IRRI medium-term plans 2007-2009; 2008-2010

Over the last decade, the world has experienced three interlinked scientific and technological revolutions unlike any other in such a short time span. First, the revolution in molecular biology and genetics is yielding insights, only dreamed of a decade ago, into the functioning and nature of organisms. Second is the revolution in data storage and computational power to handle the vast amounts of data these discoveries entail. Third, the communications revolution allows exchange of, access to, and distributed analysis of nearly unimaginably large and complex data sets. These rapid advances are revolutionizing all aspects of rice science. How well the fruits of technology are used will determine to a large extent the fate of rice production—the main global agricultural undertaking.

Meanwhile, the physical environment—including the agroecosystems in which IRRI works—is changing. It is now realized that climate change is not some vague future problem. It is already damaging the planet at an alarming pace. Further, the institutional environment (IRRI’s partners in advanced and national research institutions) and population concerns (the demography of poverty and hunger) are changing also.

IRRI’s new strategic plan for the period 2007–2015, Bringing Hope, Improving Lives, looks at the implications for rice production of these changing environments, in the context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Plan, which took effect on 1 January 2007, embraces the scientific and technological revolutions that have made available opportunities that were unimaginable a decade ago when IRRI developed its strategic plan IRRI Toward 2020. It also recognizes that advances in these areas alone are necessary but insufficient to solve the enormous problems and challenges that face the world today. Solving these problems requires not only creative applications of science and technology but also appropriate policies and social interventions.

IRRI’s new programs are described in Medium-Term Plan (MTP) 2007-2009 and MTP 2008-2010 and they represent a major restructuring from previous MTP research portfolios.

Click here to view a pdf file of the 2007-2009 MTP (about 1,660 kb) and click here to view a pdf file of the 2008-2010 MTP (about 1,400 kb).