Innovative Training in Plant Breeding to Increase Genetic Gain for Enhanced Food Security in Africa

Many African plant breeders work in isolation, with little funding, under challenging conditions.  Advanced techniques are rapidly becoming accessible through cooperative linkages and inexpensive outsourcing of molecular analyses. Breeders must learn to harness these tools within their own context in order to deliver more rapid genetic gains through varieties that become widely adopted.   Two innovative projects funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation -- “Improved MSc in Cultivar Development in Africa” (IMCDA), implemented by AGRA, and “Plant Breeding E-Learning in Africa” (PBEA), implemented by Iowa State University -- involve three pilot universities: Makerere University (Uganda), Kwame-Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (S. Africa).  These collaborative projects focus on core-competencies needed by industry-ready plant breeders, targeting increased rates of genetic gain by using modern tools: genomics, molecular markers, electronic data collection, data management, and breeding pipeline optimization.  Training activities and e-curriculum resources emphasize the integration and application of scientific knowledge to decision making in plant breeding with many applied learning activities to enhance relevance, practical application, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving.  Best practices are illustrated and experienced in a breeding program embedded in the training and through internships and linkages with progressive, efficient cultivar-development programs. Thesis projects focus on national or regional food security issues.  Employers and stakeholders are very complimentary about the graduates’ performance, and almost all graduates are using their training within the region.