I'm Britta Kowalski.

My profession is agriculture and agrobiotechnology.

Current work:
Agronomist, Agro-Biotechnologist, Potato specialist
Independent Agro-Consultant

See what I do

Curriculum vitae

Personal details

Dr. Britta Kowalski

Name
Britta Kowalski

Date and place of birth
9 February 1964, Neuhaus/Elbe (Germany)

Nationality
German

Current contact address
19273 Strachau, Germany
Tel.: +49 170 49 43 357
e-mail: info@britta-kowalski.de

Qualifications

First degree

Rostock University, Department of Agronomy, Germany, 1983 – 1988: Agricultural Sciences (Plant production), Graduation as Diplom-Agraringenieur (BSc)

Subjects studied

Botany, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Plant Pathology and Plant Disease Management, Plant Physiology and Fertilisation, Tuber Crops and Grain Crops, Grassland and Forage Production, Agronomy, Agricultural Machinery, Lifestock Husbandry, Mathematics and Biostatistics, Experimental design, Chemistry, Physics, English, Russian

Diploma thesis

»Physical methods for determination of susceptibility of potato tubers to mechanical damage«

Postgraduate studies

Rostock University, Institute for Agriculture and Plant Production, Germany, 1988 – 1991

PhD-thesis

»Production of somaclones of the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and their preliminary evaluation under Cuban conditions«

Employment history

Now

Independent Agro-Consultant

2015 – July 2017

Potato Agronomist, Agro-biotechnologist – Interim Potato Breeder for Sub-Saharan Africa at CIP (International Potato Center)

2014 – 2015

Systems Research Scientist – Humidtropics East Africa and South East Asia, International Potato Center (CIP), based in Ethiopia

2008 – 2013

Potato Agronomist/Project leader Angola, International Potato Center (CIP)

1999 – 2008

Research assistant
University of Rostock, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Institute of land use, Rostock, Germany

1996 – 1998

Research scientist (postdoctoral position)
University of Natal, Department of Botany, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

1993 – 1996

Research scientist (postdoctoral position)
University College Cork, Department of Plant Science, Ireland

1992 – 1993

Adviser
Country Youth Society of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

1992 – 1993

Instructor in chemistry and physics
Agricultural Technical School of Quassel, Germany

Languages

German (native)
English (fluent)
Spanish (fluent)
Portuguese (fluent)
French (beginner’s course)

Summary

Dr. Britta Kowalski is a potato agronomist and agro-biotechnologist. She has been working with the potato value chain since the beginning of her professional career. She wrote both her Diploma thesis and then her PhD thesis on potato related themes.

At the Department of Agroecology of Rostock University in Germany Dr. Kowalski tested plant growth promoting substances for potato in tissue culture, greenhouse, and field experiments under temperate and subtropical conditions. Projects with industrial clients concerned haulm killing agents and plant growth promoting products in potato, and herbicide use in rapeseed (Brassica napus).

She has worked in postdoctoral positions at University College Cork in Ireland and University of Natal in South Africa, and has published in regional and international journals on tissue culture and micropropagation of potato, medicinal trees (Warburgia salutaris, Ocotea bullata), Podocarpus spp., 2D- and pseudo-3D image analysis for the characterization of mutants for potato breeding programs, basic potato seed production and late blight management. Dr. Kowalski joined CIP in 2008 and was CIP’s senior country liaison scientist in Angola for five years, coordinating an integrated R&D project for production and marketing systems of banana, cassava, sweetpotato, and potato.

After transferring to Ethiopia she worked as systems research scientist, coordinating the CIP-led activities in the Africa Rising project and serving as the CIP focal point for the CGIAR Research Program (CRP) on Integrated Systems for the Humid Tropics, collaborating with several CGIAR centers in East and Central Africa and South-east Asia in joint research for system-level R&D for sustainable intensification in integrated agricultural production systems.

Since 2013 until the end of the project in 2017 she was involved in “Better Potato for a better life (BPBL) - Improving seed systems of potato and sweet potato”, funded by USAID, being responsible for the tissue culture laboratories and early generation seed and vine production of the Ethiopian national partners.

From 2015 until July 2017, Dr. Kowalski has been managing the CIP potato breeding program for Sub-Saharan Africa, working mainly in Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda, conducting greenhouse and field evaluation and selection of potato breeding populations with key climate change-related traits for heat tolerance and late blight resistance in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Kenya, and coordinating the experimental activities for selection of bacterial wilt resilient clones for the Global Trust financed project on Sustainable use of potato crop wild relatives (CWR). She coordinated the national project partners in the GIZ-funded “Accelerating the Development of Early-Maturing-Agile Potato for Food Security through a Trait Observation and Discovery Network” and the Harvest Plus project “Biofortified potato varieties to help overcome micronutrient malnutrition in East Africa”.

