Project updates

A year of progress: 2020 virtual annual meeting

By November 11, 2020 February 20th, 2024 No Comments

The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement hosted our first annual meeting Nov. 9-10, 2020, with 75 program partners, stakeholders and crop improvement experts gathering together virtually to explore the challenges and successes from our first year. The two-day event offered an inspiring opportunity for the future as we worked to identify opportunities for growth, partnerships and elevated impact. Watch the recordings from the annual meeting sessions, and join the conversation by connecting with us on Facebook, Twitter or email.

Day 1: November 9, 2020

Reviewing our progress in year one and introducing our newly announced Centers of Innovation in Malawi, Costa Rica/Haiti, Uganda and Senegal

Welcome from ILCI and Feed the Future

  • Sarah Adeyemo, Cornell University, ILCI program manager
  • Stephen Kresovich, Clemson and Cornell Universities, ILCI director
  • Nora Lapitan, U.S. Agency for International Development

Program highlights in our first year

  • Gael Pressoir, Quisqueya University (Haiti “quick win”)
  • Elisabeth Garner, Cornell University (Cross-cutting issues)
  • Geoffrey Morris, Colorado State University (Trait discovery)
  • Hale Ann Tufan, Cornell University (Center of Innovation competition)

Center of Innovation for Crop Improvement for East and Southern Africa (CICI-ESA)  Malawi

  • Michael Chipeta, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR)

Central American and Caribbean Crop Improvement Alliance (CACCIA) Costa Rica and Haiti

  • Jose R. Camacho, Instituto Nacional de Innovación y Transferencia en Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA)
  • Gael Pressoir, Quisqueya University

Crop Innovation in West Africa Senegal

  • Ndjido Ardo Kane, Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA)

Center of Innovation for Crop Improvement for East and Southern Africa (CICI-ESA)  Uganda

  • Scovia Adkini, National Semi arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI)

Reflections and guidance from our Advisory Council

  • Mark Cooper, University of Queensland
  • Joe Cornelius, Gates Ag One
  • Eric Danquah, West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement
  • David Meyer, Corteva agriscience
  • Usha Barwale Zehr, Mahyco

Day 2: November 10, 2020

Exploring new opportunities to boost our impact and grow as a program 

Welcome and overview of the Innovation Lab: Progress and vision

  • Sarah Adeyemo, Cornell University, ILCI program manager
  • Stephen Kresovich, Clemson and Cornell Universities, ILCI director

Boosting our impact through strategic collaborations Facilitated discussion

Moderated by Stephen Kresovich

  • Joe Cornelius, Gates Ag One
  • Meredith Soule and Jessica Bagdonis, U.S. Agency for International Development
  • Joe DeVries, Seed Systems Group

The journey to self-reliance: The path for crop improvement at NARIs  Panel

Moderated by Sarah Adeyemo

  • Yona Baguma, NARO (Uganda)
  • Biswanath Das, CIMMYT (Kenya)
  • Scovia Adikini, NaSARRI (Uganda)
  • Jessica Kampanje, LUANAR (Malawi)
  • Angela Records, U.S. Agency for International Development

Re-orienting crop improvement to prioritize breeding for development impact  Panel

Moderated by Hale Ann Tufan

  • Dee Rubin, Cultural Practice, LLC
  • Roberto Camacho, INTA (Costa Rica)
  • Ranjita Puskur, International Rice Research Institute (Kenya)
  • Michael Chipeta, LUANAR (Malawi)
  • Jesse Poland, Kansas State University