What Has Been the Response of Scientists and Policy Makers?
Usually in the 20th century, technological improvements followed from advances made in scientific knowledge. With SRI, on the other hand — as with the invention of the airplane – new technology has preceded the science that could explain it. The civil-society movement that has propelled SRI has had endorsements from some eminent rice scientists, including Dr. M.S. Swaminanathan, hailed as the father of the Green Revolution in India and a former director-general of IRRI, and Prof. Yuan Long-ping, known as the father of hybrid rice in China and around the world (Yuan, 2002). These and other scientists have participated together with NGOs, farmers, officials and others in the progress of SRI. Possibly the SRI experience will break new ground encouraging more broad-based approaches to scientific and technological progress. When Fr. de Laulani first introduced SRI to scientists at the University of Antananarivo and in the Ministry of Agriculture in 1990, there was disbelief and derision. I
