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African Plant Breeding Academy

PBA logo- Hi Res- brightsThe Seed Biotechnology Center at the University of California Davis, has organized a professional development course to teach the latest principles in plant breeding to Africa’s top plant breeders. In collaboration with NEPAD (The New Partnership for Africa’s Development) and the African Orphan Crops Consortium, the UC Davis African Plant Breeding Academy launched the first of four classes in Nairobi, Kenya in December 2013. The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) provides administrative support to the academy to conduct its programs.

Course goal: The goal of the African Plant Breeding Academy is to train practicing African plant breeders in the most advanced theory and technologies for plant breeding in support of critical decisions for crop improvement.  This includes the latest concepts in plant breeding, quantitative genetics, statistics and experimental design. It also includes accurate and precise trait evaluations, development of appropriate strategies to integrate genomics into breeding programs, and experience in identifying and utilizing genomic data and DNA-based markers in breeding programs. The instructors are internationally recognized experts in plant breeding and seed technology.  The program is delivered in three 2-week sessions at the World Agroforestry Center in Nairobi, Kenya.

Who should attend? The course is targeted toward plant breeders currently managing plant breeding programs in Africa.  Attendees can be working on any African crop. Attendees are invited on full scholarship based on applications for each class, which is limited to 30 participants.

Call for Applicants
In collaboration with The African Union New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency and the African Orphan Crops Consortium (http://www.africanorphancrops.org), the University of California, Davis is opening registration for Class III of the African Plant Breeding Academysm. For more information see  http://pba.ucdavis.edu/PBA_in_Africa/Africa_Plant_Breeding_Academy_Class_IV/

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