Genotyping Support Service: 3rd call for proposals by the Generation Challenge Programme (GCP)
GSS aims to help spread the benefits of marker technology in the developing world through:
* Technology access: facilitating developing world researchers’ access to top molecular marker technologies for germplasm analysis;
* Capacity-building: training researchers in data analysis and knowledge application; and,
* Sustainability and spread: to build a core of researchers who can continue to use the technology, independent of GCP support.
This call is being launched in conjunction with a call from the Global Crop Diversity Trust, which focuses on supporting the evaluation of crop genetic resources. Together, these coordinated and complementary calls widen the support that plant scientists can obtain. The GSS is offered to plant breeding programmes and germplasm collections in the developing world to facilitate their access to molecular marker technologies for the analysis of germplasm. GSS hires high-throughput, cost-effective genotyping facilities; beneficiaries of the service will send their samples there for analysis, with the GSS covering the costs. GSS is not only limited to genotyping services and financial support, but also includes capacity development: participating researchers receive training to analyse the resulting data, including interpretation and application of the new knowledge.
To know more about htis call and the application procedure, go to the GCP webpage.
Deadline for applications: 15 December 2009.

GIPB publicly launched four consultations, aimed to analyse the results of the worldwide assessment done by GIPB, FAO and partners on national plant breeding and related biotechnology capacity (PBBC). The survey database and final reports can be found on the PBBC website. The main objective of this consultation process, that wishes to involve stakeholders at various levels, is to discuss and recommend appropriate strategies to strengthen capacity to use plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA).

The discussion and analysis process for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries operates in the period 19/10-14/12 2009 through the web application called Dgroups. If you are interested in contributing to the consultation, join the PBBC-SSA discussion group!

For more information and to access the documentation please click here.

The multi-lingual materials so far produced focus on getting partners and policy-makers familiar with GIPB as a global partnership platform and as a repository of plant breeding capacity knowledge. Other materials describe specific areas where plant breeding has policy implications. To download the advocacy material please click on the links below.

GIPB informative materials:
GIPB Business Plan 2009-2013
GIPB leaflet - english - español - français
GIPB brochure
GIPB poster
GIPB worlwide assessment of plant breeding and related biotechnology capacity (PBBC) - the PBBC database

Position leaflets:
Plant breeding and climate change - english - español - français
Plant breeding and options in bioenergy - english - español - français
Plant breeding and food security - english - español - français
Plant breeding impacts and current challenges - english - español - français

25 June 2009
GIPB announces the winners of two grants to study and analyze the state of knowledge on breeding for durable resistance to rusts threatening crop production in the developing world.

The purpose of the grants is to bring together and present the state-of-the-art of knowledge on breeding for durable resistance to diseases of substantial risk to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.).  The call for proposals went out in early 2009 as a coordinated effort between GIPB and CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvment Center). Both of these organizations place high priority on genetic solutions to controlling the devastating effects of plant pathogens, effects that are projected to become more unpredictable and more severe as a consequence of global climate change.

GIPB is pleased to announce that the Business Plan is now available online.

This Business Plan is the result of a collaborative and proactive effort started in 2007 when the GIPB initiated a stakeholder consultation process to formulate the organizational and implementation framework for the Initiative for the period 2009-2013. A first Task Force discussed propositions and recommendations for longer-term strategies, outputs, outcomes and priority activities to be pursued by the GIPB. The consolidated set of recommendations from Task Force 1 were used as the starting point for Task Force 2, that recommended strategies for: a) the implementation of the five GIPB objectives in the period 2009-2013, and b) the organization and management of GIPB, including implementation of the international partnership platform, governance, secretariat services, monitoring and evaluation.

 

Curso Internacional de Pre-mejoramiento Genético de Plantas
Manejo Eficaz de los Recursos Fitogenéticos para la Agricultura del Mañana
El curso ha sido organizado del 20 al 31 de octubre de 2008, en la Universidad Central de Venezuela, Facultad de Agronomí­a, Maracay, Venezuela.
Los objetivos eran: 1. Fortalecer el mejoramiento genético de plantas en América Latina y el Caribe mediante la capacitación de jóvenes profesionales en pre-mejoramiento. 2. Ofrecer oportunidades para el desarrollo de propuestas de aprovechamiento de los recursos fitogenéticos útiles para los programas de mejoramiento genéticos actuales y futuros en la región. 3. Promover un foro de discusión técnico científico para el intercambio de información y experiencias con miras a la creación de equipos de trabajo en pre-mejoramiento genético.

Documentos disponibles: programa; informe final; lista de los instructores; lista de los tutores; lista de los participantes, y la lista de los participantes por cultivo de interés: Ajonjolí - Arroz - Cacao - Caraota - Maíz - Papa - Soya - Yuca

Full reports
Full reports are documents produced by the national consultants responsible for the plant breeding and related biotechnology capacity (PBBC) survey in their countries or regions. Based on the consultant's knowledge and the results of the survey, a section in the national report is provided with recommendations to strengthen the national capacity to use plant genetic resources, including an indication on how the recommendations can be implemented. Go to the publication page of the PBBC database to download the Full reports.

Country briefs
The purpose of these briefs is to summarize the current status of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) in countries, with particular emphasis on plant breeding and related agricultural biotechnology. Knowing the history of the NARS' development and its current status allows the identification of potential areas and types of intervention. The intention is also to outline options for strengthening national capacity to use plant genetic resources. The information presented in these documents comes from the PBBC surveys conducted in the various countries. Go to the publication page of the PBBC database to download the Country briefs.

Regional analyses
Four regional consultations have been completed or are being organized in order to analyze in detail the results of the worldwide assessment done by GIPB, FAO and partners on national plant breeding and related biotechnology capacity. These consultations are intended to broaden awareness on data and trends pointed out in the surveys. They will allow to further discuss and recommend appropriate strategies to strengthen capacity to use plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) in the selected region. egional reports have been produced to lead to a joint analysis of country reports and to recommendations of actions to strengthen national capacity in the use of PGRFA in the region, and have been validated by the participants to the discussions. Click here to download the report for Latin America and the Caribbean or the report for South and South-Eastern Asia.