ISU and Kenyan University to Establish Africa Seed Institute

Iowa State University's (ISU) Seed Science Center in collaboration with the University of Nairobi (UoN), and in partnership with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center and private business experts are hoping to eradicate food insecurity through capacity building in sub-Saharan Africa where seed supply chains are lacking or inadequate. A Seed Enterprise Management Institute at the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences in Kabete, Kenya will be built through a grant from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

To build this facility, the ISU Seed Science Center will guide and assist in the physical design and construction of the institute as well as the seed conditioning, storage and drying facilities; training facilities; and a seed laboratory. "ISU and the UoN will work together to create and facilitate learning modules and specialized workshops on seed testing, seed conditioning and storage, information management, quality assurance and seed policies and regulations -- particularly geared towards seed business," said Joe Cortes, leader of the Global Seed Program.

For details, see the news release at http://www.soyatech.com/news_story.php?id=18198