The Seed Biotechnology Center at UC Davis has pioneered the Plant Breeding Academy, a program designed and tailored for seed industry personnel. It provides a rare opportunity to develop talents within the Seed Industry. This Academy offers a unique curriculum that matches and exceeds the depth and breadth of a traditional Ph.D., as it is solely dedicated to the field of Plant Breeding and is taught by experienced plant breeders. This program specifically addresses the limited availability of trained plant breeders emerging from academic programs. Through initiatives like the UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy, seed associations such as ASTA, Euroseeds, and their member companies actively support a dynamic ecosystem that promotes ongoing learning, collaboration, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in the field of plant breeding. Since 2006, the UC Davis Plant Breeding Academy has graduated more than 430 students from 68 countries, making a significant contribution to driving innovation and meeting the evolving challenges of plant breeding. Over two years, participants engage in six immersive sessions in either Davis, California (USA) at UC Davis campus or around European countries with visits to the public and private breeding programs. Students have assignments between sessions as well as a final project. We continuously adapt curriculum to reflect the new developments in Academia and the industry in the area of plant breeding.

Course goal: This course develops the skills and abilities of current industry plant breeding personnel to enable them to become independent breeders or more valuable contributors to larger breeding programs.

Who should attend? The course is targeted toward personnel currently involved in plant breeding programs who lack the academic background in genetics theory and practice to advance as independent breeders. Current breeders who desire a refresher course or would like to broaden their expertise would also be potential participants.

Visit the Plant Breeding Academy website for more information about PBA programs including Davis PBA, European PBA, African PBA, and AfPBA CRISPR courses:

Plant Breeding Academy Website

Questions? Contact Whitney Lowe (wlowe@ucdavis.edu)