Revisiting Cambodia’s “Killing Fields” 30 years later
Channel: International Rice Research Institute
Date: 2016-02-05

See http://ricetoday.irri.org/glenn-denning-on-irris-cambodia-experience-revisiting-the-killing-fields-30-years-later/

Also see: http://news.irri.org/2016/08/cambodian-farmers-adopting-climate.html

Information about Burning of the Rice: http://sidharta.com/title/The_Burning_of_the_Rice

Glenn Denning, a professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, directs a Master of Public Administration in Development Practice program and teaches a graduate course in Global Food Systems. He also serves as Senior Policy Advisor at the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in August 2012, to mobilize scientific and technical expertise from academia, civil society, and the private sector in support of sustainable development.

Denning spent 18 years at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI; 1980-98; http:irri.org), starting out as a visiting associate field specialist and later serving in many other capacities and senior management positions. He has also worked at the World Agroforestry Centre in Kenya. Honored by the governments of Vietnam and Cambodia for his contributions to agriculture and rural development, Denning holds agricultural science degrees from the University of Queensland and a PhD from the University of Reading. He has an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School.

While at IRRI, Denning was heavily involved in what he calls an “amazing story more people should know about because it is such a compelling example about how genetic conservation and human capacity are so critical.” It has to do with the follow-up to the horrendous genocide of the “Killing Fields” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_Fields) in Cambodia (1975-79). It illustrates the power of international collaboration and a commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. January 2016 marks the 30th anniversary of post-war involvement of IRRI in this remarkable episode in agricultural history. 

With funding from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid), the Cambodia-IRRI-Australia Project (CIAP) was ultimately created in 1987 to solidify the effort.