Rothamsted International (RI) is a UK non-profit organisation working for sustainable agriculture in developing and emerging countries. The Rothamsted International Fellowship Scheme (RIFS) aims to share scientific excellence in agricultural and environmental research by contributing to the development and dissemination of
technologies relevant to sustainable agricultural growth across the developing world.
Through the Rothamsted International Fellowship Scheme, scientists undertake projects for 6 to 12 months at Rothamsted Research in the UK. RI Fellowships are directed towards mid-career researchers in agricultural sciences from developing and emerging countries.
- Target: Mid-career scientists who are citizens of developing or emerging countries, or whose work has been based exclusively within such a country. Most applicants have doctoral status. The applications will be assessed on the basis of their scientific merit, and the potential for long-term research collaboration.
- Deadline for applications: 8th May 2010
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IFAR is a results-oriented foundation that supports partnerships, collaboration, and awards as a means of fostering scientific excellence in agriculture and related fields. IFAR’s mission is to recognise and promote scientific excellence involving the work of international agricultural research centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and their partners; promote science through professional development; and give priority to Africa and South Asia.
In support of its mission, IFAR annually provides small grants to professionals from national agricultural research systems in developing countries. Nominations for these awards must be sponsored by one or more CGIAR Center/s, and the work programmes proposed by applicants must be closely linked with the programme of a CGIAR Center. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with Center scientists when preparing their project proposals for submission to IFAR.
- Target: All applicants are expected to hold a graduate degree. Grants are not intended to finance regular undergraduate or graduate academic programs, in whole or in part.
- Deadline for applications: Closing date: 10th March 2010
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The Yara Prize for a Green Revolution in Africa has a focus on food: the improvement of food production and availability and the development of local markets in Africa, as a contribution to reducing hunger and poverty. The prize recognises such efforts and results in any field of work clearly related to combating hunger, improving health and reducing poverty in Africa, within every aspect of agriculture and food production supporting the development of both the input and the output market. The prize was launched in 2005 and consists of a USD 100,000 grant, a glass trophy and a diploma.
- Eligibility: Any qualified candidate or candidates recognised for their contributions to reducing hunger and poverty in Africa.
- Deadline for nominations: 1st April 2010
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The Food Security Center (FSC), hosted by the Universität Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany, is offering up to 12 scholarships for PhD students from developing countries and up to two scholarships for PhD students from developed countries. The funding for both groups will be for a period of 36 months, beginning August 01, 2010.
- Target: outstanding PhD students pursuing a career in academia or development collaboration. The scholarship aims at increasing their previously gained scientific knowledge and skills relevant to food security related issues.
- Eligible candidates must have:
- Completed graduate studies in agricultural, nutritional, natural, social, economic or political sciences, or related disciplines (preferably with a focus related to food security issues);
- Outstanding study performance: excellent or very good Master’s degree or equivalent with a grade of A (exceptions B);
- Track record of knowledge in the proposed field of study;
- Excellent proficiency in oral and written English (TOEFL with a minimum of 213 points computer based, 550 points paper based, 79 points internet based or equivalent is precondition);
- Sufficient private means to cover minimum living expenses (if not applying for an ‘Excellence scholarship’);
- Completed last academic degree less than 6 years ago, and
- Intention to return to his/her home country and institutin upon completion of PhD studies.
- Deadline for applications: 05 April 2010
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CCAFS launch conference: Securing food security in the face of climate change
GCP ask you to join us in welcoming a new partner on board as preparations are now well underway for the official launch conference of the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Challenge Program (CCAFS), a new 10-year research initiative launched by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP).
The conference, entitled Securing food security in the face of climate change, will take place on 4th May 2010 at the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) in Nairobi, Kenya, and is expected to bring together the research and development community, policy makers, public and private research organisations, donors, and development agencies, both governmental and non-governmental. Approximately 300 people are anticipated to attend the event.
The Launch Conference will set out to engage with the research and development (R&D) community on the R&D challenges to be tackled in relation to the linkages between climate change, agriculture, natural resource management and food security.
The Crawford Fund Fellowship aims to provide further training for an agricultural scientist whose work has shown potential. This prestigious award provides an opportunity for the successful candidate to spend a period of focused study and training in Australia, to the benefit of the Awardee as well as to their country’s agriculture and to Australia.
