CIHEAM Zaragoza –together with the PRIMA GENDIBAR Project (Utilization of local genetic diversity to understand and exploit barley adaptation to harsh environments and for pre-breeding), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the University of Sfax through the Institute of Biotechnology,  and Tunisia's National Institute of Field Crops (INGC)– organize an advanced course to provide an overview of the current genomic tools for addressing basic and applied plant science questions.

Improving the genetic potential and reducing the yield gap of crops is the most effective way to introduce the innovation needed in agriculture to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Cereals are the main pillar of food security worldwide, and in the Mediterranean region in particular. Recent developments in genomics and plant biotechnology are delivering novel approaches that are becoming widely applied in plant breeding. Plant scientists and breeders need to be aware of the approaches that will be instrumental to leverage cereal diversity in improving crop yield under climate change.

In this context, CIHEAM Zaragoza –together with the PRIMA GENDIBAR Project (Utilization of local genetic diversity to understand and exploit barley adaptation to harsh environments and for pre-breeding), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the University of Sfax through the Institute of Biotechnology,  and Tunisia's National Institute of Field Crops (INGC)– organize this course to provide an overview of the current genomic tools for addressing basic and applied plant science questions. More specifically, the course will introduce the concepts and methods of structural and functional plant genomics to harness cereal diversity (in particular barley and wheat) for improving tolerance to abiotic stresses (with a focus on heat and drought). The programme also intends to raise awareness of the extra challenges imposed by climate change for ensuring food security and improving cereals; upskill students and young researchers expanding their capabilities for using genomic and biotechnological tools; and provide an integrated overview of the strategies that must be considered to increase breeding effectiveness, combining recent advances on genomics and phenomics. Although the course will focus on barley and wheat, the tools presented are applicable to other crops. Besides, the course is a unique opportunity to connect and network with professionals from other countries who are interested in exploiting cereal genomic diversity for crop improvement under climate change.

Dates: 3-7 October 2022.

Organizers: CIHEAM Zaragoza, the PRIMA project GENDIBAR, ICARDA and the University of Sfax.

Venue: University of Sfax (Tunisia).

Modality: Hybrid.

Application deadline: 18 July 2022.

More information: Exploitation of cereal genomic diversity for crop improvement under climate change