Throughout her career, Dr. Kowalski has engaged in teaching and training work on agricultural and plant science topics, in adult education, higher education, within projects and development programs, with farmers, extensionists, technicians and students. Dr. Kowalski taught courses of study at the Department of Agroecology of Rostock University in Germany: Potato crop management, Plant breeding and Crop husbandry in the tropics and subtropics. She lectured at the Department of Plant Science of University College Cork in Ireland and the Universidade José Eduardo dos Santos in Angola. She has conceptualized, organized and run trainings and workshops within projects in Angola, Ethiopia and Kenya; whenever necessary she adapted existing manuals or developed new training materials. She continually supported national and international partners in their capacitation work, as a specialist in potato agronomy and agro-biotechnology, as well as in related fields such as nutrition, soil fertility and animal feed.

Dr. Kowalski now works as an independent Agro-consultant.

Research Work

Current Projects

  • After concluding her long term assignments Dr. Kowalski is currently developing a new mode of work: to take short term consulting jobs with organizations and outfits, which can use the kind of expertise she has to offer.

Recent Projects

  • Potato breeding for Africa (Genetics, Genomics and Crop Improvement at CIP)
  • Accelerating the Development of Early-Maturing-Agile Potato for Food Security through a Trait Observation and Discovery Network (GIZ funded)
  • Biofortified potato varieties to help overcome micronutrient malnutrition in East Africa (Harvest Plus)
  • Sustainable use of potato crop wild relatives (CWR) and development of a pre-breeding core collection with key climate change-related traits (Global Trust)
  • Better Potato for a better life (BPBL) – Improving potato seed systems of potato and sweetpotato (funded by USAID)
  • Humidtropics East Africa and South East Asia
  • AFRICA RISING - Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation- Intensification of Farming Systems in the Highlands of Ethiopia.
  • Integrated Research and Development Project for Production and Marketing Systems of Banana, Manioc, Sweetpotato, and Potato in the Provinces of Uíge, Kwanza Norte, Huambo, and Huila in Angola.

Postdoctoral research projects

1993 – 1996

University College Cork, Department of Plant Science, Ireland, funded by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and German Society for Research (DFG)

Application of 2D- and Pseudo-3D image analysis for the identification of potato varieties, determination of genetic changes in mutant populations and characterization of mutant clones, with the aim to develop selection procedures for mutant populations of the potato

1996 – 1998

University of Natal, Department of Botany, South Africa, funded by the Foundation for Research Development, Pretoria, and University of Natal Research Fund.

Tissue culture of endangered subtropical tree species: medicinal tree species (Ocotea bullata, Warburgia salutaris) and yellowwoods (Podocarpus spp.).

Investigation of the effect of a commercial seaweed extract in vitro on potato microplant quality and acclimatization of microplant cuttings ex vitro.

Publications (Selection)

Lindqvist-Kreuze H., Forbes G., Kaiyun Xie, Khan A,, Kowalski B., Bonierbale M.: International trait observation network for potato to promote the exchange of elite breeding lines. Abstracts 10th Triennial APA Conference, Addis Abeba 9th – 13th of October 2016

Quiroz R., Harahagazwe D., Condori B., Barreda C., de Mendiburu F., Amele A., Anthony D., Atieno E., Bararyenya A., Byarugaba A. A., Demo P., Guerrero J., Kowalski B., Anthony Kude D., Lung'aho C., Mares V., Mbiri D., Mulugeta G., Nasona B., Ngugi A., Njeru J., Ochieng B., Onditi J., Parker M., Randrianaivoarivony J. M., Schulte-Geldermann E., Tankou C. M., Woldegiorgis G., Worku A.: Potato yield gap analysis in SSA through participatory modeling: Optimizing the value of historical breeding trial data. CIP Working Paper, 2014. view / download pdf document

Kowalski B., Chicundi S., Chissingui Horacio F., Ramabout Barcelos M., Gomes E., Nzambi Nzambi N., Maliti C., Moniz Mutunda M., Domingos M.: Evaluation and release of B3 potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties in the Angolan highlands. Abstracts 9th Triennial APA Conference, Nairobi, 30th of June – 4th of July 2013. TH3ABS162. view / download PDF document

Kowalski B., Chicundi S., Gomes E., Maliti C., Mutunda M., Ferreira Londa A., Andrade M., Domingos M.: Evaluation and release of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (Ipomea batatas L.) varieties in the Angolan highlands. Abstracts 9th Triennial APA Conference, Nairobi, 30th of June – 4th of July 2013. TH3ABS163. https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/73196.