The training will take place in an Australian institute and will emphasise the application of knowledge to increase agricultural production in the Fellow's home country.
Eligibility:
Candidates should be:
- Below the age of 35
- From one of the following developing countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, East Timor, Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Is, Tonga, Tuvalu and Kiribati, Vanuatu or Vietnam.
Deadline for nominations: 12 April 2010.
Interested candidates should note that Fellowship nominations require the support of both an Australian citizen and the Officer-in-Charge of the nominee’s institute or department.
Contact: Marchien van Oostende
For more information on the Fellowship and on how to apply, please visit the Crawford Fund website
A team of scientists from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have written a manual entitled ‘Chickpea seed production’ which promises to provide comprehensive information on improved seed production technologies for growing a healthy seed crop of chickpea and storage of chickpea seed.
The manual, which addresses topics such as Seed systems in India, Seed production technology and Seed processing, amongst others, is intended for chickpea seed growers involved in formal and informal seed systems. The publication has been supported by the Tropical Legumes II project, twin of GCP’s Tropical Legumes I (TLI) project.
To see the Manual, please visit the chickpea section of our TLI website.
African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), a project of the CGIAR Gender & Diversity Program, is now accepting applications for its 2010 fellowships.
AWARD offers tailored two-year fellowships designed to fast-track the careers of African women scientists and professionals delivering pro-poor agricultural research and development that benefits rural communities, especially women. AWARD’s goal is to help them increase their contributions in the fight against hunger and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.
Eligibility:
- African women working in agricultural research and development from one of the following countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda or Zambia
- Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in selected disciplines (see link to announcement below for further details)
- Applicants must be available to work in Africa throughout the Fellowship period
Deadline for application: March 22, 2010.
RUFORUM Community Action Research Programme (CARP) has released its First Call for Concept Notes. The purpose of the Programme is to demonstrate innovative approaches towards strengthened University engagement with development practice in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Initially, priority will be given to projects that focus on scaling-up and out research outputs from the most successful RUFORUM CGS projects. Potential themes should address a specific project that could include either strengthening institutions or addressing commercialisation, food security or sustainability. Projects to be funded will be action research closely linking participating university researchers with all stakeholders along the value chain, including national and international research and development agencies, where appropriate.
Key eligibility criteria:
- Concept notes must be submitted by a team of experts, amongst which the Principal Investigators (PI) must be PhD holders (or in exceptional cases Full Professor without PhD), and in full-time employment in any one of the RUFORUM member universities.
- Applications must demonstrate partnerships with other institutions, faculties and/or departments, whether local, regional or international. Partners may include private universities, government departments, local and international research centres, NGOs/CBOs and agencies or other relevant institutions.
Deadline for Concept Note submission: 15th February 2010.
Following on from our recent announcement on the Plant Breeding for Drought programme to be held at Colorado State University from 14–25 June 2010 – a course primarily targeted at graduate students in the plant sciences, as well as professionals in the public and private sectors – details on the Plant Breeding for Drought Tolerance Symposium, an event which is open to the public and due to take place over the final two days of the course on 24–25 June, are now available.
The purpose of the symposium is to provide a forum for exchange between plant physiologists, agronomists, and geneticists in order to continue the positive trend towards crop improvement through plant breeding and genetics. The event also aims to build collaborations between the public and private sectors, as well as with graduate students in plant breeding, genetics, and physiology programmes.
The meeting will consist of stimulating presentations by invited speakers and will feature keynote speaker Richard Richards, plant physiologist, from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Canberra, Australia. Other speakers include Rachid Serraj (IRRI), Roberto Tuberosa (University of Bologna, Italy), Renee Lafitte (University of California, USA), and many other top scientists in the field of plant breeding for drought tolerance.
- Eligibility: Professionals and graduate students with a background and/or interest in plant breeding research.
- Early registration date (for reduced fees): 1st April 2010
For more details on the event and on how to register, please consult the symposium website.
From 1–4 March 2010 the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations will host an international technical conference on Agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries: Options and opportunities in crops, forestry, livestock, fisheries and agro-industry to face the challenges of food insecurity and climate change (ABDC-10).
