GCP News Issue 58
31st January 2012  

New year, new crop varieties, newly decoded genomes, new staff, new publications, resources and events...even a new tagline for GCP! This edition of GCP News certainly promises a novel approach to GCP goings-on. We begin with a call to our readers to participate in an all-important after-GCP survey, as we look to the future and beyond...

News
1. Reminder to complete comprehensive ‘Mapping the Future' survey
As our esteemed subscribers to GCP News, you will have received an e-mail about the ‘Mapping the Future' survey, which seeks your input in helping to more clearly determine the core nature, primary purpose and operational priorities of a possible successor entity for GCP. This is a gentle reminder to please respond to this survey, using the personalised link in the e-mail you received, before the deadline of 5th February 2012. We thank you in advance for your time.

2. New shoots of a green revolution in Africa: disease-resistant cassava varieties put down roots in Tanzania
GCP is delighted to announce the official release of four cassava varieties in Tanzania, developed through marker-assisted selection (MAS), and extensive collaboration combining the knowhow of multi-institutional agricultural experts worldwide. More

3. An orphan crop comes home: how the mighty, meaty pigeonpea genome was decoded
A six-year, multi-institute collaborative project has successfully sequenced the pigeonpea genome. This result opens the floodgates for developing new varieties of the legume, which in turn will have a significant impact on the lives of people in resource-poor communities in the semi-arid regions. More

4. Plus two integrated into the IBP team
In the course of 2011, two more members became an integral part of the Integrated Breeding Platform (IBP) team. Introducing Candy Pimentel and Mark Sawkins...More

5. GCP flaunts a nice turn of phrase with new tagline
Towards the end of last year, a small group at GCP knocked heads (and a few knuckles too!) and locked lexicons to come up with a new tagline that better reflects what and where GCP is today. From a long list of suggestions, the following winner was selected...More

6. GCP catapults CoPs into creation for a crescendo of capacity construction
The first half of 2011 marked a season of community goings-on at GCP, as a series of comprehensive discussions on the formation, expansion and management of communities of practice (CoPs) were succeeded by the successful launch of several crop-specific CoPs, in addition to the existing CoPs, including one for data managers. More

Publications/materials
1. Download the low-down on plant phenotyping: GCP's long-awaited popular publication now available online
GCP is delighted to announce that the book Drought phenotyping in crops: from theory to practice is now fully accessible online. Visitors can thumb through the chapters one by one, or alternatively download the whole book. Part I is on methodology while Part II is on application covering 14 crops. Plans are underway to convert it into an e-book, as well as its update and republication electronically in the course of 2012. More

2. 2011 GRM materials now online
For five days in September 2011, GCP researchers from around the globe joined forces on Indian soil for GCP's General Research Meeting held in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. Materials from the event, including presentations, posters and photographs, are now available online. More

3. 2010 Annual Report and Medium-Term Plan 2011-2013 hard copies now available
The GCP 2010 Annual Report and Medium-Term Plan 2011-2013 are now available in hard copy. More

Event
VIth International Congress on Legume Genetics and Genomics (ICLGG)

  • Dates: 2-7 October 2012
  • Location: Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
  • Early application deadline (for reduced fees): 31st May 2012
  • Target: Researchers working on fundamental aspects of legume biology in model species, using genetic and genomic tools, as well as those working on applied aspects and breeding of crop and pasture species.
  • More

GCP warmly invites your feedback and comments at GenerationCP-News@cgiar.org

For previous issues of GCP News, see http://www.generationcp.org/enewsletter

Should you wish to terminate your subscription to GCP News at any time, please send a blank email to gcpnews-leave@lists.cgiar.org

If you received this newsletter as a forward and would like to subscribe directly to GCP News, please go to http://lists.cgiar.org/mailman/listinfo/gcpnews