Kowalski B., Gomes E., Nzambi Nzambi N., R. da Pena F., Maliti C.: Efeito da selecção de batata semente no rendimento da batata rena Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Romana. Proceedings Primeiras Jornadas Científicas de Investigação Agrária, Huambo, 25.-26.July, Angola, 2012

Kowalski B.: Tackling Vitamin A Deficiency by eating Orange in Angola. view / download PDF document, 2012.

Kowalski B., Demo P., Mutunda M.P., Domingos M.: Potato production in Angola – challenges and solutions. APA proceedings, Cape Town, 2011.

Kowalski B., Jimenez Terry, F., Köppen, D., Agramonte Peñalver, D.: Soluble chitosan applied as potato seed tuber treatment and foliar sprays under subtropical and temperate conditions – effect on yield parameters and disease incidence. 15th triennial symposium of ISTRC, Lima, 2009. A critical opportunity for the world, program and abstract of papers. p.109. view / download PDF document

Veitía Rodríguez, N., Kowalski, B., García Rodríguez, L., Bermúdez Caraballoso, I., Acosta Suárez, M., Orellana Pérez, P., Romero Quintana, C., González, N., Quiñones Ramos, R.: In vitro and ex vitro selection of potato plantlets for resistance to early blight. Journal of Phytopathology 155/10 (2007), 582-586.

Kowalski, B., F Jimenez Terry, L. Herrera, D. Agramonte Peñalver: Application of soluble chitosan in vitro and in the greenhouse to increase yield and seed quality of potato minitubers. Potato Research 49 (2006) 167-176.

Kowalski B., Jimenez Terry, F., Unger, C., Eichler, B., Agramonte, D., Köppen, D.: Testing plant growth promoting and elicitor effects of natural products on potato in controlled, semi-controlled and field conditions. Proceedings International Scientific Symposium »Natural Resources and Sustainable Development«, 10.-11. Oktober 2006, Oradea, Rumänien, 873-880.

Kowalski, B., Köppen, D., Jimenez Terry, F., Agramonte Peñalver, D.: Wirkung verschiedener Pflanzenstärkungsmittel auf Ertrag und Pflanzengesundheit bei Kartoffeln im ökologischen und integrierten Anbau. Mitt. Ges. Pflanzenbauwiss. 18, 560–261, 2006.

Kowalski, B., Jimenez Terry, F., Agramonte Penalver, D., Köppen, D.: Untersuchungen zur Wirkung von Pflanzenstärkungsmittel und Elicitoren auf Ertrag und Pflanzengesundheit bei Kartoffeln. Mitt. Ges. Pflanzenbauwiss. 17, S. 351-352, 2005.

Kowalski, B., Jimenez Terry, F., Jomarrón Rodiles, I., Agramonte Penalver, D., Coll Manchado, F.: Efecto de tres análogos de brassinoesteroides sobre caracteres morfológicos y fisiológicos de vitroplantas de papa cv. Desireé, in vitro y en invernadero. Biotecnología vegetal 3 (2003) 2, 115-117.

Kowalski, B., Van Staden, J.: In vitro culture of two threatened South African medicinal trees – Ocotea bullata and Warburgia salutaris. Short communication. Plant growth regulation 34 (2001) 223-228.

Kowalski, B., Van Staden, J.: Micropropagation of Podocarpus henkelii and P. elongatus. South African Journal of Botany 67 (2001) 358-361.

Kowalski, B., Cassells, A.C.: Mutation breeding for yield and Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary foliar resistance in potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Golden Wonder) using computerized image analysis in selection. Potato Research 42 (1999), p. 121-130.

Cassells, A.C., Kowalski, B., Fitzgerald, D.M., Murphy, G.A.: The use of image analysis to study developmental variation in micropropagated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants. Potato Research 42 (1999), p. 541-548.

Kowalski, B., Van Staden, J.: Influence of cultivar, season, explant type and seaweed concentrate on potato plantlet quality. Potato Research 42 (1999), p. 181-188.

Kowalski, B., Jäger, A.K., Van Staden, J.: The effect of a seaweed concentrate on the in vitro growth and acclimatization of potato plantlets. Potato Research 42 (1999), p. 131-139.

