Initial Dialogue and Training Workshop
on Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biosciences for Farming in Africa
PROGRAMME
Oak Plaza Hotel, East Airport, Accra
Please click on a presentation title to view the powerpoint slides or video
Day 1 – Wednesday 19 September 2012
0930 Welcome and Introductions Bernie Jones; Course Leader
1045 Plant Breeding and Agriculture Wayne Powell; University of Aberystwyth, UK
1215 Science Journalism Alexander Abutu Augustine; Africa Science Technology & Innovation News
1400 Principles of Genetics Eric Danquah; West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement, University of Ghana
1630 Practical Experiment – DNA extraction Bernie Jones
1730 Video Presentation & Discussion: TED – Ben Goldacre – “Battling Bad Science”
Day 2 – Thursday 20 September 2012
0900 Interviews on Tissue Culture, Hybrid Seeds and Seed Banks
1030 Local case-study 1 – Maize Breeding Manfred Ewool; CSIR Crop Research Institute, Kumasi
1100 Local case-study 2 – Cocoa Breeding George Ameyaw; Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana
1130 Local case-study 3 – Sorghum Breeding IDK Atokple; CSIR Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, Tamale
1230 FIELD TRIPS
Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute, Accra, and
West African Centre for Crop Improvement, Accra
Day 3 – Friday 21 September 2012
0900 Journalism exercise: interviewing & feedback Julia Vitullo-Martin & Sharon Schmickle
1030 Genetic Modification Jim Dunwell; University of Reading, UK
1400 Local case study 4 – Cotton Breeding Emmanuel Chamba, CSIR Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, Tamale
1430 Commentary on GM research in Ghana IDK Atokple, CSIR Savannah Agricultural Research Institute, Tamale
1500 Local case study 5 – Plant Genetic Resources Lawrence Aboagye, CSIR Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute, Bunso
1600 Journalism exercise Julia Vitullo-Martin & Sharon Schmickle
2000 Post-dinner role-playing “talk show” on biotech
Day 4 – Saturday 22 September 2012
0830 Agricultural biotechnology and the regulatory environment Eric Okoree, MEST, Ghana
0915 Agricultural biotechnology and industry Daniel Otunge, African Agricultural Technology Foundation, Nairobi
1030 Journalism exercise, interviewing & feedback Julia Vitullo-Martin & Sharon Schmickle
1300 Keynote address: Dr Ahmed Alhassan MP, Chair Agriculture Committee
1345 Keynote address: Dr George Essegbey, CSIR STEPRI
1430 Prize-giving and closing Bernie Jones
1500 Close