EU Erasmus+ Funded Initiative

BREEDTECH Programme

Building Capacity in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Education and Research through Partnerships in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

Project Timeline: March 2024 – November 2027
Recent Capacity Building Activity

Staff-Training Programme in Plant Breeding & Biotechnology (Sweden)

Laikipia University faculty members Dr. Daniel Pande, Dr. Jannet Nyukuri, and Mr. Obwanga Benson attended an intensive BREEDTECH staff-training programme at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU Campus) in Alnarp, Sweden, from 23–26th June 2026.

The training was delivered by leading professors and researchers from SLU (Sweden), Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna - Pisa (Italy), and the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops (Serbia).

Field Event Participation: The team also participated in Borgeby Fältdagar, a major European agricultural field event showcasing modern technologies in agricultural machinery, plant and animal breeding technology, AI in agricultural production, and climate-smart agriculture.

About BREEDTECH

The BREEDTECH project addresses key capacity gaps in plant breeding and agricultural biotechnology across participating regions. Through cross-regional cooperation, the project equips educators, students, and institutions with advanced skills, cutting-edge curricula, and modern research tools.

 

Core Project Deliverables

  • Staff and student capacity building in advanced plant breeding & biotechnology.
  • Curriculum development and modernization tailored to regional agricultural needs.
  • Establishment of knowledge dissemination and incubation platforms.
  • Enhanced research networking across Africa, Middle East, and European institutions.
  • Promotion of climate-smart agriculture, crop protection, and modern biotechnologies.
 

Key Focus Technologies

  • Plant breeding technologies and genetic improvement.
  • Plant biotechnology education and applied research.
  • AI applications in agricultural production and monitoring.
  • Climate-smart agricultural practices and crop protection.
  • Stakeholder collaboration across the agricultural ecosystem.

Consortium Partners

The BREEDTECH initiative brings together leading academic and research institutions across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe:

Laikipia University (LU) Partner — Kenya
Egerton University Partner — Kenya
Haramaya University Partner — Ethiopia
Oda Bultum University Partner — Ethiopia
An-Najah National University Partner — Palestine
Al-Quds Open University Partner — Palestine
Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Host / Training Partner — Sweden
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna Training Partner — Italy