Morogoro, Tanzania
May 30, 2023
Researchers, students, and representatives from African institutions recently attended the Annual Meeting of the Climate Smart African Rice Project in Morogoro, Tanzania, to review the progress of the project aimed at developing varieties tolerant to abiotic stresses such as flooding, salinity, and germination under anaerobic conditions.
Stakeholders from the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), the Tanzania Ministry of Agriculture, and representatives from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) convened on April 24–25 at the Institute of Continuing Education Conference Room, SUA, to assess the project's accomplishments and future activities.
The meeting started with welcome remarks from Professor Susan Nchimbi-Msolla, the project coordinator at SUA, who introduced the project and its objectives. Prof. Maulid Mwatawala, Deputy Vice Chancellor of SUA addressed the participants highlighting the strong relationship of IRRI and UCPH with SUA, and formally opened the workshop. The project's progress was presented by Professor Ole Pedersen of UCPH, who highlighted the new infrastructure built through the project, including the construction of a new screenhouse and submergence facility for students' research. He also highlighted other areas, including phenotyping rice genotypes collected from Africa for QTL mapping and subsequent marker-assisted breeding, and capacity building.
Dr. Abdelbagi Ismail, the IRRI project coordinator, provided an overview of the progress made by students and capacity-building activities. The presentation highlighted the efforts made by IRRI to enhance the skills and knowledge of students in different fields of rice research and the various initiatives being taken to support the development of research and leadership skills among students and national partners.
The meeting also included student-supervisor consultations, a board meeting, and a field trip to nearby villages to meet with rice farmers.
Participants were able to listen to experts in different relevant fields, especially on rice salinity and flood tolerance and breeding strategies aimed at enhancing and accelerating genetic gains. The speakers shared their latest findings and insights on critical areas that have the potential to significantly impact global food security. The talks were well received and sparked lively discussions among attendees, highlighting the importance of continued partnerships in rice research.
Dr. Joel Meliyo was recognized for attending the meeting as a representative of the Director General of TARI.
The meeting concluded with remarks from Professor Pedersen and Dr. Ismail, who thanked the project team for their contributions to the project. Professor Pedersen encouraged the students to continue with monthly meetings with supervisors.
The Climate Smart African Rice Project, launched in 2020, is a collaboration between the UCPH, SUA, and IRRI. Led by a team of researchers, this project seeks to develop new rice varieties that are better adapted to the changing climate conditions in Africa. The researchers are using advanced breeding techniques to create rice varieties that are more resilient to drought, flooding, salinity and pests and diseases. The project is expected to have a significant impact on food security in the region, as rice is a staple food for millions of people in Africa. The new varieties are also expected to help farmers increase their yields and income while reducing their vulnerability to climate-related risks. The initiative is part of a broader effort to promote sustainable agriculture and build resilience to climate change in Africa.
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