People in a wheat field with tents and flags in the background. Photo.
The course participants visited Borgeby Fältdagar to get insights into trial fields, smart farming solutions, and the latest innovations in plant breeding and agricultural research. Photo: Ramesh Vetukuri.

Future plant breeders take root at SLU

News published:  21/08/2025

Students and researchers from the BREEDTECH program visited SLU Alnarp to explore cutting-edge plant breeding tools and bring practical innovations back to their local agricultural systems.

From 23–27 June 2025, SLU welcomed participants from Africa for an intensive training programme in advanced molecular breeding. The course, held under the BREEDTECH project brought together researchers, lecturers, and graduate students to explore the latest tools and techniques shaping the future of plant breeding.

Cutting-edge plant breeding in focus

The training aimed to strengthen plant breeding and biotechnology education and research and attracted 12 participants from Kenya and Ethiopia who attended on site.

Many more joined online via Zoom, mainly from universities in Palestine, Kenya and Ethiopia. SLU staff and students also engaged actively in the sessions, creating an open and collaborative environment for knowledge exchange.

– During the week the participants got to learn about spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), CRISPR-based gene editing, genomic selection methodologies, nanocarrier technology for agriculture, biocontrol strategies as well as measuring plant resilience under stress, says Ramesh Vetukuri, the course leader.

Many people in lab coats indoors. Photo.
The course participants got to try some of the techniques in practical laboratory sessions. Photo: Ramesh Vetukuri.

A study visit to Borgeby

A highlight of the programme was a full-day study visit to Borgeby Fältdagar, one of Scandinavia’s largest agricultural fairs. Here, participants experienced first-hand the latest innovations in agricultural technology, including demonstration plots from leading breeding companies and universities, smart farming solutions, and trial fields showcasing crop performance.

Tools for real-world change

The training blended expert lectures, practical laboratory sessions, field demonstrations, and open discussions. 

– We got overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants and many emphasizing the course’s immediate relevance and applicability to their own institutions and local agricultural systems, says Ramesh.

A group photo outdoors.
The participants and teachers at the training program Capacity Building in Advanced Molecular Breeding Techniques.

About BREEDTECH

BREEDTECH aims to build capacity in plant breeding and biotechnology education and research in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. The project seeks to involve African and Palestinian higher education institutions in Europe’s research movement related to plant breeding and biotechnology. It also encourages researchers and academics to engage with the concepts, domains, tools, and digital technologies shaping the field.

 

Read more

Fostering a new generation of plant breeders and biotechnologists
– A news article about BREEDTECH from SLU, November 2024

 

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