Advanced Crop Improvement Course Agenda

The scientific agenda of ACI is presented below as three Modules, with related discussion topics and field/lab exercises indicated. The entire course will be offered in English.

 

MODULE 1.  Major problems for crop improvement programs

            Interactive Lectures:

  • Introduction to international agricultural systems, including economics, social issues, etc.
  • Biotic stresses (diseases, insects, weeds, rats)
  • Abiotic stresses (drought, climate variability)
  • Improved grain quality analysis, yield, etc.

Field/Lab Exercises:

  • Field visit to AfricaRice Breeding Station & grower fields for examples/impacts of biotic/abiotic stresses
  • Laboratory demonstration/hands on experience with phenotyping for yield, grain quality, salinity, cold phenotyping
  • In field exercise: Modern in-field diagnostic tools (e.g., LAMP assay for diagnosis/detection of diseases)

Discussion Topics:

  • Constraints to crop improvement: priorities and impacts
  • Impacts of a changing climate on crop production
  • Impacts of ecological intensification

      MODULE 2.  Crop improvement strategies

            Interactive Lectures:

  • Introduction to modern plant breeding, including hybrids
  • Use of traditional and novel germplasm/genetic resources (landraces, wild species, MAGIC populations, etc.) for crop improvement
  • Doubled haploids
  • Marker-assisted selection & genomic selection
  • Genetic engineering and genome editing

Field/Lab Exercises:

  • Field trips and demonstrations: crop/germplasm diversity and genetic resources, anther culture facility
  • Lab exercises (at CERAAS for 2 days)
    • Lab exercise: marker assisted selection (paper exercise)
    • Lab exercise: genome editing (knockin/knockout, designing guide RNAs, vectors, etc.)

Discussion Topics:

  • How feasible and practical are different modern approaches for diverse crop breeding programs [different plant species, countries, cultures, regulatory contexts, and public opinions (farmers, consumers, etc.)]?
  • Should developers make crops improved by modern strategies traceable? What are the implications?
  • What is the place of industry vs the public domain in development and release of crop varieties improved by advanced strategies?

MODULE 3.  Social and economic impacts of the release of improved crop varieties

Interactive Lectures:

  • Technology transfer, delivery, outreach to farmers
  • Social and economic impacts of improved crop varieties in Africa

Field/Lab Exercises:

  • Classroom training: How to interview and develop podcasts/concept notes
  • Field exercise: Consumer/producer awareness/preference interviews
  • Concept Note/Podcast development

Discussion Topics:

  • Participant discussions: What factors drive acceptance/rejection of modern improved varieties?  Does understanding the science behind the process help acceptance?  What roles should consumers/growers play in deciding strategies for crop improvement?
  • Preparation for group projects: Students will prepare for interviewing farmers, scientists and consumers by generating and discussing possible questions for each set of interviews. The goal of the interviews will be to gain insight into the needs of stakeholders and the potential of crop varieties improved through modern methods to be adopted successfully by different groups of stakeholders.