The Rockefeller Foundation's International Programme on Rice Biotechnology
The organization and administration of the Rockefeller Foundation's International Programme on Rice Biotechnology has been discussed by Toenniessen (1995). The programme is described as an integrated set of research, training, technology-transfer and capacity-building activities. It is structured to produce improved rice varieties that will benefit low-income rice producers and consumers in developing countries. The grants and fellowships awarded under the Program are designed to contribute to one or more of its clearly defined aims. These include the development of biotechnology for application to tropical rice, the strengthening of biotechnology capacity in rice-dependent countries, the greater understanding of the consequences of technical changes in agriculture and the application of this knowledge to the production of improved seed and other materials used by farmers.
The programme operates within clearly defined policies on proprietary rights and biosafety. It is a condition of the award of grants that all materials and technology resulting from research supported within the programme should be freely available to all participants for use in developing countries. At the same time, grantees are encouraged to pursue intellectual property rights on their discoveries to obtain an economic return in developed countries to support further research and to maintain a strong bargaining position.
To help establish biosafety systems that are workable, effective and based on rigorous scientific evaluation, the programme includes contributions from professionals from agencies and organizations that have experience and responsibilities in these areas. In addition, the Foundation helped to establish the Biotechnology Advisory Commission, a unit of the Stockholm Environment Institute. The commission is designed to help developing countries assess the possible environmental, health and socio-economic effects of proposed biotechnology introductions.
It was recognised from the outset that creating the programme and its associated networking activities would be an evolutionary process and require a long-term commitment. From its beginnings in 1984, the programme has now clearly demonstrated the value of this approach. It has shown how relatively small inputs can act as "leverage" for larger contributions. Those who participate in the programme acquire a sense of ownership that induces them to help each other and to contribute in ways that far exceed their formal commitment. This long-term nature of the programme, with the prospect of renewed grants, has been one essential element of success. Another has been the rigorous scientific review of quality and progress that has been a feature from the outset.
Grants and fellowships are awarded within a semi-competitive framework and, in addition to the information they make available, they have also provided valuable training opportunities. Some proposals are submitted on the initiative of prospective grantees; others are solicited by the programme administrators. Workshops have proved useful in identifying important research areas. The programme has had close links with IRRI, CIAT and WARDA, but the Centres have not acted as implementing agencies.
Some of the principles developed in this programme have also been applied to other networks and other crops, but there is clearly scope for their wider application.
Reference
Toenniessen, G.H. (1995). The Rockefeller Foundation's International Program on Rice Biotechnology. In: Altman, D.W. and Watanabe, K.N. (eds.) Plant Biotechnology Transfer to Developing Countries. R.G. Landes Co.
