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Showing posts with label plant breeding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plant breeding. Show all posts

Friday, August 7, 2015

Plant breeding researcher wins lifetime achiever award

 
The University of the Free State (UFS) researcher, Prof. Maryke Labuschagne, known for her research on plant breeding has received a country lifetime achiever award for Africa’s most influential women in business and government programme, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Labuschagne’s research dwells on the genetic improvement of food security crops in Africa, including staples such as maize and cassava.

“These crops are genetically improved for yield, disease and insect resistance and nutritional value. Food security is one of the key factors for stability on the continent,” said Labuschagne while adding that it was good to have one’s work recognized.

The award was given to Labuschagne during the most influential women breakfast at the Vodacom Dome in Midrand on July 28.

An NRF-rated researcher and author or co-author of more than 160 articles in accredited journals, her research is helping to provide food for thousands of people on the African continent.

In 2008, she was also chosen as the National agriculturalist of the year by the Agricultural Writers Association of South Africa. In 2012, she received the researcher of the year award from Grain South Africa and the AU’s Kwame Nkrumah science award for life sciences on the continent.

The country lifetime achiever award is a prestigious award that recognizes and honours the lifelong efforts, achievements and contributions by individuals in their local communities.
This recognition covers all sectors and countries to create a platform where the work and involvement of extraordinary people can be displayed and noted.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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 PIX: Prof. Maryke Labuschagne