Davis, California, USA
April 8, 2014
Last week, the UC Davis Asian Plant Breeding Academy (APBA) completed a session in Los Baños, The Philippines, hosted by the famous International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The program was enriched with interaction and lectures by scientists from IRRI and visits to the Plant Breeding Institute (IPB UPLB) and SL Agritech.
The contributing guest lecturers included Dr. Eero Nisila, Dr. Michael Thompson, Dr. Kshirod Jena, Dr. Joong Hyoun Chin, Dr. Fangming Xie, Dr. Glen Gregorio, Renato Reaño (IRRI), Dr. Boie Santos, Dr. Desiree Hautea, Dr. Lolita Valencia, Dr. Artemio Salazar (IPB UPLB), and Zhang Zhaodong (SL Agritech).
IRRI was established in 1960 with a mission to reduce poverty and hunger, improve the health of rice farmers and consumers, and ensure environmental sustainability of rice farming. Currently, with offices in 18 developing countries and over 1,500 employees, IRRI conducts world-class scientific research and develops improved rice varieties.
The Institute of Plant Breeding, a division of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, is the largest national plant breeding institute in the Philippines. SL Agritech is the leading breeder and marketer of tropical hybrid rice in the Philippines and the region.
The UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy (PBA) is a premium professional certificate program offered in the USA, Europe, Asia and starting in December 2013 also in Africa. To date, one hundred and thirty three (133) industry breeders have attended the PBA, making it the most significant program of its kind.
Applications are being accepted for the remaining spots in Class V of the UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy beginning in September 2014. For more information on the Plant Breeding Academy contact Joy Patterson at jpatterson@ucdavis.edu or visit pba.ucdavis.edu.
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