Kowalski, B., Cassells, A.C.: Mutation breeding for yield and Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary foliar resistance in potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Golden Wonder) using computerized image analysis in selection. Potato Research 42 (1999), p. 121-130.

Kowalski, B., Van Staden, J.: Cold treatment, as part of the process, improves explant decontamination. Plant growth regulation 26 (1998) 203-205.

Cassells, A.C., Kowalski, B.: Strategies for the evaluation of somaclonal variation as a source of resistance to Early and Late Blight of potato. In: Comprehensive potato biotechnology. Khurana, S.M.P., Chandra R., Upadhya M.D. (eds.), Malhotra Publishing House, 1998, p. 49 - 64

Cassells, A.C., Periappuram, C., Barret, C., Doyle, B., Croke, J., Kowalski, B.: The application of computerised image analysis to the detection of cryptic variation in plant populations. In: Mechanisms and markers of regeneration and genetic stability — Extended abstracts of the second meeting of the COST 822 Working group, Turku 1 May – 5 May 1996.

Kowalski, B., Cassells, A.C.: Novel sources of resistance to late blight of potato. In: Phytophthora infestans 150. L.J. Dowley, E. Bannon, L.R. Cooke, T. Keane, E. O'Sullivan (eds.), European Association of Potato Research - Pathology Section Conference, Dublin, Ireland, September 1995, Boole Press Ltd 1995, ISBN 1 85748 0090, p. 303-310.

Kowalski, B., Fitzgerald, D., Cassells, A.C.: The effect of scab on the application of image analysis to the identification of potato varieties based on tuber characters. In: Book of Abstracts, ISTA/ISHS Symposium Technological Advances in Variety and Seed Research CPRO-DLO, Wageningen, The Netherlands, May 30th to June 6th 1994, Wageningen Academic Press, ISBN 90 74 379 06 0, p. 49.

Hernandez, M.M., Kowalski, B., Lorenzo, P., Ortiz, U.: Efectividad del empleo de filtrados de Alternaria solani en la selección in vitro de formas resistentes en papa (Solanum tuberosum L.). Cultivos tropicales, La Habana, 12 (1991)2: 48 - 50.

Projects & Activities

Angola

Integrated Research and Development Project for Production and Marketing Systems of Banana, Manioc, Sweetpotato, and Potato in the Provinces of Uíge, Kwanza Norte, Huambo, and Huila in Angola.

The project was funded by Chevron-Sonangol and implemented in collaboration with the Instituto de Investigação Agronómica (I.I.A). The main objective was the sustainable increment of the economic contribution that the main vegetatively propagated crops (banana, cassava, sweetpotato, and potato) make for the improvement of food security and to combat poverty in rural populations.

Novel potato B3 clones with improved late blight tolerance were introduced from CIP Nairobi and orange fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) from CIP Mozambique. Germplasm banks were maintained in the I.I.A. experimental stations in four provinces and multilocation evaluation trials conducted. At the end of the project five potato CIP-B3 clones were released as varieties, as well as seven OFSP varieties, the first to be officially released in Angola.

The main components of a potato seed multiplication system were established and clean-seed interventions in the region initiated. Diffused light stores (DLS) were built for the storage of seed potato using local materials, such as bamboo, elephant grass, concrete blocks, clay and eucalyptus.

OFSP rapid multiplication plots were planted with individual farmers and farmers’ groups in eight provinces in close collaboration with the Angolan extension services, local authorities and NGOs. A total of 32.876 persons with 164.400 dependents received planting material of one or more of the four target crops. In addition, the development of novel products from OFSP (bread, cakes and cookies, juice) was being promoted to generate income from a hitherto traditionally low income sustenance “women’s crop”.

A total of 2013 persons were trained in multiplication techniques of banana, cassava, sweetpotato, potato seed production and selection, research and trialing procedures for vegetatively propagated plants questions of nutrition and health, OFSP processing and the making of products. The largest group were farmers (1684), followed by students (132) and technicians of IIA, IDA, EDAs and ONGs (201) and 16 bakers.

South Africa

Tissue culture of endangered subtropical tree species (Ocotea bullata, Warburgia salutaris, Podocarpus spp.)

