B4FA Media Workshop Ghana 2012

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