2nd Annual DuPont Plant Breeding Symposium 2015

Posted on October 26, 2015

Plant Breeding Symposium at UP brings together experts from around the world

Scientists and industry leaders in plant science shared the latest advances in plant breeding at the 2nd Annual DuPont Plant Breeding Symposium Africa at the University of Pretoria (UP) on September 29, 2015. The only student-led symposium sponsored by DuPont Pioneer in Africa, the meeting brought together researchers, students and industry leaders from across the globe through live streaming on the Internet, and Instagram (Dupont_Africa).

Hosted by the School of Plant and Crop Sciences and the Genomics Research Institute (GRI), the meeting was organised by a postgraduate student committee led by David Nsibo, a PhD student in Plant Science, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at UP from Uganda, Joel Dube, PhD, Plant Pathology, from Zimbabwe, Megan MacCaghey, Graduate student on a USAID RIFA Fellowship visit to the Department of Plant Science at UP from University of California Davis, USA, Katrien De Ridder, MSc, Plant Pathology, FABI, Johan Liversage, PhD, Biotechnology, FABI, and Katlego Masike, Honours, Plant Science.   The event was co-ordinated by Professor Dave Berger of the Department of Plant Science, Drs Rikus Kloppers of PANNAR SEED (Pty) Ltd and Tabare Abadie of DuPont Pioneer, USA.

The Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Professor Jean Lubuma opened the symposium and congratulated the organising committee for being at the forefront of the meeting and for promoting UP’s vision of being a leading research intensive university in Africa.

The topic for this year’s symposium, "Current innovations in insect resistance management and pest control" shone the spotlight on challenges faced by various players in the agricultural sector as well as scientific research conducted worldwide to address them.

Speakers included the Vice-President of Crop Genetics Research & Development at DuPont Pioneer John Arbuckle as well as academics from the North West University, the University of the Free State, the Agricultural Research Council and UP. The Interdisciplinary nature of the event was illustrated by the spread of speakers from UP, namely Prof Kerstin Kruger, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Dr Juan Vorster, Department of Plant Production and Soil Science, and Dr Bridget Crampton, Department of Plant Science.

Participants came from China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United States and Zimbabwe. The meeting was one of more than 40 Plant Breeding symposia sponsored by DuPont at Universities worldwide since 2008. The symposium gave students a valuable opportunity to foster relationships with experts that could advance their research and professional careers.

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