Jewels of ICRISAT Hybrid Parents Research Consortium

1. Public-private partnerships producing scientific innovations
and products for the poor
Hybrid Parents Research
Consortium
July 2012
A large-seeded pearl millet variety with high
iron and zinc content.
Hybrid pigeonpea grown from consortium-
promoted seed.
Meeting of the HPRC Advisory Committee. March 2012.
Consortium members during a pigeonpea
field day at ICRISAT.
Screening for downy mildew resistance in
pearl millet.
Sorghum displaying hybrid vigor in healthy
foliage and well-filled heads.
Scientists and farmers examine hybrids in the field.
Overview
ICRISAT crop scientists work with
partners to develop improved varieties,
hybrids, and hybrid parents for
increased grain/fodder yield potential in
farmers’ fields.
Between 1976 and 2011, partners in 79
countries released over 800 varieties/
hybrids using breeding materials from
ICRISAT.
The innovation
❖❖ Recognizing the role of private sector seed
companies in developing and marketing
hybrids, ICRISAT set up the Hybrid Parents
Research Consortium (HPRC) in 2000.
❖❖ Private seed companies contribute small
annual grants to become members of
HPRC. ICRISAT uses the funds for core
crop improvement research.
❖❖ Private sector seed companies (and public
sector institutions) participate in field days
at ICRISAT to select breeding materials for
developing hybrids.
❖❖ All ICRISAT-bred material remains in the
public domain as International Public Goods.
No seed company has exclusive rights.
❖❖ Scientists in public research institutions
have free access to the improved breeding
materials.
❖❖ Member seed companies provide
feedback on the performance of ICRISAT-
developed materials and on farmers’
needs and preferences.
❖❖ Currently HPRC has 47 memberships
across 3 consortia (Sorghum, Pearl millet
and Pigeonpea)
The impacts
Highlights of survey undertaken in 2012
Sorghum
❖❖ A total of 54 hybrids were developed in 2000-2009 by seed
companies, of which 30 hybrids were developed using ICRISAT-bred
materials.
❖❖ HPRC members directly utilized 67-100% parental lines from ICRISAT
for development of hybrids.
Pearl millet
❖❖ A total of 103 hybrids were developed in 2000-2010 by the seed
companies, of which 62 hybrids were developed using ICRISAT-bred
materials.
❖❖ HPRC members used 86-100% of ICRISAT-bred parental lines to
develop hybrids.
Pigeonpea
❖❖ Evaluation of hybrids led to the release of world’s first commercial food
legume hybrid, ICPH 2671, by the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh in
2010.
❖❖ Plan to provide hybrid seed to plant at least 100,000 ha by 2014 is in
progress.
Conclusions
❖❖ Linkages between ICRISAT and private
sector seed companies within and outside
India are strengthened.
❖❖ Farmers have benefitted through
increased access to improved hybrid seed
at affordable costs, and enhanced yield
and incomes.
❖❖ This public-private partnership is the
first in the CGIAR to tap private sector
funds for public research, and to optimize
synergies to swiftly move research
products to farmers.
❖❖ HPRC is the precursor of the Agribusiness
and Innovation Platform at ICRISAT. Other
CGIAR Centers have used the HPRC
model in hybrid parents’ research.
Partners
❖❖ The partners include NARS, advanced
research institutes, private sector seed
companies and farmers.