Postdoctoral project at the University of Natal, Department of Botany, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 1996 – 1998

The aim of the project was to develop procedures for endangered tree species native to South Africa for purposes of conservation and reforestation. Black stinkwood (Ocotea bullata) and pepperbark tree (Warburgia salutaris) have become threatened throughout South Africa because of the high demand for their bark in traditional medicine. Black stinkwood was also extensively logged for its precious wood. Vegetative propagation is difficult because of high contents of aromatic compounds inhibiting the rooting of cuttings. Seeds are heavily parasitized. Both species are also difficult to establish and grow in tissue culture because of extraordinarily high contents of phenolic compounds. High levels of internal contamination are a problem. A protocol for the establishment of explants and nodal culture in vitro has been developed and plantlets of O. bullata and W. salutaris are now being multiplied.

Podocarpus henkelii and P. elongatus are two of four yellowwood species indigenous to South Africa. Yellowwoods have come under pressure through extensive logging because of their precious wood, with populations becoming significantly reduced by the turn of the century. Micropropagation systems for gymnosperms are different from the shoot culture methods used for angiosperms. A micropropagation procedure based on continued axillary shoot proliferation has been developed and shoots are currently being hardened off for transplanting into the greenhouse.

Podocarpus henkelii Podocarpus henkelii Podocarpus elongatus Podocarpus elongatus Warburgia salutarisWarburgia salutaris Ocotea bullataOcotea bullata

Investigation of the effect of a commercial seaweed extract in vitro on potato microplant quality and acclimatization of microplant cuttings ex vitro

Postdoctoral project at the University of Natal, Department of Botany, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 1996 – 1998

The aim of this project was to investigate, whether the use of a seaweed concentrate in potato micropropagation improved microplant quality and resulted in better establishment and growth of microplant cuttings ex vitro. The influence of season, variety and explant type on the effect of the seaweed concentrate in vitro was investigated. Plant quality was evaluated at various stages of the micropropagation and acclimatization process. The effect of seaweed concentrate as a leaf / soil drench in the greenhouse immediately after planting alone and in combination with the in vitro treatment was assessed.

 

Ireland

Application of computer image analysis for the identification of potato varieties, determination of genetic changes in mutant populations and characterization of mutant clones, with the aim to develop selection procedures for mutant populations of the potato

Postdoctoral project at University College Cork, Department of Plant Science, Cork, Ireland with Prof. A.C. Cassells, 1993 – 1996

The project was funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst DAAD), the German Society for Research (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG) and University College Cork, Department of Plant Science.

  1. The influence of common scab infection of the tubers on the parameters obtained by Pseudo-3D-image analysis was described as part of a project for the application of image analysis for the identification of potato varieties.
  2. 2D-image analysis was applied to describe non-genetic variation in potato populations caused by the method of micropropagation.
  3. Mutant populations of potato cv. 'Golden Wonder' were created in vitro through irradiation and somaclonal variation.

The microplant populations were transferred to the greenhouse and field. Selection procedures were developed to identify, and reject, useless mutants involving a 2D- and Pseudo-3D-image-analysis based computer vision system. Gross field aberrants were identified early at the greenhouse stage and late maturation mutants in the first year of evaluation in the field. Potato clones with improved agronomic characters in greenhouse and field were trialled in subsequent years to ascertain the stability of the selected characters tuber yield and late blight (Phytophthora infestans) tolerance. The selected clones were characterized using computer image analysis.

Plastic culture vessel containing potato shoots Plastic culture vessel containing potato shoots
Field trial in Fota, Co. CorkField trial in Fota, Co. Cork
Acclimatization of plantlets in the greenhouseAcclimatization of plantlets in the greenhouse
Cv. Golden WonderCv. Golden Wonder
High yielding mutant clone of Golden WonderHigh yielding mutant clone of Golden Wonder

Ph.D.

Production of somaclones of the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and their preliminary evaluation under Cuban conditions

Thesis for PhD University of Rostock, Institute for Agriculture and Plant Production, with Prof. Manfred Seiffert, supervisor (University of Rostock) and Dr. Bernd Pett (Institute of Potato Research in Groß Lüsewitz), co-supervisor

The project was a collaborative effort of the University of Rostock, Institute of Potato Research in Groß Lüsewitz, both Germany and the Instituto Nacional de las Sciencias Agrícolas (INCA) in Cuba. It was aimed to investigate the possiblity of employing somaclonal variation to adapt European potato varieties to the subtropical conditions of the island of Cuba. Callus cultures were initiated from microplant internodes of three commercial varieties in the laboratories of the Institute of Potato Research and brought to Cuba to the INCA. The resulting somaclones were transferred to gauze tunnels as microplants or microtubers and the morphological variation present in the somaclone populations was recorded. Minitubers were harvested and transferred to the field where the clones were evaluated for agronomical performance such as tuber yield and susceptibility to early blight (Alternaria solani). The variation manifest in the populations in the gauze tunnel and field was characterized using factor analysis. The somaclones were handed over to the INCA for further evaluation.

