Biotech Updates

Plant Breeding for Drought Tolerance Symposium

January 15, 2010

In the past, crop productivity was due equally to improved genetics and improved crop management, but future increases will be due more to improved genetics through plant breeding. The purpose of the Plant Breeding for Drought Tolerance 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 program aims to build collaborations between the public and private sectors, as well as with graduate students in plant breeding, genetics, and physiology programs. The meeting will consist of presentations by invited speakers and will feature keynote speaker Richard Richards, plant physiologist, from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Canberra, Australia. Other speakers include Rachid Serraj (International Rice Research Institute), Roberto Tuberosa (University of Bologna), Renee Lafitte (University of California), and many other top scientists in the field of plant breeding for drought tolerance.

Visit  http://www.droughtadaptation.org/Symposium to register and for more information.