ICARDA Annual Report 1981

This publication highlights the key research findings of ICARDA for the year 1981, which also witnessed several significant changes in personnel and the organization's structure. On June 30, Dr. Harry S. Darling retired as the first Director General, a position he had held since 1977. During the same year, Dr. Heinrich Weltzien, the Director of Research, left ICARDA to return to the Plant Protection Institute in Bonn, West Germany. He was succeeded later in the year by Dr. Peter Goldsworthy, who was previously the leader of the grain legume program at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Two other senior appointments were also announced: Dr. Geoffrey Hawtin, former Food Legume Program Leader at ICARDA, was appointed Deputy Director General (International Cooperation), and Mrs. Joan Joshi from the International Institute of Education in New York became the Director of Administration.

Another significant change in 1981 occurred in April when the Board of Trustees decided to relocate the main ICARDA office from Beirut, Lebanon, to Syria. As a result, most scientists and experts are now based at ICARDA's main site at Tel Hadya, approximately 30 km south of Aleppo. This transition from Beirut to Aleppo, and then to the new site, has enhanced the center's efficiency and reduced expenses.