Project 8: Plant breeding and genetic resources - South Africa and Southern Africa
Department of Agriculture – Farming Systems, Technology and Product Quality
Popular summary
This project aims at increased collaboration within plant breeding, plant breeding research and training of students in between Sweden, South Africa and Southern African countries. We are thereby aiming at increased exchange on masters- and PhD-student level. Joint courses for masters- and PhD-students will be given. Further, two PhD-students planned to defend their thesis at SLU during the autumn 2011, originating from Zambia and Zimbabwe, respectively, will be given the opportunity to do post-docs for one year each in South Africa. The research will be focusing on genetic variation as well as yield- and quality aspects of wheat, sorghum and water melon.
Within Africa, due to limited resources for research, the plant breeding and plant breeding research is rather restricted. Department of Crop Science in Bloemfontain is one of few places in Africa where plant breeding activities, plant breeding research and education and training of students are existing. Options to carry out plant breeding and research in South Africa are relatively good, although the knowledge and education from there has to be spread over Africa. Further, increased contacts with research and educational environments in other parts of the world are needed. There is therefore a need for students in other African countries to get the option to spend part of their time at universities in South Africa and for students enrolled in Africa, it would be useful to spend some time abroad at universities within other countries outside Africa. This project aims to enhance such collaborations.