{"id":13657,"date":"2026-06-20T12:29:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T12:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.iita.org\/news-item\/head-of-iitas-banana-breeding-program-receives-dedicated-scientist-award-at-the-international-banana-conference\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T21:37:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T21:37:20","slug":"head-of-iitas-banana-breeding-program-receives-dedicated-scientist-award-at-the-international-banana-conference","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/head-of-iitas-banana-breeding-program-receives-dedicated-scientist-award-at-the-international-banana-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Head of IITA\u2019s banana breeding program receives dedicated scientist award at the International Banana Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Head of IITA<\/a>\u2019s banana breeding program, Rony Swennen<\/a> received the \u201cDedicated Scientist Award for his exemplary commitment to Banana research\u201d<\/em> during an International Conference on Banana<\/a> held in Trichy, India on 22\u201325 February 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swennen also gave the first keynote presentation of the conference on \u201cBreeding plantain and cooking banana (Matooke and Mchare) hybrids for Africa utilizing approaches of global relevance.\u2019\u201d The paper\u2019s co-authors were IITA scientists: Delphine Amah<\/a>, Brigitte Uwimana<\/a>, Trushar Shah<\/a>, Batte Michael, Hassan Mduma, George Mahuku<\/a>, et Allan Brown<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Head<\/a>
Rony Swennen receiving the award.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other IITA scientists who participated and presented at the conference included Leena Tripathi<\/a>, Plant Biotechnologist based in IITA-Kenya, who presented on \u201cApplication of transgenic and genome editing technologies for improving banana wilt disease\u201d and Brigitte Uwimana, Banana Molecular Breeder based in IITA-Uganda, who presented on \u201cMolecular approaches in banana improvement: Success of \u2018Breeding Better Bananas\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le Indian Council of Agricultural Research<\/a> (ICAR) organized the conference, in conjunction with the National Research Centre for Banana<\/a> (NRCB) and Bioversity International<\/a>, with the theme: Innovations in Sustainable Production and Value Chain Management in Banana<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conference provided a forum for banana researchers, policymakers, students, and other stakeholders to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and threats faced by the banana industry and develop mitigating strategies, identify research gaps, and provide solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another objective of the conference was to pave the way for inter-institutional germplasm exchange and collaborative research programs on banana improvement, production and protection; and to provide a platform for students, aspiring scientists, and entrepreneurs to exchange knowledge, ideas, and experiences; and help to establish linkages and partnerships in research and business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IITA\u2019s banana program has, over the past 30 years, focused on the delivery of high yielding hybrids of plantain, Matooke and Mchare bananas, for food and income security, especially of smallholder farmers in Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related publications on the IITA banana breeding program<\/strong>
Research Collaboration Stimulates Plantain Cultivation in Burkina Faso, <\/u>http:\/\/www.coraf.org\/2019\/06\/12\/research-collaboration-stimulates-plantain-cultivation-in-burkina-faso\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Promising High-Yielding Tetraploid Plantain-Bred Hybrids in West Africa, http:\/\/www.coraf.org\/2019\/04\/29\/just-out-promising-high-yielding-tetraploid-plantain-bred-hybrids-in-west-africa\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NIHORT evaluates IITA plantain hybrids for possible distribution to farmers http:\/\/bulletin.iita.org\/index.php\/2020\/03\/16\/nihort-evaluates-iita-plantain-hybrids-for-possible-distribution-to-farmers\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Promising High-Yielding Tetraploid Plantain-Bred Hybrids in West Africa, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1155\/2019\/3873198<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crossbreeding East African Highland Bananas: Lessons Learnt Relevant to the Botany of the Crop After 21 Years of Genetic Enhancement, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpls.2019.00081<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bananas and Plantains (Musa spp.) https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-319-59819-2_7<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Head of IITA\u2019s banana breeding program, Rony Swennen received the \u201cDedicated Scientist Award for his exemplary commitment to Banana research\u201d during an International Conference on Banana held in Trichy, India on 22\u201325 February 2020.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":13658,"template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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