2nd African Plant Breeders Association (APBA) Conference

The theme for the Conference is “Accelerating genetic gains in plant breeding for resilience and transformative food systems and economic growth in Africa”.

The APBA in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and several other institutions announce the second Conference of the APBA (#APBAConf2021). The conference will be hosted both virtually and in-person at the Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda from October 25-30, 2021.

Participants include leading scientists and students from a wide range of disciplines and from across the globe, discussing current research outputs and outcomes in plant breeding and related disciplines.

EiB PARTICIPATION: (details TBC)

EiB Workshop: 

• Making the whole greater than the sum of its parts: How to set up a modern plant breeding program
• Oct 25, 2-4PM Kigali time
• Meet the CGIAR-EiB regional team, learn about current approaches to modernize breeding programs.
• Agenda:
  1. Introduction: EiB and this workshop – Biswanath Das (EiB NARES coordinator, Nairobi)
  2. Understanding market needs and priority setting –  Agnes Mbugua, EiB Marketing Specialist
  3. Setting up a targeted, product profile orientated, breeding pipeline – Dorcus Gemenet, EiB Breeding Simulation Specialist
  4. Incorporating genotyping in your breeding pipeline – Ana Oliveira, Genotyping Coordinator
  5. Utilization of modern phenotyping tools & improving breeding operations in product profile oriented pipelines – Vinicius da Rocha & Amer Najm, EiB mechanization specialists
  6. Data management – why and how? EBS intro. – Young Wha Lee, EiB biometrics / EBS development lead
  7. Running a modern breeding pipeline – EiB perspectives – Dragan Milic & Bodo Trognitz, EiB CGIAR Breeding Specialists
  8. Modernization approach being implemented with NARES – process and examples – Lennin Musundire, EiB NARES optimization specialist
  9. Q&A

Plenary Session II:

• Dr. Michael Quinn, Director, CGIAR Excellence in Breeding
• Oct 28 afternoon
• Abstract: Breeding innovations for genetic gains in farmer’s fields: This session will draw on the experiences of CGIAR Excellence in Breeding (EiB) in working with NARES and CGIAR breeding programs, and highlight key advice and resources. EiB is accelerating the modernization of crop breeding programs targeting the developing world. We work to achieve a bold vision, which is that, “CGIAR-NARES breeding networks generate rates of genetic gain ≥1.5% p.a. and that the average area weighted age of varieties in farmers’ fields is <10 years.” Drawing from innovations in the public and private sectors, EiB helps breeding programs meet this challenge through system-level coordination and holistic partnerships that include expert guidance, resources, shared service platforms, and access to cutting edge technologies and practices. As an R&D network, CGIAR provides germplasm indirectly to farmers through partnerships, and EiB has developed a model for effective CGIAR-NARES breeding networks and for germplasm handover from breeding programs to seed sector partners. This model is built on ensuring joint decision-making with partners for final stage promotion of germplasm, and provision of high-quality performance data supporting confidence of investment in taking new varieties to market.

CGIAR PARTICIPATION: (details TBC)

Conference Opening, Keynote Address II:

• Dr. Barbara Wells, Global Director, Genetic Innovation, One CGIAR & Director-General, International Potato Centre (CIP)
• Oct. 26 afternoon

Conference Opening, High level panelists; Partnerships for the Inclusive Transformation of Agriculture in Africa: 

• Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, Regional Director, West and Central Africa, One CGIAR & Director-General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
• Dr. Clare Mukankusi, Senior Scientist, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
• Dr. Jacqueline Hughes, Director-General, ICRISAT
• Oct. 26 afternoon

Parallel Session I: Food security, nutrition/biofortification

• Chair: Dr. Elizabeth Parkes – Breeder, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
• Oct 27, morning

Parallel Session II: Marker assisted breeding and genomic selection

DATES/LOCATION:

• October 25-30, 2021
• Kigali, Rwanda and virtually

MORE INFORMATION:

• For more information and to register for the full conference click here
• Email: info_apba@wacci.ug.edu.gh