Davis, California
September 9, 2008
 An
international group of working professionals from 10 different
countries is getting a jump on the fall quarter at the
University of California Davis,
arriving early to begin the second class of the
Plant Breeding Academy,
designed by the campus's
Seed Biotechnology Center.
The center developed the academy in direct response to industry
concerns over a decline in the number of plant breeders being
trained in academic programs. The academy was designed to enable
companies to provide their employees with formal instruction in
genetics, statistics and plant breeding theory, while they
remain in their current jobs.
"Overall, this course is invaluable to me in that I am able to
maintain my full-time, great job, and gain this knowledge
without having to become a full time student," wrote academy
graduate Peter Martini.
The 23 participants, from as far away as Africa, Australia,
Chile and Europe, will spend more than 300 hours in classes,
workshops and the field. The two-year professional development
program, which includes six weeklong sessions at UC Davis,
offers advanced training to prepare these students to become
independent plant breeders.
After the first week, which ends Saturday, Sept. 13,
participants will return to their home companies or research
institutions to continue studying and put their new skills into
practice. They are slated to come back to UC Davis for one-week
classes in February and again in June, with a similar program
scheduled for the second year of the academy.
 Now
welcoming its second class, the academy hosted its inaugural
class of 15 students from three countries between September 2006
and June 2008. Upon completing the program, students received a
certificate and 19 units of academic credit. They should be
equipped to work as independent plant breeders or direct
regional plant-breeding programs.
Academy courses are taught by internationally recognized plant
breeders Doug Shaw and Larry Teuber, both of UC Davis, and Todd
Wehner from North Carolina State University, with guest
lecturers speaking on their specific areas of expertise.
Coursework covers all aspects of plant breeding, including
genetics; statistics; single-trait selection; recombination and
population development; resistance breeding; genotype by
environment interactions; biotechnology; data management;
finishing varieties; and seed production, conditioning and
storage. Each student designs a breeding program as a final
project for the academy.
More information about the academy program can be found online
at http://pba.ucdavis.edu
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