Seed World

Harsimar Gill is a 2023 National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB) Borlaug Scholar oiriginally from India. He sat down with Marc Zienkiewicz this week to chat about the value of the Borlaug Scholarship and the NAPB meeting itself.

He’s currently a PhD student at South Dakota State University, working in the winter wheat breeding program. Back in India, he pursued his Master’s in plant breeding and genetics, working on wheat populations resulting from crosses between winter wheat and spring wheat. Gill developed a passion for plant breeding during his undergraduate studies, which was sparked by a professor’s mentorship. His farming background also influenced his interest in agriculture.

His interest in plant breeding led him to apply for the Borlaug scholarship, which facilitates the attendance of young breeders at the annual meeting and pairs them with a mentor to help guide them in their research journey.

Gill says the NAPB conference exceeded his expectations due to its well-planned sessions and ample networking time, particularly appreciating the approachable and supportive community of plant breeders. He looks forward to staying involved in the organization and possibly joining a student or early career working group to contribute further.

The post Harsimar Gill Explains Why the NAPB Conference is Unique appeared first on Seed World.

Named after the renowned agricultural scientist and humanitarian, Dr. Norman Borlaug, the National Association of Plant Breeders’ Borlaug Scholarship program is a prestigious program that honors his remarkable contributions in saving countless lives from starvation through his revolutionary work in agriculture. For those fortunate enough to be a part of this scholarship, it is both an honor and an incredible opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Marc Zienkiewicz sat down with Borlaug Scholar Boris Alladassi and his mentor Allen Van Deynze to talk about the value of the scholarship. Alladassi is a Ph.D. student in Plant Breeding with a Statistics minor at Iowa State University. He is currently working on two research projects under Dr. Jianming Yu. The first focuses on using UAV-based phenotyping, growth curve modeling, and GWAS to study the dynamics of sorghum plant height genetics across development.

The second involves the integration of genomic and transcriptomic analyses to dissect the genetic control of leaf angle across the canopy of maize.

As graduate students, the journey from academia to the job market can be challenging, and mistakes along the way are inevitable. However, with the guidance of experienced mentors who have already navigated this path, scholars can learn from their mentors’ experiences, avoid potential pitfalls, and increase their chances of success in their careers.

The program facilitates an ongoing conversation between scholars and mentors, keeping them updated on the latest technologies and best practices in plant breeding.

For instance, Boris is exploring the use of UAVs, machine learning, and AI to study crop canopies. This cutting-edge technology has the potential to revolutionize agriculture by providing crucial information for crop improvement, such as drought tolerance. However, Allen emphasizes that while embracing advanced technologies is essential, it is equally vital to know when and how to use them effectively for specific situations.

The post How Cowpeas and Aphids Led to a Career in Plant Breeding appeared first on Seed World.

Andrew Herr and Andrew Horgan are two former Borlaug Scholars who are attending this week’s meeting of the National Association of Plant Breeders in Greenville, SC. Seed World Group senior editor Marc Zienkiewicz sat down with them to talk about why the scholarship was of value to them and what they’re up to today.

As an undergrad, Herr had the privilege of being selected as one of the first scholars in 2018, the first year of the program.

“Initially, I applied for this opportunity because I had developed a growing interest in plant breeding during my undergraduate studies. Some faculty members at Iowa State University, where I was studying, encouraged me to apply for the Borlaug scholarship, and I was fortunate enough to be chosen,” he said.

To be honest, he says he didn’t have a clear understanding of what the Borlaug scholarship entailed when I first applied. It seemed like an exciting prospect, but even the organizers themselves didn’t have all the details at that time. Nevertheless, participating in the program turned out to be a fantastic networking opportunity.

“During the conference for Borlaug scholars, held in 2018, I had the chance to meet my current advisor, Aaron Carter, from Washington State University,” Herr says.

This encounter was serendipitous, as it led to my eventual acceptance into graduate school and the discovery of some amazing programs. He’s incredibly grateful for being a Borlaug scholar that first year and for the significant role it played in shaping my academic journey.

Horgan, a scholar in 2022, first became aware of the Borlaug Scholarship through an advertisement he stumbled upon. Additionally, a couple of friends had previously been Borlaug scholars, and they spoke highly of the experience.

“They emphasized that it was a fantastic opportunity to establish valuable connections and benefit from the mentorship program,” he says. Intrigued by their positive feedback, he decided to seize the opportunity and apply for the scholarship.

Looking back, it has been an amazing journey since then. Being a Borlaug scholar has provided him with numerous benefits and opportunities.

“The connections I’ve made with fellow scholars and mentors have been invaluable. The mentorship program, in particular, has been immensely helpful in guiding me and providing support throughout my academic endeavors. “I can confidently say that participating in the Borlaug scholarship has been a truly enriching and rewarding experience.”

The post The 2 Andys Talks About the Value of the Borlaug Scholarship appeared first on Seed World.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine started on 24 February 2022, and will not be over anytime soon. Many would say it already started on 20 February 2014, which would make the conflict well over 9 years! Apart from atrocities such as killing, kidnapping, and raping innocent civilians, and rampant and wanton destruction and theft, also the agriculture and seed sector in the Ukraine are suffering massive damages.

Recently, European Seed received some shocking pictures of Sergiy Avramenko, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Chief Research Scientist at the Yuriev Institute since 2003.

Photo Source: Sergiy Avramenko

We reported already earlier about the destruction of the Yuriev Plant Production Institute of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine in May 2022. For that photo feature see The Devastation of Ukraine’s Yuriev Plant Production Institute

The post War Impact on Ukrainian Fields & Agriculture Photo Reportage appeared first on Seed World.

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It’s that time of year again — time for the Corteva Agricultural Sciences Symposium at the University of Guelph. This year’s symposium takes place Nov. 16 at the University of Guelph, and is being held both virtually and in person.

The theme this year is Agriculture to People: Agronomy, Sustainability, and Global Impact. Speakers will cover topics such as crop production, sustainability, and global impact in agriculture. This daylong hybrid symposium is completely free to attend. The event includes an in person poster session, and speakers from a variety of backgrounds.

While the event is sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, it is completely organized by agriculture students at the University of Guelph.

“We really wanted to look at big-picture issues this year,” says organizer Kristian Amadek, PhD candidate in genetics and breeding in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph.

Speakers include Dave Charn, research director at Corteva Agriscience; Yvonne Lawley, assistant professor, University of Manitoba; Dan Ramdath, senior research scientist, AAFC; Andy VanLooke, associate professor, Iowa State University; and Angela Kross, assistant professor, Concordia University.

There will also be a talk from grad student Marco Pepe, who will shed some light on new research being done by University of Guelph plant science researchers on psychedelic mushrooms.

The University of Guelph is one of the first Canadian universities to be granted a licence to cultivate mushrooms that produce psilocybin, which remains a controlled substance in Canada. Researchers hope to uncover other substances these mushrooms contain and whether they have any therapeutic value alone or in combination with psilocybin.

To register for the event visit plant.uoguelph.ca/PS-Symposium.

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