Pushing the genetic boundaries in cassava breeding research

Plant breeders from eight African countries gathered for the workshop to address the challenges of integrating bioinformatics into plant breeding. The discussions focused on identifying the necessary infrastructures, data processing methods, and key genotypes to improve breeding outcomes. Attendees worked diligently, presenting their ongoing projects, and engaging in productive discussions that extended beyond the presentations.

Plant breeders and bioinformaticians at the workshop held at IITA, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

One of the major outcomes of the workshop was the identification of a project that will benefit from the bioinformatics expertise provided by the Epicass and CassavaNet4Dev teams. Additionally, the workshop laid the foundation for new research collaborations, with plans to develop future research proposals. 

This initiative marks a significant step toward equipping African plant breeders with advanced bioinformatics skills and fostering international collaboration to enhance cassava and other crops breeding efforts.

The core partners in both projects include the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria and Nairobi, Kenya, the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, the Institute of Biomedical Technologies (ITB-CNR) in Bari, Italy, and the Institute of Polymers, Composites, and Biomaterials (IPCB-CNR) in Bari, Italy.

SLU project members include Professor Erik Bongcam-Rudloff, Postdoctoral researcher Adnan Niazi, and PhD students Michael Landi and Renaud van Damme, all from the Bioinformatics Section at the Department of Animal Biosciences at SLU.

On behalf of the Epicass and CassavaNet4Dev projects, Professor Erik Bongcam-Rudloff.