IITA in collaboration with Enterprise inbreeding (EIB) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) has launched the Enterprise Breeding System tool (EBS) to strengthen the capacity of maize breeders and research support staff in key elements of breeding excellence in data management. The launching comes after a three-day training program on the application of the EBS tool.
The training which started on 19th April 2022 to 22nd April 2022 featured presentations, practical demonstrations on trial creation, location creation, occurrence management data, hands-on practice on the EBS tool, and an online training evaluation form submission.
The integrated breeding platform (IBP) Hub manager Shah Trushar who participated in the training explained that the EBS is a welfare-based system that allows breeders to manage data from the actual seed and conduct data analysis; he added that the training is a bigger initiative of the modernization of the breeding program that will lead to better data management, better data sharing and accuracy in terms of data collection and data integrity. IITA Research administrative manager in the maize breeding unit Bunmi Bossey also highlighted the advantage of EBS training which is to enhance and increase genetic gains in maize breeding works. Participants in the training include data managers, research technical supervisors, associate maize breeders, biometricians, and the maize crop improvement team.
In his welcome address, IITA Director Western Africa Hub, Dr. Micheal Abberton thanked everyone involved in the training and the launch, he further acknowledge the effort of the team and mentioned that the launch of the EBS tool is the start of something new moving into the one CGIAR while IITA Director Research for Development, Central Africa and Natural Resources Dr. Bernard Vanlawe congratulated the team on the launch and affirmed that the EBS has the full support of IITA management.
IITA Senior Maize Breeder and lead for the maize crop improvement team, Dr. Abebe Menkir who officially launched the EBS platform, explained that the team will continue in its effort to bring the EBS tool to its successful completion. According to the team, the next step for the enterprise breeding tool includes continuing training on existing and future EBS capabilities and engaging cowpea and soybean teams on the migration to EBS among others. The event which ended with a cocktail had in attendance, Head breeding unit Dr. John Derera, HarvestPlus Cassava Breeder Dr. Elizabeth Parkes, Head Administration, Western Africa Hub, Sylvia Oyinlola, IITA data management team, and the communication team.
