News

PBA IX’s Sujit Tha Receives Outstanding Student Award at ASTA Leadership Summit

The 2025 winner of the Plant Breeding Academy’s Outstanding Student Award is Sujit Tha, Head of Plant Breeding at CN Seeds Ltd in the United Kingdom. This prestigious PBA award was presented to Sujit by PBA Director, Jovan Djordjevic, at the ASTA (American Seed Trade Association) Leadership Summit in Washington DC on June 9. Jovan added: “At the UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy, we try to equip breeders not just with tools, but with clarity and confidence.

CSA Spring Student Tour

The California Seed Association hosted its annual Spring Student Tour on April 7-8 in the Salinas area, visiting several companies with some 40 California State University and UC Davis undergraduate and graduate students, who were introduced to the technologies and jobs associated with producing seed globally.

On the 8th, the tour was hosted at noon by Hartnell College and Seed Central, and joined by 60 students from Hartnell and local high schools for lunch, industry panelists’ testimonials, and a networking career fair.

Why We Do What We Do

Dr. Allen Van Deynze, SBC Director, says the SBC's mission—to innovate, foster partnerships, and offer continuous professional development for seed industry professionals—aligns with the California Department of Agriculture's strategic plan.

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EPBA VII’s Mark van Gerven Receives Outstanding Student Award at Euroseeds Congress

The 2024 winner of the Plant Breeding Academy’s Outstanding Student Award is Mark van Gerven, Breeding Manager Allium at Bejo Zaden B.V. in the Netherlands. This prestigious PBA award was presented to Mark by PBA Director, Jovan Djordjevic, at the Euroseeds Congress in Copenhagen on October 15, 2024. Jovan added: "Mark is a current onion breeder, and we are glad that UCD PBA could enhance his expertise.

WORLD FOOD DAY 2024—HUNGRY FOR PEACE

By Heidi Kuhn, World Food Prize Laureate 2023, and Ambassador Gertrude Angote, Kenyan Permanent Representative to UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)

 

‘Foods’ stands for diversity, nutrition, affordability, and safety. A greater diversity of nutritious foods should be available in our fields, in our markets, and on our tables, for the benefit of all.