Norway honors Filipino farmer on the first celebration of the Global Seed Vault

A Filipino farmer was honored during the first year celebration of the Svalvard Global Seed Vault on February 26, 2009.

Norway Minister of Agriculture and Food Lard Peder Brekk praised Tay Gipo, a farmer who, despite having only four years of formal education, discovered a rice variety that proved to be high-yielding and pest resistant, the sample of which is among the thousands of seeds kept at the global seed vault.

Minister Brekk said that Tay Gipo was “one of the most memorable voices” during the first global seed vault seminar one year ago where 150 guests representing 33 countries and five continents were present, among them the president of the European Community, Mr. Jose Manuel Barrosso; the Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Mr. Jacques Diouf; and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai.

I (mentioned) his name for two reasons. (First), to illustrate how the field-level knowledge of our farmers continues to be the most important element of crop conservation and second, to keep his memory alive. Just days ago, we received word that our fellow agriculturist, Tay Gipo, passed away this month at the age of 64.

Minister Brekk recounted how Tay Gipo discovered the rice which he himself named as “Bordagol.”

During a particularly tough year, he noticed one plant in his field that did not succumb to the virus “tungro.” He literally had to pull the plant from the mouth of a farm animal who was planning to have it for a snack—he saved the seeds, replanted them and the next season he harvested 25 kilograms just from the seeds of that one plant.

With his incredible success, the rice he himself named 'Bordagol' was born. He shared his success with his neighbors. The word spread and, in spite of his lack of education, he was invited to join a research institute where he learned rice breeding and improved his “Bordagol,” increasing its yield and resilience and therefore increasing the yields of the other farmers in his area.

His legacy remains in the fields of the Philippines where his 'Bordagol' is grown by his neighbors. And his legacy (also) remains here in Svalbard where seeds of his “Bordagol” are safely stored for the future.

The Philippines through the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the highest donor to the global seed vault. It reportedly contributed 70,000 different varieties of rice from 120 different countries.