One of the objectives of the training course is the experience and the understanding of how to structure effective international collaboration in rice science. For this the participants were divided into four working groups that maximized diversely by discipline, age, gender, and country.  Each group was given the task to design and draft a project proposal and to present that proposal at the end of the course.

Four project themes were developed and presented by the participants as follows:

1. Poverty Reduction and Extension: Reaching the Upland Rice-Farmers of Northern Laos
2. Sustainable Agriculture: Water Use in Rice Production
3. Wild and Traditional Rice in the Cradle of Mankind
4. Improved Iron Bioavailability in Nepalese Rice Lines to Reduce the Risk for Anemia

The Rice: Research to Production course was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States, The Gatsby Charitable Foundation, the Harvest Plus program, Afro-Asia Rural Development Organization (AARDO), and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) through sponsorship from specific on-going projects or partnerships.

2009 RICE RESEARCH TO PRODUCTION PARTICIPANTS

AUSTRALIA Raymond B. Cowley CAMBODIA Kimsoth Yav CHINA Peng Wang                         INDIA Arabinda K. Padhee INDONESIA Astiani Asady                      Hilman                                JAPAN       Hiroshi Masuda                    LIBERIA John T. Newmah                              MALAYSIA Siti Nordahliawate bt Mohamed Sidique                                 MOZAMBIQUE Sergio C. Ntemansaka         PAPUA NEW GUINEA Abner B. Yalu

PHILIPPINES Che-che O. Morilla SINGAPORE PR Cheryl M. Tiong UGANDA            Stella E. Adur UNITED KINGDOM Aryo B. Feldman            Jim P. Fouracre Thomas A. Mentlak UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Cassandra M. Carter Bethany F. Econopouly              Parker M. Filer Briana L. Gross Heidi N. HansPetersen Adam L. Heuberger                    Paula C. Jones Liana M. Nice Lauren M. Pincus Debra Rubas VIETNAM Hanh P. Nguyen