Rome, Italy
July 22, 2008
Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity
Building (GIPB), in collaboration with the FAO
Inter-Departmental Working Group on Bioenergy, is launching a
Call for expanded up-to-date information on genetic resources
and breeding of selected species, together with detailed
analysis of their potential as bioenergy crops adaptable to
sustainable smallholder production systems.
Species of interest under this call are:
- jatropha (Jatropha
curcas L.)
- castor bean (Ricinus
communis L.)
- sugar beet (Beta
vulgaris L.)
- sweet sorghum (Sorghum
bicolor L.) and
- Pongamia (Pongamia
pinnata L.).
Letters of Intention may be
submitted to GIPB by September 1st, 2008.
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Harnessing the potential
of selected underutilized bioenergy crops
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 Many
underutilized or neglected plant species are
grown or used very little, or very locally, but
have great promise for contributing to
sustainable energy production, livelihood and
rural development. However, success in
domestication and production of underutilized
bioenergy crops will depend on a wide range of
preconditions. Among the most basic of these is
the understanding of the genetic resources
available through natural selection over time
and from selections of adapted materials by
farmers and breeders.
So far, the genetic resources of underexploited
bioenergy crops in general are very poorly
documented; little is known about the genetic
variability, its useful characteristics, how to
access breeding material and share it as a
public good, and how to utilize it in breeding
programmes to generate improved cultivars
suitable for production in different
agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions.
This call for studies and analysis aims at
expanding information on genetic resources of
selected bioenergy crops. The information will
also support the development of a guide on
genetic resource assessment and use, which will
help ongoing efforts directed at enhancing the
potential of underutilized bioenergy crops for
smallholder producers. These information
resources will help bridge the knowledge gap and
assist stakeholders to improve their ability to
resolve constraints relating to genetic
diversity characterisation and utilization.
This is the first Call for Letters of Intention
for production of expanded up-to-date
information on genetic resources and breeding of
selected bioenergy species, together with
detailed analysis of their potential as
bioenergy crops adaptable to sustainable
smallholder production systems.
Species of interest under this Call are jatropha
(Jatropha curcas L.), castor bean (Ricinus
communis L.), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.),
sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and Pongamia
(Pongamia pinnata L.). Only one species must be
considered per Letter of Intention. The same
applicant may submit more than one Letter of
Intention.
All applications must be written in English and
the deadline for submission of Letters of
Intention is 1st September 2008.
Click
HERE to open the announcement (PDF) with
more detailed information. |
We remind you that the GIPB
Knowledge Resource Center provides a wide array of plant
breeding and related information, tools and resources, such as:
- a worldwide assessment
of plant breeding capacity;
- newly published plant
breeding and related literature;
- opportunities in
training and capacity building;
- links to plant
breeding news in the world media;
- announcements of
important events related to plant breeding;
- links to organizations
and networks that have direct connections with plant
breeding:
- etc.
Click
here to see these and
other features. |
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