Participants in the international BREEDTECH training programme enjoyed four days of learning, exchanging ideas and building connections at SLU in Alnarp in June 2026. Photo: Laura Vetukuri.
From summer training to future collaboration in crop protection
News published:
21/10/2026
This summer, researchers and university staff from several countries gathered at SLU in Alnarp to explore new approaches to plant breeding and sustainable crop protection. Now, the international BREEDTECH project is moving forward with new courses and plans for future research collaboration.
In June, SLU hosted an international training programme as part of the BREEDTECH project. Participants from partner institutions in Palestine, Kenya and Ethiopia joined researchers, teachers and students from Italy, Serbia, Norway, Sweden and other collaborating countries for four days of lectures, practical training and discussions.
The programme brought together expertise in modern plant breeding, molecular technologies and biological crop protection, with the aim of strengthening both scientific knowledge and international research networks.
– What makes this kind of training valuable is not just the knowledge we share, but the connections we build. By bringing together researchers from different countries and backgrounds, we create opportunities for future collaboration, says Ramesh Vetukuri, Professor in Plant Biotechnology at the Department of Plant Breeding, SLU.
The training brought together participants from different countries and research backgrounds, creating opportunities to exchange knowledge, share experiences and establish new international connections. Photo: Laura Vetukuri.
Exploring new tools for biological crop protection
One focus of the training was RNA-based crop protection, particularly spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), which uses externally applied double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to silence specific genes in target pests or pathogens. This emerging technology could offer more targeted ways to control plant diseases and pests.
Katie Stevens and Bekele Gelena Kelbessa from SLU introduced participants to RNA interference through lectures and practical sessions, while Naga Charan Konakalla presented potential RNA delivery systems, including nanocarriers and virus-like particles.
– RNA-based technologies are opening up exciting possibilities for crop protection. Sharing this knowledge internationally is an important step towards developing solutions that can eventually be adapted to different crops and growing conditions, says Ramesh Vetukuri.
From laboratories to agricultural fields
The training also explored modern plant breeding, genomics and methods for studying how plants respond to environmental stress and disease. Participants visited SLU's Biotron and laboratory facilities to learn more about experimental plant research. A visit to Borgeby Fältdagar offered a different perspective, connecting scientific advances with practical developments in agriculture and opportunities to meet industry representatives.
The programme was well received. Based on 27 completed evaluation forms, the average rating across all scored items was 9.0 out of 10. Several participants expressed interest in further practical training, particularly in laboratory and field-based methods.
Ramesh Vetukuri sharing his expertise during the BREEDTECH training at SLU in Alnarp, where participants explored new approaches to plant breeding and sustainable crop protection. Photo: Laura Vetukuri.
Building on international connections
The June training was part of a broader effort to strengthen education and research in plant breeding and biotechnology. Within BREEDTECH, partner universities reported reviewing 21 curricula and developing five new ones, alongside efforts to upgrade laboratory facilities.
The next steps include completing training activities, piloting and implementing the revised and newly developed courses and preparing joint scientific publications. The partners are also exploring opportunities for continued collaboration beyond the project, which is currently scheduled to end in February 2027.
– We want to build on the connections established through BREEDTECH, with more joint research, student and staff exchanges, and collaboration with industry. Bringing plant breeding and biological crop protection closer together is particularly important to us and closely linked to research at the SLU Centre for Biological Control (CBC), says Ramesh Vetukuri.
About BREEDTECH
BREEDTECH is an Erasmus+ capacity-building project bringing together universities in Africa, Palestine and Europe to strengthen education and research in plant breeding and biotechnology.
The project includes developing and updating university courses, improving laboratory facilities, supporting student research and organising international training. So far, 21 curricula have been reviewed and five new curricula developed. SLU contributes expertise in sustainable crop protection, including RNA-based crop protection technologies.
The project is currently scheduled to end in February 2027, while a possible extension and arrangements for a final international conference remain under discussion.
