On 11 May 2006, The Director General of ICARDA, Dr Mahmoud Solh, announced the appointment of Dr Zewdie Bishaw (photo) as the new Head of Seed Unit. Dr Bishaw takes over from Dr Antonius van Gastel, who retired after serving the Unit, first as Seed Production Specialist, and then as Head for many years. Dr Bishaw obtained his Bachelors degree in Plant Sciences from Alemaya College of Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. He obtained his Masters degree in Seed Technology from Edinburgh University, Scotland, UK, and a PhD in Production Ecology and Sustainable Conservation with specialization in Seed Technology from Wageningen University, the Netherlands.

He served as Lecturer at Awassa College of Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, before joining the Ethiopian Seed Corporation as Agronomist and Seed Production Officer within the Seed Production Department. He was later appointed as Head of Seed Quality Control Department and Seed Processing and Storage Department of ESE, before joining ICARDA in December 1989.

At ICARDA, he worked as Seed Production Specialist and Training Officer until 1996, when he became Acting Head of Seed Unit (1996-1997), and later as Seed Systems Specialist and Coordinator of the WANA Seed Network.

Dr Bishaw has vast experience in seed industry development at the national, regional, and global levels, particularly in seed policy and regulatory frameworks, formal and informal seed supply systems, and human resource development. He has practical experience in technical aspects of seed science and technology.