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Los Baños, Laguna: The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
has appointed a leading German soil scientist as head of its
research programs for the next 5 years. Born in East Germany, Achim
Dobermann takes over one of the world’s largest and most respected
rice research programs at a crucial time for the crop that feeds
almost half the world.
Rice production is under unprecedented pressure
globally, causing rice prices to rise to historically high levels.
Rice research will also be on the agenda of the United Nations
High-Level Conference on World Food Security next week.
As IRRI’s new deputy director general for
research, Dr. Dobermann is responsible for rice research programs,
projects, and activities in almost every Asian nation as well as
important new partnerships in Africa.
“Dr. Dobermann brings to the position the
energy, enthusiasm, and expertise to drive and direct the research
that can reverse the decline in productivity gains that have
resulted in the world consuming more rice than it produces—and the
consequent price rises that can push poor rice consumers deeper into
poverty,” said IRRI Director General Robert Zeigler.
“The appointment of Dr. Dobermann,” said Dr.
Zeigler, “furthers IRRI’s mission to attract some of the best
and brightest minds in the world to solve the biggest problems
facing rice production in Asia and beyond.”
Comprehensive background information on the rice
price crisis—and IRRIs response—is available at a special new
website: http://solutions.irri.org.
IRRI’s new media officer and spokesperson,
Adam Barclay, who also edits IRRI’s Rice Today magazine (www.irri.org/ricetoday)
replaces Duncan Macintosh, who has become IRRI’s development
director.
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