HIGHLIGHTS
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
PUBLICATIONS
HIGHLIGHTS
Seed CentralTM Forum featured Dr. Jorge Dubcovsky, UC Davis Professor & HHMI-GBMF researcher
Seed Central and the Seed Biotechnology Center at UC Davis and SeedQuest, hosted a networking event at UC Davis on Wednesday, November 9th. Dr. Dubcovsky spoke to a group of 100 scholars, industry professionals and researchers. Dr. Dubcovsky’s research illustrates the power of modern genetics and biotechnology approaches in delivering new tools to breeders. In his keynote address, he shared the successes of the USDA-NIFA CAP consortia of 55 universities aimed at improving barley and wheat breeding. The next Seed Central Forum will be held on December 8, 2011 and the featured speaker is Dr. Florence Negre-Zakharov, Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis. To learn more about the topic and to register for the event visit: Investigating fruit volatile metabolism: toward improving crop flavor quality
Seed Central Research and Technology discusses genomics and plant breeding
Seed Central hosted a program on November 9th that featured Dr. Richard Michelmore, Director of the UC Davis Genome Center, and Dr. Allen Van Deynze, Research Director of the Seed Biotechnology Center. Dr. Michelmore provided an overview of the services and capabilities of the Genome Center and a vision of the future for genomics and plant breeding. Dr. Van Deynze illustrated current applications of genomic information to plant breeding with examples from tomato and pepper. This was followed by a brainstorming session to discuss concepts for a Collaborative Research Laboratory that would bring together university and seed industry scientists on the UC Davis campus.
The next Seed Central Research and Technology program will be held on February 9, 2012. The objectives of Seed Central are to:
• strengthen the dialogue between UC Davis and the seed industry
• facilitate research collaborations and technology transfer between university and industry
• strengthen the benefits of operating within a dynamic and innovative industry cluster for all participants.
Visit us to join Seed Central and learn about the benefits.
UC Davis European Plant Breeding AcademySM starts second class
Continuing to fill a critical need for trained plant breeders, the University of California, Davis European Plant Breeding AcademySM (EPBA) started its second class of students this week. Over the next two years, during the six sessions held in Gent, Belgium; Angers, France; Gatersleben, Germany; Enkhuizen, The Netherlands; Barcelona, Spain, and UC Davis; this class will spend more than 300 hours in classes, workshops and the field, training to become professional plant breeders.
The class two consists of the following nineteen participants: Ami Bar, A.B Seeds, Israel; Sandor Parisci, Dow AgroSciences, Hungary; Fulya Arslan, Monsanto Vegetable Seeds, Turkey; William Colfer, Plant Sciences, Inc., US; Barbara Scheike, Deutsche Saatveredelung AG, Germany; Andrija Brkic, Agricultural Institute Osjek, Croatia; Miguel Roca Rodriguez, Syngenta Seeds, Spain; Katja Hämäläinen, Boreal Plant Breeding Ltd., Finland; Harold Verstegen, KWS Lochow GmbH, Netherlands; Sophie Lücke, Norddeutsche Pflanzenzucht Hans-Georg Lembke KG, Germany; Juan Antonio Fernandez Garica, Semillas Fitó , Spain; Santiago Garcia Fernandez, Semillas Fitó , Spain; Bruno Chombart, Syngenta, France; Tomás David Lomas Cano, Monsanto, Spain; Jakob Witten, Monsanto SAS, France; Constanze Böhmel, KWS Saat AG, Germany; Julia Rudloff, University of Goettingen, Germany; Derya Tescilar, MayAgro, Turkey; Selda Guzelkucuk, HM Clause, Turkey.
For more information on the Plant Breeding Academy, please contact Joy Patterson at jpatterson@ucdavis.edu or visit http://pba.ucdavis.edu
Feeding a Hungry Planet - The Promise of Biotechnology
Kent Bradford was recently featured in the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Outlook publication. “We only have two choices to feed nine billion people by 2050”, said Bradford. “Either we increase yields on the land that is already in agricultural production, or we expand agriculture onto new land. Those are the only two options. For the entire article go to CA&ES Outlook.
Experts Examine Gene Flow and Co-existence in Agriculture and the Environment
Experts in agriculture, ecology, and plant biology gathered on September 7-8 in Washington, D.C., to examine the interface between diverse mechanisms of trait transmission among plants and the co-existence of different agricultural production systems. The movements of genes and traits between crops and among crops and their related wild relatives have potential economic and biological impacts, particularly with respect to genetically engineered (GE) plants. While genetic engineering has produced improved crop varieties that are utilized on over half of the crop acreage in the U.S., some agricultural sectors, particularly organic and export, serve markets that are sensitive to the inadvertent presence of even very low amounts of GE products. Dr. Allen Van Deynze of the Seed Biotechnology Center at the University of California, Davis, organizer of the conference, noted that “The meeting brought together experts from across the agricultural and ecological spectrum to identify research targets and mitigation strategies that will enable all segments of agriculture to meet their market goals while minimizing impacts on the surrounding environment.” The workshop proceedings are available here. A subgroup of experts will develop a report and publication to communicate the outcomes of the conference, which was funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grant programs. For further information, see http://sbc.ucdavis.edu or contact sbc@ucdavis.edu.
