Facts:
The BREEDTECH project is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education and will be operational between 20024 – 2027.
News
Fostering a new generation of plant breeders and biotechnologists
Published: 29 November 2024
A new Erasmus project called BREEDTECH aim to improve education and research in plant breeding, biotechnology, and biocontrol. Partners from Europe, Africa, and the Middle East are involved to enhance curricula, modernize research infrastructure, and build capacity for addressing global agricultural challenges.
BREEDTECH is led by Miriam Karwitha Charimbu from Egerton University in Kenya. At SLU Ramesh Vetukturi leads a work package focusing on curriculum development with a special emphasis on plant breeding, biotechnology and biocontrol.
– We recently had a meeting at Haramaya University in Ethiopia where we discussed curriculum development for African universities, particularly in plant breeding, biotechnology, and biocontrol, alongside assessments of infrastructure and teaching capacities, says Ramesh.
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The participants at BREEDTECH’s management meeting in Ethiopia 17-18 November 2024.
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During the Haramaya University visit, the team explored the university’s facilities and identified strategic areas for capacity building.
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Empowering future scientists
In, BREEDTECH the partners will createand harmonize over 20 curricula in plant breeding, biotechnology, and biocontrol, introducing cutting-edge topics such as genomic selection, speed breeding, and advanced biocontrol techniques.
– We will have training programs with 24 academic staff and 12 graduate students from African and Palestinian universities. Next year, researchers will travel to Sweden and Italy for intensive training programs, gaining hands-on experience in advanced laboratory techniques and field applications, says Ramesh.
Tackling food security and climate change
Another activity involves six research centers and laboratories in partner universities being upgraded with state-of-the-art equipment to support innovative research and teaching in agricultural sciences. Incubators in Palestine and Africa will foster startups in plant breeding, biotechnology, and biocontrol, linking academia to practical, market-oriented solutions.
The project addresses the critical challenges of food security, climate change adaptation, and sustainable agricultural development.
– We want to foster a new generation of plant breeders and biotechnologists equipped to meet the demands of a changing global agricultural landscape. We hope that the BREEDTECH project will make a lasting impact on global agriculture, concludes Ramesh.
Contact
Ramesh Raju Vetukuri
Associate Professor at the Department of plant breeding
ramesh.vetukuri@slu.se
Telephone: 040-41 53 40