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November 23, 2009
Follow the BGRI
 | Last Update by admin | November 23, 2009 | 9:10 AM | 2 Attachments
November 13, 2009
Millions Fed: Proven Successes in Agricultural Research (IFPRI publication), released 12 Nov 2009
Learning from successes in agricultural development is now more urgent than ever. Progress in feeding the world’s billions has slowed, while the challenge of meeting future food needs remains enormous and is subject to new uncertainties in the global food and agricultural systems. In the late 1950s around a billion people were estimated to go hungry every day. Scientists, policymakers, farmers, and ordinary people initiated a concerted push to boost agricultural production and productivity in developing countries. Great strides were also made in improving the quality of food and the ability of vulnerable people to access food needed for survival. All these efforts have done more than just feed millions. They have also demonstrated that agriculture can be a key driver of growth and development for many of the world’s poorest countries. ...
 | Last Update by Jenny Nelson | November 13, 2009 | 10:30 AM | 1 Attachment
November 9, 2009
Welcome to the new BGRI website

Register for the BGRI 2010 Technical Workshop (30-31 May) and the 8th International Wheat Conference (1-4 June) in St. Petersburg, Russia

 | Last Update by John Bakum | November 9, 2009 | 5:12 PM | 2 Attachments
Contact the BGRI
 | Last Update by John Bakum | November 9, 2009 | 10:50 AM
About Norman E. Borlaug

Dr. Norman E. Borlaug

March 25, 1914 – September 12, 2009

Known as the father of the Green Revolution, Norman Ernest Borlaug was born in 1914 on a farm near Cresco, Iowa. After completing his early education in his hometown, he went on to study forestry and plant pathology at the University of Minnesota, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees and completed his doctorate in 1942. After two years as a microbiologist with the DuPont de Nemours Foundation , he took on the challenge of leading the wheat improvement efforts of the Cooperative Mexican Agricultural Program, sponsored by the Mexican government and the Rockefeller Foundation.

In Mexico, Dr. Borlaug's scientific knowledge found expression in a humanitarian mission: developing improved grain varieties to feed the hungry people of the world. A practical, energetic, hands-on researcher, Dr. Borlaug worked in the fields alongside farm workers, students, and interns, sharing his knowledge as well as the labor of producing food crops. During his twenty years in Mexico, Dr. Borlaug and his colleagues perfected a dwarf wheat variety that could produce large amounts of grain, resist diseases, and resist lodging - the bending and breaking of the stalk that often occurs in high-yielding grains. Under Dr. Borlaug's guidance, this new wheat was planted with great success, not only in Mexico, but also in India and Pakistan. In subsequent years, the wheat was planted in nations in Central and South America, the Near and Middle East, and Africa.

In 1964, Dr. Borlaug was appointed director of the Wheat Research and Production Program at the then newly established International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) near Mexico City. This position allowed him to expand his teaching mission. He shared his immense knowledge of research and production methods with thousands of young scientists from all over the world, "seeding" agricultural production in their home countries with new ideas and new productivity.

Despite having received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 - and, over the years, multitudinous honors and recognitions from universities, governments, and organizations worldwide - Dr. Borlaug remains a deeply humble and practical man who has been as productive after winning this major honor as he was before.

He came to Texas A&M University in 1984 as Distinguished Professor of International Agriculture and has continued to teach and inspire young scientists at Texas A&M and at CIMMYT. Hailed as having saved more lives than anyone else in the history of mankind, Dr. Borlaug cites as one of his most prized tributes the naming of a street in his honor in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico - the site of some of his earliest research projects.

Recommended books on the life of Dr. Borlaug and the fight to end global hunger:

Enough: Who the World's Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty. by Roger Thurow and Scott Kilman. PublicAffairs, 2009.

Borlaug: The Mild-Mannered Maverick Who Fed a Billion People by Noel Vietmeyer. Bracing Books, 2008.

The Man Who Fed the World by Leon Hesser. Durban House, 2006.

