FABI-Agricol Research Day 2025-07-31
On 10 July FABI welcomed the Agricol sunflower breeding and production team from Potchefstroom to the first FABI-Agricol research day hosted by Dr Nicky Creux and her Crop Floral Biology and Environments (CFBE) research team. In 2024 FABI and Agricol signed an MTA to collaborate on the development of a new sunflower stigma receptivity with MSc student Jessica Berry. Agricol donated several lines so that the sensitivity of the test could be assessed in the field and the results were discussed during this day.
This research day started with student presentations highlighting the sunflower research at FABI. Next were presentation highlighting the different platforms FABIs has on offer including Melissa Reynolds resenting on the precision marker assisted breeding platform in FMG-EPPI with a view to explore new connections. After lunch the Agricol team toured FABI and Innovation Africa @UP. It was a fabulous, engaging day of identifying common research interests and discussing future opportunities.