Grants Awarded to Support Horticultural Research in Developing Countries
The Horticulture Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP), funded by USAID, has awarded $2 million to support two comprehensive and wide‐reaching projects to improve livelihoods through horticulture in the developing world. At $1 million each, the three‐year projects add a research based approach to horticultural development by focusing on seed systems and African indigenous vegetables in Bangladesh, Nepal, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The Horticulture CRSP is located at University of California, Davis and supports US and international partners to conduct research, training, and outreach to countries with the greatest need. These projects build on the success and momentum of thirty completed and ongoing Horticulture CRSP projects. “I am excited about both projects and their potential to impact smallholder farmers.” says Elizabeth Mitcham, Associate Director of Horticulture CRSP. The seed systems project, “Seed Systems – Improving Seed Quality for Smallholders” is led by Kent Bradford of the University of California, Davis and a team of scientists, innovators, and extension experts in Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Thailand. Their project will demonstrate and disseminate a new technology to dry seeds in humid climates using desiccant beads. This offers a sound, affordable, and adaptable method to preserve viable seeds where high temperature and humidity would spoil seeds that are stored using traditional practices. Dr. Bradford’s team will create a sustainable market-based system to utilize this new technology in eight African and Asian countries.
Nuts and Bolts of US Regulatory Dossiers for Genetically Engineered Crops
This program is being held in cooperation with the USDA-APHIS, EPA, and the FDA. The workshop is unique in that it will allow crop developers and others interested in the US regulatory system for biotechnology to learn the specifics of regulatory dossiers directly from the regulators. Detailed discussions will focus on three case studies that are actual examples of traits at various stages of the regulatory process: one that has cleared the regulatory process (Plum), and two others that have started the process (potato and peanut). For more information and registration visit SCRA Website.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Seed Biotechnology Center takes the Classroom to the Professionals: Seed Business 101 SM
Seed Business 101 was created, with input from industry executives, to accelerate the careers of promising new employees. It offers invaluable insights and perspectives to employees of seed producers, seed dealers and companies offering products and services to the seed industry, including seed treatments, crop protection, seed enhancement and technology, machinery and equipment. The purpose of this course is to shorten the learning curve for new employees teaching them what every employee must know about the main functional areas of a seed company in order to perform optimally in the team as quickly as possible and avoid mistakes. The course is designed to focus on optimum operations of the five major functional areas of a seed company: Research and Development, Production, Operations, Sales and Marketing and Administration. Participants will acquire a broad understanding of the major aspects of a seed company’s operations and cross-departmental knowledge of best practices for profitability. Case studies are designed to immerse participants in the decision-making roles in all five functional areas of a seed company.
Dates and Location:
- December 5–9, 2011, Davis, CA (waiting list only)
- January 17–21, 2012, Wimauma, FL
For more information contact Jeannette Martins at jmartins@ucdavis.edu or go to SB101.
Seed Biotechnology Center responds to industry needs by launching SB101SM Field Crops
Field Crop experts, Dave Westphal and Tom Francis join the core team of instructors. Dr. Tom Francis has over 30 years of experience in the seed business. Dr. Francis began his career with Agriculture Canada as a Research Scientist after obtaining his PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding from the University of Guelph. He joined Northrup King in 1980 as Research Director and held various roles within that company including General Manager for the Canadian division and Vice President of Research for the U.S. With the formation of Novartis, later Syngenta, Dr. Francis had various roles of increasing responsibility including Global Head of Product Evaluation and Assessment. Dr. Francis has been an active member of the Canadian and American seed industry and served as President for CSTA and Vice President for ASTA. Though retired from Syngenta, he continues to consult to the industry and maintains a special interest in attracting and developing new talent within the seed industry.
Dave Westphal is an accomplished executive possessing more than 41 years of diverse management experience in worldwide agribusiness for Cargill Inc. and Monsanto. Dave has held positions as COO, Holden’s Foundation Seeds LLC and Corn States Business Services and Hawaiian Research for Monsanto, Area Co-Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Vice Chairman Sansako Seeds, Managing Director Carnia Seeds and Vice President for Cargill Inc. in various Seed Product Line responsibilities (Cargill Hybrid Seeds/ Paymaster Seeds/ PAG SEEDS/ Bounty Hybrid Wheat) and Grain Origination, Crop Protection and Fertilizer Distribution businesses both domestic and international. Founder and CEO of D3 Consulting, LLC and joining CONTEXT, he is currently engaged in consulting activities with foundations and alliances in Africa working with start-up seed businesses.
Dates and Location:
- June 11-15, 2012, Minneapolis, MN
For more information contact Jeannette Martins at jmartins@ucdavis.edu or go to SB101.
Breeding with Molecular Markers Course
This course is designed for professional plant breeders who want to learn when and how molecular tools can be integrated in their breeding programs. It is also an opportunity for breeders who are already using these tools to expand their knowledge of new strategies and technologies.
Topics include:
Types and availability of molecular markers
Working with quantitative trait loci
Marker– assisted selection
Using association studies in breeding
Effects of population structure on applications of molecular markers
Hands- on software demonstrations to analyze traits with molecular markers
Genomic selection
Location and Dates:UC Davis – Conference Center, February 14-15, 2012.
For more information contact Jeannette Martins at jmartins@ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-4984.
PUBLICATIONS
Hamilton, J.P., Hansey, C. N., Whitty, B. R., Stoffel, K., Massa, A. N., Van Deynze, A., De Jong, W. S., Douches, D. S. and Buell, C. R. 2011. Single nucleotide polymorphism discovery in elite North American potato germplasm. BMC Genomics 12:302.
Iorizzo, M., D.A. Senalik, D. Grzebelus, M. Bowman, P.F. Cavagnaro, M. Matvienko, H. Ashrafi, A. Van Deynze, and P.W. Simon. 2011. De novo assembly and characterization of the carrot transcriptome reveals novel genes, new markers, and genetic diversity. BMC Genomics 12:389.
If you would like to add or remove a contact from the Seed Biotechnology Center Enews list, please send an email to dlvandolah@ucdavis.edu.
RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE
|
© UC Davis • Department of Plant Sciences • One Shields Ave. • Davis, CA • 95616