hybrid parents research consortium

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.

OverviewICRISAT 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 impactsHighlights 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.