Scientists from UK-based The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC), in partnership with Agricultural Genetics Institute (AGI), hav begun bioinformatics training programme to rice breeders in Vietnam
The team, led by Dr Jose De Vega, will aim to sequence and analyse the genetic diversity in Vietnamese native rice lines to help the country’s crop research and precision breeding programmes.
The advanced training is expected to equip Vietnamese scientists with the skills in bioinformatics and genomics for crop analysis, and ensure future knowledge for their peers.
Alongside the Vietnamese team of scientists, TGAC, in collaboration with AGI and NIAB, Cambridge, plans to develop an advanced genomics platform for rice breeding focused on traits of agronomic interest. The rapid identification of rice varieties that are tolerant and resilient to adverse conditions will work towards alleviating the current challenges the Vietnamese agriculture industry face and contribute to food security.
Funded by the Newton Fund through the British Council, the TGAC team will visit Vietnam several times over the next 12 months to carry out training workshops in advanced bioinformatics tools to help achieve precision breeding techniques for much larger rice yields. The team will also research rice breeding techniques while in Vietnam.
