Technical Advisory Committee Forty-Sixth Meeting, 13-21 June 1988: Report of the Meeting

Abstract

Report of TAC 46 held at ICRISAT in Hyderabad, India, June 13-21, 1988, Alex McCalla presiding. TAC approved medium term plans for CIAT, IITA, and ILCA and sent them to the CGIAR, subject to inclusion of recommended changes. Clarifications were requested from ICRISAT on its MTP, to be reconsidered at TAC 47. Submissions of 1989 programs for CIP, IFPRI, ILRAD, and ISNAR, all centers with approved MTPs, were considered and approved, except IFPRI, held over to TAC 47 because it requested major changes. Concern about the scale of programs being approved led the Chair to institute a detailed analysis of experience so far. Annual program proposals for the remaining centers were approved.TAC approved papers on relations among centers, and relations between centers and NARS for consideration by the CGIAR. A paper on relations with the private sector was deferred. In joint session with the center directors, TAC approved a policy document on plant genetic resources for consideration by the CGIAR. It was decided to create a joint TAC/center working group on genetic resources policy implementation, and a center working group on working level issues. TAC and the center directors approved a paper on review processes in the CGIAR. A paper on biotechnology in the CGIAR was put in final form for consideration at ICW 1988, if desired.TAC reviewed the external program and management reviews of ICARDA, and prepared a commentary for the CGIAR. The King Baudouin Award went to CIMMYT for Veery 'S' bread wheat. TAC decided to create three standing committees. TAC's assigned task of assessing the scientific quality and relevance of non-associated centers being considered for CGIAR support was discussed. In the light of the impending workload, TAC decided to slow down work on initiatives in coconut and aquaculture, strategic analysis of commodity research (a paper on maize was discussed) and further assessment of CGIAR priorities.