IRRI Annual Report 2021 | The drive to thrive

The big transition was one that everyone around the world had to make, as the pandemic entered its second year and forced all nations, organizations, and individuals to discover and adapt to a “new normal” way of working and living. The other big change is the ongoing One CGIAR transition, where IRRI and 11 other centers scattered around the globe are being integrated into one unified system, with all the attendant adjustments that such a transformation entails. And yet, even with all the challenges brought about by these transitions, IRRI has not just remained resilient but has also found ways to thrive. While field and lab activities were constrained, our scientists were able to find alternative pathways to advance research, such as publishing a bumper crop of papers and studies. While face-to-face visits and engagements dropped, partnerships and relationships continued to be created and strengthened through cloud-based video communications apps, webinars, and other virtual channels