UC-Davis seeks applications for the European Plant Breeding Academy

The University of California, Davis, Plant Breeding Academy (PBA) is a professional certificate program with classes in United States, Europe, Africa and Asia. Since 2006, the program has trained more than 230 breeders, 80 percent of which are from the private seed industry. Class 5 of the European PBA will start in October 2017 and is open for registration.

The 2017 class curriculum will maintain the upgrades from the previous classes and add modules to address the most recent developments in plant breeding theory and practice.

UC Davis PBA has established a list of core instructors that includes internationally recognized experts in plant breeding and seed technology. The instructor list will change for specific session in accordance with the participants’ needs. The list of regular core lecturers includes: Kent Bradford, Allen Van Deynze, Rale Gjuric (UC Davis), Rita Mumm (University of Illinois), Todd Wehner (North Carolina State University), Idy van Leuwen (BreedWise, NL) and Alexandra Tomerius (AIB). They will be supported by a number of guest lecturers from the private industry and academia.

The course allows employers an opportunity to provide their valued employees advanced training without disrupting their full-time employment. Throughout the approximately two-year period, participants attend six 6-day sessions.

Dates and locations are:

•  Oct. 2-7, 2017, Enkhuizen, Netherlands
•  March 5-10, 2018, Angers, France
•  June 25-30, 2018, Gatersleben, Germany
•  Oct. 1-6, 2018, Gent, Belgium
•  March 4-9, 2019, Almeria, Spain
•  June 24-29, 2019, Davis, California

For more information on the European PBA, contact Joy Patterson at jpatterson@ucdavis.edu or visit http://pba.ucdavis.edu/.