European Plant Breeding Academy Graduates Class VII
Congratulations EPBA Class VII on your Graduation in June 2024
The European UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy's Class VII concluded their EPBA program with a graduation ceremony and reception in Davis, California, on June 28, 2024, celebrating the achievements of 16 students from 10 countries: Italy, Spain, Romania, Hungary, The Netherlands, Turkey, Germany, France, the UK, and Mexico. Dr. Jovan Djordjevic, Director of UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy and Core Instructor, along with Dr. Alexandra Tomerius, highlighted the event. Other instructors included Rita Mumm, Rob Dirks, Jaap Hoogstraten, Kent Bradford, and Allen Van Deynze.
Dr. Djordjevic commented, "What an extraordinary group of individuals, and all passionate about plant breeding. I am confident the European seed sector will be in great hands!" The prestigious Outstanding Student Award, in collaboration with Euroseeds and Seedworld, will be announced at the Euroseeds 2024 congress in Copenhagen from October 13-16.
Special thanks to many exceptional guest presenters and everyone who participated in hands-on field trip visits throughout the two year program: The Seed Valley team, Syngenta and Bayer, all in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The Vegepolys team hosted the group in Angers, France, with presentations from SEMAE, Institut Agro, and visits to Sakata and the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO). In Gatersleben, Germany, the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) was a very friendly host for the class, including presentations by Albert Schult-hess, Andreas Börner, Klaus Pistrick, Robert Hoffie, with IPK and also Harold Verstegen with KWS plus a visit to fantastic wheat breeding KWS site as well. Then in Gent, Belgium, the class appreciated how to outsmart competition exewrcise from Johan Peleman, and visits to the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), fantastic hosts from a family potato company Meijer and visit to Rijk Zwaan. Syngenta and Semillas Fito were excellent hosts in vegetable seed hub Almeria, Spain. Finally, as the group finished their program in Davis, Kelley Clark, new director of UC Davis Collaboration for Plant Pathogen Strain Identification (CPPSI), Roger Chetelat (also UC Davis), plus Travis Bliss, Jay Patel and Josh Williamson were all outstanding guest presenters during Week 6 in Davis, plus visits to local MARS and Bayer facilities.
Once again, the UC Davis staff and team of instructors extend their warmest congratulations to all students of the EPBA VII class and wish them abundant success and happiness in the field of plant breeding and beyond!
The application for the next European UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy, Class VIII, is now open, with early-bird advantageous pricing through September 15, 2024. Learn more and apply at the link below.