The conference has been arranged in response to growing food insecurity in the developing world, compounded by both climate change and recent increases in food prices, and in the understanding that boosting productivity of smallholders’ farms through appropriate application of good practices and improved technologies must be a key ingredient of developing countries’ development policies. It is in this context that FAO is organising this international conference that encompasses the crop, forestry, livestock, fishery and agro-industry sectors, as well as the entire range of agricultural biotechnologies currently available.
The conference programme will be organised around both plenary and parallel sessions, with the latter to be sector-specific, regional or dealing with cross-cutting issues, with a ‘knowledge share fair ‘ (including information booths, videos, posters, etc) also scheduled for one of the evenings.
Participation in the conference will be by invitation only, with the audience expected to comprise delegations of Member States of FAO, intergovernmental organisations, international non-governmental organisations and international civil society organisations, amongst others.
For further details on the conference, including a draft agenda, see the FAO ABDC-10 website.
Actors from all walks of the biotechnology industry are invited to participate in the 14th International Biotechnology Symposium (IBS2010), to take place in Rimini, Italy, from 14–18 September 2010.
Delegates to the conference will explore the frontiers and applications of biotechnology for a healthier and more sustainable future and a knowledge-based bioeconomy via oral and poster presentations themed within ten session topics. Keynote lectures by renowned international speakers promise to provide an inspirational insight into current topical issues.
Important deadlines:
- Abstract submission deadline: 1st March 2010
- Early registration (for reduced fees): 31st May 2010; for registration after this date (space permitting), standard fees will apply.
Details on both this and other events in the GCP calendar are available on our Meetings & Events page.
From 2–8 July 2010 legume researchers will join forces at the Vth International Congress on Legume Genetics and Genomics (ICLGG) in Pacific Grove, California, USA. A special feature of the ICLGG is its mission to bring together people working on fundamental aspects of legume biology in model species, using genetic and genomic tools, with those working on applied aspects and breeding of crop and pasture species.
Session topics include genomics; genome-assisted breeding; pathogens, pests, and resistance mechanisms; abiotic stress and tolerance mechanisms; genes and development; evolution and diversity; symbiosis; new faces and new horizons (organised by young scientists); and challenges (feeding the world, etc.).
Key deadlines:
- April 1 – Register early to avoid late fees and secure housing
- May 1 – Abstracts due. Submission information on the congress website
- May 1 – Last day to secure conference transportation and Asilomar housing
Interested participants are invited to download the ICLGG brochure for an overview of the event, or to visit the congress website (under construction) for full details.
For details on this and other events in the GCP calendar, please visit our Meetings & Events page.
From 24-27 April 2010 the 2nd International Symposium on Genomics of Plant Genetic Resources (GPGR2) will take place in Bologna, Italy. Building on the success of the first symposium which took place in Beijing, China, in 2005, the main theme of this second edition will be ‘Harnessing plant biodiversity for food security and nutritional quality’, with scientific sessions to focus on genomics-based applications, genomics of Triticeae genetic resources, and genetic resources for nutritional quality, amongst others.
Eligibility: This event is open to all. Fees vary depending on participant sector/background (eg, public institutes/industry/students and young scientists).
Important deadlines:
- Submission of abstracts: 15th February 2010
- Earlybird registration deadline (for reduced fees): 28th February 2010; registration after this date will be possible, space permitting.
For further details and to register online, please consult the GPGR2 Symposium website. A brochure is also available here.
From 18-21 March 2010 plant genetic researchers from around the globe will gather for the 52nd Maize Genetics Conference, to be held in Riva del Garda, Italy. Topics will include Biochemical genetics, bioinformatics & computational biology, functional genomics and quantitative genetics & breeding, amongst others. The event, which will include talks from a number of internationally renowned researchers, will prompt discussions on the most current scientific and technical advances in maize genetics, as well as providing ample networking opportunities amongst potential collaborators. Formal plenary sessions will be complemented by oral and poster presentations.
Deadline for pre-meeting registration (for reduced fees, and highly recommended): 29th January 2010; registration after this date will incur higher fees, and will be subject to availability of places.
For passport details on both this and similar events within the GCP calendar, please visit our Meetings & Events page
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