The text above was adapted from the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agricultural Research at Texas A&M.

 | Last Update by Jenny Nelson | November 9, 2009 | 10:31 AM
November 3, 2009
Welcome to BGRI
Welcome to the new BGRI website ...
 | Last Update by John Bakum | November 3, 2009 | 2:10 PM
About BGRI
About BGRI ...
 | Last Update by John Bakum | November 3, 2009 | 1:51 PM | 1 Attachment
Home Page photos
BGRI Photos
 ...
 | Last Update by John Bakum | November 3, 2009 | 1:49 PM | 1 Attachment
Rust News
Rust in the News ...
 | Last Update by John Bakum | November 3, 2009 | 1:48 PM
Borlaug Global Rust Inititive
 | November 3, 2009 | 1:46 PM
Posted by John Bakum
3 Attachments
Wheat Rust featured in the Economist
2011 Women in Triticum Award and Mentor Award: Call for Nominations
 ...
October 27, 2009
Fight against grain diseases intensifies, farmonline_The Land (USA), 22 October 2009
GREGOR HEARD
 ...
 | Last Update by Nicole Peppin | October 27, 2009 | 2:31 PM
Iowan awarded Nobel Prize on this day in 1970, KWWL.com (USA), 21 October 2009
OSLO, NORWAY (KWWL) -- An Iowa native won the Nobel Prize Oct. 21, 1970. Norman Borlaug, who grew up on a farm near Protivin, won the prize for his work in promoting the "green revolution." ...
 | Last Update by Nicole Peppin | October 27, 2009 | 2:19 PM
Experts Worry as Population and Hunger Grow, NY Times (USA), 22 October 2009
By NEIL MacFARQUHAR
 ...
 | Last Update by Nicole Peppin | October 27, 2009 | 2:00 PM
Nova doença Ug99 chegou ao Médio Oriente, Agencia Lusa (Portugal), 11 September 2009

por Lusa11 Setembro 2009

Uma nova doença do trigo, conhecida como a ferrugem negra Ug99, que chegou ao Médio Oriente está a ameaçar a produção regional e mundial deste cereal, anunciou quinta-feira um centro de pesquisa agrícola em Alep, no Norte da Síria.

 ...
 | Last Update by Nicole Peppin | October 27, 2009 | 1:49 PM | 1 Attachment
A future threat for wheat productivity, The Daily Nation, Pakistan, 24 Aug 2009
See attached below:
 | Last Update by Nicole Peppin | October 27, 2009 | 1:05 PM | 2 Attachments
Research and Markets: Diseases of Small Grain Cereal Crops: a Colour Handbook, 1st Edition Features a Colour Handbook Which Aims to Make Identification of Diseases Easier, Reuters, 30 September 2009 
DUBLIN--(Business Wire)--
Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/dbf957/diseases_of_small)  has
announced the addition of the "Diseases of Small Grain Cereal Crops: A Colour
Handbook, 1st Edition" report to their offering. 

The small grain cereals wheat, barley, oats and rye are cultivated worldwide.
They form the foundation of most agricultural systems and are essential in the
manufacture of staple products such as bread, pasta and fermented beverages.
Reflecting the global and economic importance of cereal crops, the Colour
Handbook aims to make identification of diseases afflicting them easier.
Covering 40-50 of the most important pathogens in Europe, North America, Japan
and Australia, the handbook contains superb colour photographs accompanied by
clear, concise descriptions of diseases with advice on their control and will be
of use to plant health professionals, growers, farmers, and students of
agriculture. 

Diseases are illustrated at varying stages of development and entries follow an
easy-to-use format. First the pathogens involved and their symptoms are
described; next information on the disease cycle is given, covering
epidemiological features and the form taken by the pathogen in different
climates. The section on economic significance deals with effects on yield and
the ecosystem, while that on control advises growers on measures and techniques
to combat the outbreak of disease, including the latest chemical treatments. For
each disease, detailed references provide a key to further reading. 

Key features:

* Coverage of Identification, Disease cycle, Economic importance, Control 
* Problem-oriented organisation 
* Highest quality colour photos 
* Handy size for practical

Key Topics Covered:

