The New Breed

Abstract

For the past 15 years, a small university programme based in Africa’s deep south has been quietly training a new generation of plant breeders, while scattering seeds of innovation across the continent. Born in a moment of lateral thinking and propelled by the creative energy of its founders, the African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI) in South Africa has flourished, becoming known as a centre of academic excellence.In the manner of all start-ups, its journey has been bumpy at times but also filled with idealism,industry and adventure. Students and staff have travelled to far-flung corners of the continent braving bandits, rough rides and dangerous diseases, all in pursuit of advancing the little-known science of classical plant breeding. The results have been outstanding: over 109 African plant breeders trained, scores of new crop varieties have been released and the programme has changed the way agricultural postgraduates are being trained in Africa.