APG Professor Rex Bernardo led a group of Applied Plant Sciences graduate students on a study abroad trip to the Philippines January 10-17. The trip’s aim was to expose students to international plant breeding research and agriculture, and according to those who attended, mission accomplished.
“Our entire group had an amazing time in the Philippines,” said Kayla Grennes. “We were able to learn about what plant breeding and agriculture looks like in another part of the world by meeting with East-West Seed, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the University of the Philippines Los Baños and the Institute of Plant Breeding.”
East-West Seed, a major vegetable breeding company in San Juan Batangas and Lipa City, focuses on hybrid varieties. “We toured their breeding programs for waxy sweet corn, onions, squash, bitter gourd and watermelon,” said Lucas Roberts. All 12 of the students on the trip gave a 5-minute lightning talk on their research projects while visiting the company.
The group’s tour of IRRI included meeting with the Rice Breeding Innovations, Education, and Rice Pathology and Plant Protection departments and touring the institute’s gene bank, where more than 130,000 accessions of rice are stored and distributed to scientists around the world. (“The 3-degree Celsius cooler reminded us of Minnesota weather,” said Roberts.) Students each gave a 4-minute research highlight during the visit, and Bernardo gave a seminar to the Rice Breeding Innovations Department.
The final day included visits to the University of the Philippines Los Baños and the Institute of Plant Breeding, where students again presented their research and Bernardo gave a seminar on the future of plant breeding education.
“Everyone we met was extremely kind, friendly and excited to share their work with us,” said Grennes. “We all left the trip feeling inspired and grateful that we were able to learn more about plant breeding in the Philippines.”
Alina Smolskaya said she “came back with a greater worldview thanks to this trip.”
Students will be giving a presentation on their trip on Friday, February 6, at 9 a.m. in 310 Alderman Hall or on Zoom.