* Introduction: diagnostic guide to cereal disease 
* Ear and Grain Diseases 
* Blights: Black chaff (bacterial streak); Head blight; Scab 
* Bunts/Smuts: Bunt; Stinking bunt; Dwarf bunt; Karnal bunt; Loose smut;
Semi-loose smut; Black loose smut; False loose smut; Covered smut 
* Other: Black point; Kernel smudge; Sooty mould; Ergot 
* Leaf and Stem Diseases 
* Blights: Bacterial streak (black chaff); Bacterial Stripe 
* Mildew: Powdery mildew 
* Mosaics/Yellows Diseases: Barley stripe mosaic; Barley yellow dwarf; Barley
yellow mosaic; Soilborne wheat mosaic; Wheat streak mosaic; Wheat yellow mosaic 
* Rusts: Brown rust; leaf rust; Crown rust; Stem rust; Yellow rust 
* Smuts: Flag smut 
* Spots/blotches: Halo spot; Net blotch; Scald; Leaf blotch; Septoria leaf
blotch; Glume blotch; Spot blotch; Tan spot 
* Snow Moulds: Pink snow mould; Snow scald; Speckled snow mould 
* Stripes: Cephalosporium stripe; Leaf stripe 
* Stem base and root diseases 
* Fungi: Common root rot; Foot rot; Seedling blight (spot blotch); Eyespot;
Strawbreaker foot rot; Fusarium foot rot; Dryland foot rot; Sharp eyespot;
Take-all 
* Microscopic Appearance of pathogens 
* Glossary 
* Appendix 1: Diagnostic features of cereal diseases 
* Appendix 2: Worldwide distribution of cereals and diseases 

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS105904+30-Sep-2009+BW20090930
 | Last Update by Nicole Peppin | October 27, 2009 | 11:58 AM
October 5, 2009
Research Assistant/Research Associate position at Kansas State University
The research assistant / research associate position is open in the
Integrated Genomics Facility at Kansas State University.

LOCATION

The K-State Integrated Genomics Facility, Throckmorton Plant Sciences
Complex, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506. Throckmorton
Hall
houses the Dept. of Agronomy, Dept. of Horticulture, Forestry, and
Recreation Resources, Dept. of Plant Pathology, as well as, the USDA-
ARS
Plant Science and Entomology Research Unit. An exciting and
stimulating
environment for interdisciplinary research and professional growth is
fostered by faculty research programs in these departments and
innovative
research facilities, including the Wheat Genetics and Genomics
Resource
Center, the USDA-ARS Regional Genotyping Laboratory, the Plant
Transformation Facility, and the DNA Sequencing Facility. Manhattan is
located in the scenic Flint hills and has excellent schools and
recreation
opportunities.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Integrated Genomics Facility at Kansas State University seeks
for a
highly motivated and responsible individual for operating the
next-generation sequencing instrument GS FLX (454 life Sciences /
Roche).
Training in relevant molecular techniques and data analysis methods
will be
provided.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary responsibilities include the operation of GS FLX
sequencing
instrument, preparation of samples for sequencing and preliminary
analysis
of sequence data using the software provided with the GS FLX platform.
Additional responsibilities will include, participation in planning
IGF
development and educational activities, maintain records for
purchasing/billing purposes, and laboratory tasks associated with
operations
of the IGF. Create an environment that fosters diversity,
collegiality and
ability to work in a multi-cultural setting.

QUALIFICATIONS
Required qualifications:
1. BS, MS or higher level of education in Molecular
Biology,
Genetics, or related fields;
2. Strong background and 1-3 years of working
experience in
molecular biology including previous experience in DNA isolation and
handling, PCR, gel electrophoresis and molecular cloning;
3. Demonstrated quality of work with collection and
communication of information/data in a timely, accurate and organized
manner;
4. Excellent oral and written communication skills
and an
ability to work in team based collaborative environment.

Preferred qualifications:
1. Knowledge of the Linux operating system is preferable but not
required.
2. Strong commitment to expanding and fostering diversity.

