant Cultures is to convey the richness and complexity of links between Britain and South Asia, through the story of plants and people. It is aimed at anyone interested in understanding the world around them. Sections include Plants, Themes, Stories, Pictures, Activities,
and Schools.
Free Trial access to Plant Science Journals via Blackwell Synergy
Table of Contents Alerts
(for relevant, non-subscribed journals)
Nature reviews genetics,
No. 12, Dec. 2006
Nutrition Research , Vol. 26, No. 11, Nov. 2006
Photosynthetica, Vol. 44, No. 4, Dec. 2006
Wetlands ecology and management, Vol. 14, No. 6, Dec. 2006
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The October 2006 issue of Sandiwa is now available
online.
Click here to view this
and other back issues.
New book:
IP Management in Health & Agricultural Innovation: A Handbook of Best Practices
 The IP Management Handbook will be published in Spring 2007. It contains more than 135 chapters plus case studies and sample agreements. Prepared for policy makers, leaders of public-sector research establishments, technology transfer professionals, licensing executives, and scientists, the book offers information and strategies for using the power of both IP and the public domain.
It illustrates how IP can be judiciously leveraged to forge stronger partnerships and usher in a new age of collaboration and sharing. The book puts aside ideological debates to focus on pragmatic considerations and practical opportunities. Written by practitioners in the field, its chapters are a comprehensive resource on current IP management issues and approaches. While the authors always keep their eye on the big picture, the Handbook eschews general proclamations. Instead, it puts forward thoughtful dialogue aimed at real-world problems faced by those who want to put IP to work for the public sector and public interest.
Funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, the book will be shared for free with low- and middle-income countries (subject to availability of funding and sponsorship). The price paid by people and institutions in high-income countries therefore has real value: For every copy purchased, copies will be distributed to developing countries for free.
For pre-orders, please visit www.ipHandbook.org, where you can also download five sample chapters for free. Click here to view a pdf file of the book's flyer (image above).
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Planning for
pandemic flu |
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Photos of the Week
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The magic of Photoshop
by Gene Hettel (CPS)
Three students from Mr. Martin Ogle’s Brent-IRRI class, (L-R) Kata Gummert, Tessa Ogle, and Jingfei Peng,
discover the magic of Photoshop.
With them is Mr. Ogle (at left) and CPS Graphic Designer Boyet Lazaro
(far right), who is showing them the different facets of the software
including how to morph photographs.
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Ms. Earth Pakistan meets Samantha
the snake
by George Reyes (CPS)
The Ms. Earth candidate from Pakistan tries to embrace Samantha, the resident python, during the
Miss Earth candidiates' visit to Exotik Restaurant in Paete, Laguna.
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