Postgraduate course

Participatory Plant Breeding &
Resilient Seed Systems

Sunday 16 – Friday 21 August 2020

Conference Centre De Werelt, Lunteren, the Netherlands

Scope

Resilient seed systems play a central role in sustainable food systems that are robust, dynamic, equitable, diverse, healthy and interconnected. Developing and strengthening these systems offers vital entry points for responding to critical global challenges of climate change, agricultural biodiversity, and sustainable development. Training in participatory breeding and seed system concepts, issues and approaches will support engaged professionals and graduate students to contribute to resilient seed system development. This course serves professionals who seek longer-term solutions for sustainable, agro-ecological agriculture and answers to the question: How can food systems be moved forward in the South and the North?
Key aspects of this course include:

• Concepts, strategies, methods and experiences with decentralised and participatory approaches to plant breeding and seed system development to increase agrobiodiversity and cope with climate changes
• Governance issues such as seed quality control, property rights, co-ownership and benefit sharing
• Specific approaches for different crop types and socio-economic contexts
• Multi-actor approaches, collaborative learning, knowledge sharing and networking approaches to engage food system and value chain actors into participatory plant breeding and resilient seed system programs
• The interaction of technical solutions and social choices: considering trade-offs and issues of inclusion/social equity and other values

This course may be of particular interest for programs and partners engaged in seed system development and is supported by Global Alliance for the Future of Food, EU projects Liveseed and Dynaversity, and the Root Tuber and Bananas CRP.

The course is the week before the 21st general EUCARPIA congress: BREEDING, THE KEY TO INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS which will be held 23-28 August 2020 (Rotterdam, The Netherlands).

Preliminary programme

Sunday afternoon (before dinner) the course starts off with an introduction lecture by Salvatore Ceccarelli (Rete Semi Rurali, Italy).
After dinner there will be a poster carousel in which participants present themselves, their research and interest in the course (5 - 10 minutes) after which there is 5-10 minutes for discussion.

From Monday - Thursday, each morning starts with 3 - 4 lectures (30 - 45 minutes each), followed by a 30-minute discussion convened by 2 - 3 participants:

Monday 17 August - Technical Breeding aspects

• Veronique Chable (INRA - Rennes, Dynaversity)
• Monica Messmer (FiBL-CH, Liveseed)
• Baloua Nebie (ICRISAT - Burkina Faso/Mali)

Tuesday 18 August - Involving actors of the value chain

• Martha Willcox (Cimmyt - Mexico, GAFF)
• Jane Rabinowics (USC - Canada, GAFF) To be confirmed
• Margret McEwan (OFSP - Africa, RTB) 

Wednesday 19 August - Creating innovative seed systems

• Conny Almekinders (WUR, RTB Africa)
• Edith Lammerts van Bueren (WUR)
• Eva Weltzien (University of Wisconsin)

Thursday 20 August - Policy options

• Bert Visser (Oxfam Novib)
• Margaret McEwan (OFSP - Africa, RTB)
• Marja Thijssen/Abishkar Subedi (WUR, ISSD Africa) To be confirmed
• Riccardo Bocci (RSR, Dynaversity)

In the afternoons, participants will work in small groups on a project proposal related to PPB supporting a seed system intervention perspective, and do literature research.
On Wednesday afternoon a field exersion will be organised.

Friday morning the groups will present the outcome of their work. Departure will be after lunch.

General information

Fees ¹

¹ The course fee includes accommodation, all meals, course materials, coffee/tea, and water. It does not include beverages in the bar.
² The Early-Bird Fee applies to anyone who REGISTERS ON OR BEFORE 18 MAY 2020

Note:

• Because of the COVID-19 situation we asked you to hold the payment until a later stage. We will contact all participants when payments can be made.  
• Please be aware that any trips that you book are at your own risk. If these trips can not take place due to extension of Corona measures we cannot reimburse you
• If you need an invoice to complete your payment, please send an email to office.pe@wur.nl, including ALL relevant details that should be mentioned on the invoice (e.g., purchase order no., specific addresses, attendees, etc.).
• The Early-Bird policy is such that the moment of REGISTRATION (and not payment) is leading for determining the fee that applies to you.

PE&RC Cancellation Conditions

• Up to 4 (four) weeks prior to the start of the course, cancellation is free of charge.
• Up to 2 (two) weeks prior to the start of the course, a fee of € 350,- will be charged.
• In case of cancellation within two weeks prior to the start of the course, a fee of € 750,- will be charged.
• If you do not show at all, a fee of € 1.100,- will nevertheless be charged.

Note: If you would like to cancel your registration, ALWAYS inform us and do not assume that by NOT paying the participation fee, your registration is automatically cancelled, because it isn't (and do note that you will be kept to the cancellation conditions).

Workshop Organisers

• Conny Almekinders, Wageningen University & Research/RTB
• Riccardo Bocci, RSR/Dynaversity
• Veronique Chable, INRA - Rennes/Dynaversity
• Edith Lammerts van Bueren, Wageningen University & Research/GAFF
• Monika Messmer, FiBL-CH/Liveseed
• Eva Weltzien, University of Wisconsin-Madison/GAFF
• Claudius van de Vijver, Graduate School PE&RC

More information

Prof.dr.ir. Edith Lammerts van Bueren (WUR)
Phone: +31 (0)6 10919736
Email: edith.lammertsvanbueren@wur.nl

Dr. Claudius van de Vijver (Graduate School PE&RC)
Phone: +31 (0) 317 485116
Email: claudius.vandevijver@wur.nl

Registration

To register, please enter your details below and click "Register".