TO APPLY

Applications, CV, and the contact information of 2-3 references
should be
submitted to Anita L Kesler (alkesler@ksu.edu Department of Plant
Pathology,
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506). The screening of
applications
will start on November 15, 2009 and will continue until the position
is
filled.
 | Last Update by Nicole Peppin | October 5, 2009 | 9:54 AM
October 2, 2009
Farewell to Norman Borlaug: the world loses its leading hunger fighter, Plant Breeding News Editon 205- GIPB (USA), 30 September 2009
1.01 Farewell to Norman Borlaug: the world loses its leading hunger fighter
13 September 2009
El Batan, Texcoco, México
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) joins with members of the international development community to mourn the passing of Nobel Peace Laureate and renowned wheat scientist, Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, who died Saturday night at the age of 95 from complications from cancer, after an exemplary life dedicated to fighting hunger in developing countries.
Dr. Borlaug worked as a CIMMYT wheat breeder and research director for nearly four decades and was a CIMMYT scientist at the time he received the Nobel Peace Prize.
High-yielding wheat varieties and improved farming practices, first developed by Borlaug and his team in Mexico during the 1950s, were introduced into South Asia in the 1960s and may well be responsible for saving hundreds of millions of people from starvation. Known as the Green Revolution, Borlaug’s work gave rise to science-based agriculture in developing countries. Today, high-yielding, disease-resistant wheat varieties based on Dr. Borlaug’s pioneering work are grown on 80 million hectares (200 million acres) throughout the world.
Borlaug received the 1970 Nobel Prize for those achievements, and his success led to the establishment of a network of 15 international agricultural research centers, including CIMMYT.
Borlaug’s full-time employment at CIMMYT ended in 1979, although he remained a resident part-time consultant until his death. In 1984, he began a new career as a university professor, teaching one semester a year at Texas A&M University, which continued for 23 years. In 1986, he joined forces with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and the Nippon Foundation of Japan, under the chairmanship of Ryoichi Sasakawa, to develop an African agricultural initiative.
Borlaug was especially proud of his role in establishing the World Food Prize in 1986. This prize has grown in stature and is now considered the “Nobel
Prize” for food and agriculture. Some 25 men and women have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to increasing the quantity, quality and availability of world food supplies. Based in Des Moines, Iowa, the World Food Prize Foundation has also developed outstanding educational programs to engage young people in world food issues.
Dr. Borlaug always considered himself to be a teacher, as well as a scientist. Today, several thousand men and women agricultural scientists from more than 50 countries are proud to say they were Norman Borlaug's "students."
Borlaug used his fame and influence to champion the cause of smallholder agricultural development around the globe. Over a 63-year career, he traveled tirelessly to more than 100 nations, visiting farmers and agricultural scientists in their fields. It is estimated that over his lifetime he personally spoke to more than 500,000 students and ordinary citizens, explaining the challenges and complexities of world food production.
Borlaug was voted a member of the academies of agricultural science of 11 nations, received 60 honorary doctorate degrees from those countries, and was honored by farmer and civic associations in 28 countries.
Of all the places that he visited, his beloved home was Mexico, and in particular, the irrigated Yaqui Valley in the state of Sonora, in northwest Mexico. “This is where I truly feel at home, and where I am at peace,” he would often say. The feeling was reciprocal. In Ciudad Obregón, in the heart of the Yaqui Valley, one of main streets is named after Borlaug, and hundreds have known him since they were born.
Although probably better known outside the United States—in Mexico, India, Pakistan, China and Latin America, Borlaug’s work has also been widely recognized in the USA. At the federal level, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science and the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian award.
CIMMYT was also home to Dr. Borlaug, who was known as a simple and charismatic figure, who spoke Spanish fluently and truly cared about people, greeting and chatting with researchers and field workers alike. His dedicated pragmatism and vision of applying science to benefit the poor live on as core values of CIMMYT and several other institutions with which he was closely associated.
Norm, as he liked be called, lived his life as a dedicated hunger-fighter, but one who was forever vigilant. As he said in his acceptance speech of the 1970 Nobel Prize: “…It is true that the tide of the battle against hunger has changed for the better…but ebb tide could soon set in, if we become complacent…”
We can think of no greater tribute to Norm than to carry on the work to which he dedicated his life: applying agricultural science for humanitarian benefits.
Thus, he lives on in our hearts and, through our efforts, the work he began will also live on.
"Today we stand bereft of Borlaug’s physical presence, but not of his spirit or ideals," says Thomas A. Lumpkin, CIMMYT Director General. “Norm once said: 'I personally cannot live comfortably in the midst of abject hunger and poverty and human misery.' Millions of small-scale farmers in developing countries today still practice low-input, subsistence agriculture, condemning them and their families to lives of poverty. They typically spend at least 70% of their income on food, and most are at risk of being malnourished. The world cannot be at peace until these people are helped to feed themselves and escape poverty."
The CIMMYT family extends its condolences to the Borlaug family, who live in Texas, California and Iowa. He is survived by his son Bill, his daughter Norma Jean, five grandchildren, and several great grandchildren.
Thomas A. Lumpkin
Director General
CIMMYT
Julio Berdegué
Chair, Board of Trustees
CIMMYT
Source: CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center) ...
 | Last Update by Nicole Peppin | October 2, 2009 | 11:50 AM
October 1, 2009
Stem rust near Ceduna and Port Kenny, West Coast Sentinel (Australia), 1 October 2009
EUGENE BOISVERT
 ...
 | Last Update by Nicole Peppin | October 1, 2009 | 2:06 PM
The man who helped India beat hunger, Hindustan Times (Delhi), 26 September 2009
Khushwant Singh ...
 | Last Update by Nicole Peppin | October 1, 2009 | 11:34 AM
New article from CIMMYT: Mapping of wheat stripe rust resistance gene YrZH84 with RGAP markers and its application, CIMMYT Library Blog (Mexico), 28 September 2009
Published in Acta Agronomica Sinica 35(7): 1274-1281
 ...
 | Last Update by Nicole Peppin | October 1, 2009 | 11:01 AM
Norman Ernest Borlaug (March 25, 1914 - September 12, 2009), GFAR (Italy), 28 September 2009
Norman Ernest Borlaug (March 25, 1914 - September 12, 2009)

