Background
The sector “Flowers & Food” has been designated as one of the key sectors for innovation in the Dutch economy. It covers horticulture, food production and plant breeding (green genetics). Plant breeding focuses on the production of new varieties in crop plants. New varieties with improved traits like taste, health promoting ingredients, yield, resistance to diseases, resistance to stress conditions, etc. These varieties are the basis for sustainable production of healthy food, food ingredients and non-food products worldwide. More and more, innovative techniques are included in breeding programs: molecular breeding, genomics, DNA sequencing, gene technology.
Course objectives
- Learn about the basic topics in plant breeding
- Hear about new promising technologies
- Visit research facilities and laboratories
- Be the special guest of worldwide leading breeding companies
- A 2nd or 3rd year Academic Bachelor student in biology, plant science, agronomy, or a related field.
- A 3rd year Professional Bachelor student (HBO/Fachhochschule/Polytechnic) in agronomy, horticulture, biotechnology, laboratory techniques, applied biology.
A basic knowledge of genetics, statistics, molecular biology, and plant physiology is required. A good understanding of the English language is also necessary.
Source: Wageningen UR