The BMGF have developed a project to utilise a Breeding Program Analysis tool (BPAT) to underpin a process to evaluate the progress of key public sector plant breeding programs in 10 staple crops (sorghum, rice, maize, wheat, cowpea, chickpea, common bean, groundnut, yam, sweet potato, cassava, banana) within 11 geographic regions. This project aims to roll out and manage the upgrade of the BPAT designed to evaluate the status of staple food crop plant breeding programs that operate in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The BMGF have developed a project to utilise a Breeding Program Analysis tool (BPAT) to underpin a process to evaluate the status of staple food crop plant breeding programs that operate in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Using BPAT, the project aims to complete about 40 assessments (10 per year x 4 years) of breeding programs and their associated institutions for the 11 focus geographies and 13 focus crops of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The assessments will provide quantitative and qualitative data in key areas such as institutional infrastructure, breeding methodology, cultivar development and release, product support, program impact, budget and finance, strategic planning, and performance management.

The object is to help breeding programs to identify areas for improvement and to help funding organizations more effectively target their investments.

The data can then be used as a guide for developing a set of recommendations to improve breeding program functionality and ultimately genetic gain.

While the project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, assessments can be done for other organisations on a fee for service basis.

• Prof. David Jordan

• The University of Queensland (QAAFI)

• Dr Sylvia Malory/Cassie Martinez
• Chris Lambrides

• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)