It is very sad for the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) Constituency that Dr. Norman Ernest Borlaug (March 25, 1914 - September 12, 2009) is no more with us. Dr. Borlaug was the world’s foremost agricultural scientist and a renowned humanitarian. Dr. Borlaug was one of only six people to have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the American Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. He was also a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour and several other awards from all over the world.

Coming from the humble roots of a farming family and a rural upbringing in Wisconsin, USA, Dr. Borlaug received his Ph.D. in plant pathology and genetics from the University of Minnesota in 1942. He took up an agricultural research position in Mexico, where he developed semi-dwarf, high-yield, disease-resistant wheat varieties. This led to the beginning of the Asian Green Revolution and the Indian Sub-Continent becoming more resilient in food production and ultimately becoming net food exporter. Dr. Borlaug's contributions to agricultural development have been estimated to have saved over one billion lives worldwide.

At his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr. Borlaug speculated: "When the Nobel Peace Prize Committee designated me the recipient of the 1970 award for my contribution to the "green revolution", they were in effect, I believe, selecting an individual to symbolize the vital role of agriculture and food production in a world that is hungry, both for bread and for peace" which illustrates his contribution to the world as a scientist and humanitarian.

Dr Borlaug’s ability to inspire young people to get involved in agricultural research and development and to work tirelessly in their endeavour to make agriculture more productive the world over is a legacy we cannot ever forget. Many of us at GFAR had personal acquaintance with him and I am sure all of us would say that he inspired us very deeply.

Dr. Borlaug with John Ruan established the World Food Prize to recognize - without regard to race, religion, nationality, or political beliefs - the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. I had the honour to regularly attend the various events around the award of this prize and especially in its Youth Programs.

I witnessed through three decades on different occasions the interventions of Dr. Borlaug which resulted to improvement in wheat as well agricultural development. I remember vividly late in 2005 when he phoned me, when I was Director-General of ICARDA, to join with my colleague, the Director General of CIMMYT, the US and FAO in the global initiative to prevent a pandemic and to produce cultivars resistant to UG 99. Now this initiative is known as the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative (BGRI).

He was keen to build capacity of young wheat breeders and he accepted to establish the now Norman Borlaug – Robert Havener Centre for Wheat Breeding at ICARDA to build the capacity of scientists in the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA).

We were expecting Dr. Borlaug to be with us at the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) at Montpellier, France in March 2010. We were informed of him not keeping good health just a few weeks ago. We shall miss you, Norman.

Rest in peace, old warrior. You deserve it. But be assured, we will continue your good work.

Adel El-Beltagy
Chair, Global Forum on Agricultural Research ...
 | Last Update by Nicole Peppin | October 1, 2009 | 10:18 AM
September 30, 2009
BGRI on Facebook
 | Last Update by John Bakum | September 30, 2009 | 10:59 AM
September 29, 2009
re: Rust Events Calendar 
 | September 29, 2009 | 9:23 AM
Posted by Donal O'Sullivan
Rust Events Calendar
The Rust Events calendar lists conference, seminars, training sessions and other meetings that are relevant to the rust community. If you have an event you'd like published on the calendar, please email: bgri@cornell.edu
John Bakum / Resources687 / November 24, 2008 / 4:24 PM Comment

International Rusts and Powdery Mildews Conference 2009

 View thread Resources687: Rust Events Calendar
September 28, 2009
Stalking a wheat killer, Pulitzer Center (USA), 23 September 2009


 ...
 | Last Update by Nicole Peppin | September 28, 2009 | 2:33 PM | 1 Attachment
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