About Us

Overview

BREEDTECH project, formally titled “Building Capacity in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Education and Research through Partnerships in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe for Agricultural Transformation,” is a three-year, cross-regional project funded by Erasmus+ Capacity Building for Higher Education (CBHE). This project unites higher education institutions and a private firm from Kenya, Ethiopia, Palestine, Italy, Sweden, and Serbia.

BREEDTECH builds capacity in plant breeding and biotechnology education and research across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, fostering collaboration between African and Palestinian HEIs and European research communities. This initiative engages researchers and academics in exploring essential concepts, advanced tools, and digital technologies in plant breeding and biotechnology.

Overall Goal:

To integrate Palestinian and African higher education institutions into European research initiatives in plant breeding and biotechnology while equipping researchers and academics with advanced tools and digital technologies.

Specific Objectives:

1. Develop standard curriculum in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
2. Equip and modernize research facilities and infrastructure on Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
3. Train graduate and postgraduate students and staff in plant breeding and biotechnology
4. Mentor new institutions of higher learning in developing and reviewing Plant Breeding and Biotechnology programs.
5. Foster innovative plant breeding and biotechnology strategies to alleviate climate change consequences.
6. Strengthen and promote public-private sector relationships with HEIs in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology

Target Group

The project targets students, academic staff, researchers, and the private sector in Palestinian and sub-Saharan African higher education institutions (HEIs).

• Students will gain skills in plant breeding and biotechnology through specialized training, exchanges, and academic visits to European HEIs.
• Academic Staff and Researchers will benefit from curriculum development, professional exchanges, and training in advanced European labs, enhancing their expertise and contributing to the development of improved, resilient crop varieties.
• Private Sector stakeholders, will be involved in curriculum and technology development to ensure alignment with market needs and to to support startups and entrepreneurs in plant breeding and biotechnology.

BREEDTECH Activities

1. Capacity-Building Workshops: Training workshops to improve skills and knowledge for students, faculty, and researchers in plant breeding and biotechnology.
2. Development of a MOOC An online course to make plant breeding knowledge accessible to a wider audience, supporting learning and outreach.
3. Incubator for Startups and Entrepreneurship: Establishing incubators to support startups and entrepreneurs in plant breeding and biotechnology, with private sector collaboration for business development.
4. Research and Equipment Upgrades: Upgrading laboratory facilities and research centers to provide access to advanced equipment, fostering innovation and practical research opportunities.