A genetic conservation group yesterday criticised the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for failing to protect genetic material of Thai jasmine rice held in its gene bank.

Biothai, a non-governmental organisation focusing on community rights and bio-diversity demanded the institute be more transparent in handling its seed collection, access to which is highly prized by global plant breeders.

IRRI admitted recently that some of its researchers had provided jasmine rice seeds to US plant breeders Chris Deren and Neil Rutger without formally notifying the institute or the Thai government, the donor and owner of the seeds.

Biothai director Witoon Lianchamroon called on the Agriculture Ministry to intervene and demand to inspect IRRI's working procedures.

"It seems to me that IRRI is under the control of developed countries - the United States in particular. It should not be trusted with our rice genetic materials any longer if it does not allow us, as an important contributor of the materials, to inspect its working system," he said.

Non-profit, Philippines-based IRRI was established in 1960 with the primary goal of finding sustainable ways of improving the living standards of poor rice farmers and consumers. Over the years, member countries have contributed samples of the genetic materials of their rice varieties for storage in IRRI's gene bank in the hope that the materials could be developed for the benefit of mankind. Material from about 5,500 Thai rice varieties are stored in the bank, making Thailand IRRI's fourth-largest donor.

Witoon said many scientists working for IRRI come from developed countries and are not concerned about the rights of developing countries as owner-states of most of the material.

"If IRRI ignores our demand to improve its working procedures to ensure the rights of the owner-countries are protected, I suggested the Agriculture Ministry withdraw its IRRI membership and bring back all our rice varieties for storage in a domestic bank," he said.

Rutger is head of a US Depart-ment of Agriculture programme to genetically develop Thai jasmine rice to make it suitable for cultivation in the US climate. Boriboon Somrith of IRRI's Bangkok office said Rutger used his personal ties with an IRRI scientist to obtain the seeds without lodging a formal request with the institute.

IRRI has since asked the US breeders to sign a formal agreement as required under the institute's regulations, Boriboon said. It has also asked them for a written guarantee that they would not attempt to patent or restrict the use of their discoveries.

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THE NATION Published on
Nov 1, 2001

On 1 Jan 1970

  
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