GCP announces winners of 3rd Genotyping Support Service call for proposals

 GCP is delighted to announce the 16 winners of its 3rd Genotyping Support Service (GSS) open call for proposals. This call was launched in October 2009 and closed in January 2010. Further to our note of August 5th, 2010, we once more thank all the applicants for their interest...

February 4, 2011 6:00pm

Software Engineers: application deadline extended

  As advertised in GCP News issue 53, GCP is seeking a team of three IBP software engineers, and the application deadline has now been extended to 15th February 2011. Read more...

February 4, 2011 6:00pm

GCP welcomes Analytical Pipeline Coordinator to the IBP team

GCP is pleased to announce the appointment of Delphine Fleury as the Analytical Pipeline Coordinator for GCP's Integrated Breeding Platform. She will perform this function halftime alongside her current engagement as Project Manager, drought genetics group, at the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG). Delphine holds a PhD...

February 4, 2011 6:00pm

Advanced course in conservation agriculture

    The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) is offering a training opportunity for scientists in agronomy and sustainable management of natural resources. The advanced course in conservation agriculture will focus on the sustainable and productive management of crops and resources.   Date and venue: 23 May–24...

February 4, 2011 2:56pm

Plant breeding now: series of talks on advances in genomics and information technology

  Plant breeding now: series of talks on advances in genomics and information technology Scientists from the University of York, UK, have organised a series of talks and a discussion meeting on advances in DNA sequencing and computing, and how new technologies are being deployed in this field. This...

February 1, 2011 2:59pm

GCP signs MoU with iPlant

  The CGIAR Generation Challenge Programme (GCP) and iPlant Collaborative recently signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU is geared to provide crop breeders worldwide with greater access to breeding tools and resources. Under the terms of this MoU, iPlant will collaborate with GCP in developing GCP’s...

January 27, 2011 6:00pm

IBP Configurable Workflow workshop

 A group of GCP scientists and researchers involved in the development of the configurable breeding workflow system of the Integrated Breeding Platform (IBP) meet in San Diego, California, USA, from 12–14 January for the workshop, to discuss ways and means to develop tools in a coordinated and cohesive way...

January 11, 2011 6:00pm

Dates announced for GCP’s General Research Meeting 2011

GCP’s next General Research Meeting (GRM) will be taking place from 22–26 September 2011. Participation is by invitation only. More details will follow in due course....

January 11, 2011 6:00pm

GCP to take part in Plant & Animal Genome (PAG) XIX Conference

    From 15–19 January 2011, San Diego, California, USA, will once more become the venue of the Plant & Animal Genome Conference, at which GCP will participate.   The GCP workshop will be on 17 January, where GCP Director, Jean-Marcel Ribaut, and Theme 1 Leader, Rajeev Varshney (who...

January 11, 2011 6:00pm

GCP welcomes new Theme 4 Leader to the Management Team

  Stepping into the role of leader for Theme 4–Capacity Building– is Ndeye Ndack Diop, who will oversee GCP’s ongoing mission to build technical capacity and establish communities of practice to facilitate the flow of products from research to delivery. She will also undertake the overall coordination of the...

January 11, 2011 6:00pm

Workshop materials now available online

  As previously reported (in GCP News Issue 49), the Comparative Genomics Research Initiative launch meeting was held in Eldoret, Kenya, from 14-15 May 2010, forming part of a series of launch meetings of the Research Initiatives. Presentations and related materials...

January 10, 2011 6:00pm

Further addition to GCP staff at HQ

  Another new face at GCP HQ is Bhushan Shrestha, who will be undertaking diverse tasks including organising GCP research data on the GCP Central Registry, working on GCP Product Delivery, and on the IBP initiative. Bhushan, a biologist by training, is a Nepali national, and has previously worked for...

January 10, 2011 6:00pm

A Challenge Initiative by any other name...

As expressed in the opening message on GCP's homepage, GCP is currently undergoing several changes. The name of our ‘Challenge Initiatives' is changing to ‘Research Initiatives', but this is more than just a facelift: it reflects the shifting composition going on at the core of the Programme and represents...

January 10, 2011 6:00pm

Vacancies: Software Engineers

  The Generation Challenge Programme (GCP) is currently seeking to recruit a team of three dynamic and innovative software engineers to develop software for the Integrated Breeding Platform (IBP). Through the $20m IBP project, GCP seeks to improve the efficiency of plant breeding initiatives worldwide by integrating molecular techniques...

January 10, 2011 6:00pm

Wild relatives to save global family: Norway funds major food crop initiative

  On 10th December, 2010, The Global Crop Diversity Trust announced that Norway's Ministry of the Environment and International Development is to provide an initial instalment of USD 50 million to fund an initiative which will seek out and use the wild relatives of 23 major global food crops in...

January 10, 2011 3:08pm