Field trial in Fota, Co. CorkAdventitious shoot formation
Acclimatization of plantlets in the greenhouseQuarantine gauze tunnel
High yielding mutant clone of Golden WonderPotato trial site
Cv. Golden WonderGauze tunnel inside

Special training and experience

Potato breeding

  • Greenhouse and field evaluation and selection of potato breeding populations in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Kenya, 2015-2017
  • Field evaluation of potato CIP-B3 clones in multilocation trials in Angola 2009-2012 (photos).
  • Establishment of potato mutant populations in vitro through X and gamma irradiation and somaclonal variation, Germany 1987 - 1991, Ireland 1993 - 1996.
  • Design, planning and organization of greenhouse and field trials for the evaluation of mutant potato clones, Cuba 1988 -1991, Ireland 1993 - 1996.
  • Mathematical analysis of mutant populations and development of selection procedures for mutant potato clones, Germany and Cuba 1987 - 1991, Ireland 1993 – 1996.

Tropical and subtropical agriculture

  • Integration of roots and tuber crops for food, feed, soil fertility and improved livelihoods within farming systems – the cases of East Africa and South East Asia
  • Organisation and conduction of greenhouse and field experiments potato under the temperate conditions of Germany and Ireland and subtropical conditions of Cuba (1988 – 2007), South Africa (1996 – 1998) and Angola (2009-2012), Ethiopia, Rwanda and Kenya 2013-2017.
  • Sustainable strategies in field and storage for improved plant health and tuber quality in potato, Rostock University, 2001 – 2008, Angola 2008-2012 (Diffused Light Stores).
  • Agricultural production on the island of Cuba, 1988 – 1992.
  • Medicinal plants of South Africa, 1996 – 1998.

Teaching and training

East Africa

  • Workshop Humidtropics Action Site Ethiopian Highlands and Western Kenya: Silage making using sweetpotato vines. With farmers in Arjo-Diga, Oromia Province, Ethiopia, and Kisumu and Vihiga in Western Kenya
  • Workshop Humidtropics Action Site Ethiopian Highlands: The potato crop - Problems, solutions, opportunities. With farmers in Gojo-Jeldu, Oromia Province, Ethiopia
  • Training Humidtropics Action Site Western Kenya: Compost making for Kitchen Gardens. With women householders in Vihiga in Western Kenya
  • Training course: Principles of micropropagation in agro-biotechnology. ARARI technicians and Students of Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia
  • On the Job Training: Improvement of potato in vitro plantlet quality and ex vitro acclimatization. With technicians of national partner institutes ARARI, TARI, SARI, in Bahir Dar, Mekelle and Areka, Ethiopia

Angola

  • University lectures and demonstrations: Produção de semente de batata rena de alta qualidade (Production of high quality seed potato). Universidade José Eduardo dos Santos, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias, Huambo, Angola
  • University lectures and demonstrations: Introdução da Batata Doce de Polpa Alaranjada em Angola - Metodos e Beneficios (Introduction of the orange fleshed sweetpotato to Angola – Methods and benefits). Universidade José Eduardo dos Santos, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias, Huambo, Angola
  • Joint Workshop CIP- Worldvision: Variedades e técnicas modernas da produção de batata rena, selecção positiva de semente no campo de produtores e conservação de baixo custo (Modern varieties and techniques in potato production, Positive Selection of seed in growers’ fields and low cost storage). Training of IDA Extensionists
  • Joint Workshop CIP- Instituto Marquês de Vale Flor: Brick manufacture for the building of DLS. With farmers of Ekunha Cooperative
  • Joint Workshop CIP- Instituto Marquês de Vale Flor-Farmers’ Cooperative of Ekunha: Positive selection to improve seed potato quality. With farmers of Ekunha Cooperative
  • On-the-Job-Training: Rapid multiplication of sweetpotato. With famers’ communities, IDA extensionists and schools, establishment of vine plots for planting material.
  • On-the-Job-Training: Orange fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) rich in pro-Vitamin A for cooking and baking. With famers’ communities and women’s groups

Teaching materials developed in Portuguese

  • Manual: GUIAO DE ADOBE QUEIMADO para Armazens de Luz Difusa de baixo custo para o armazenamento de semente de batata rena de alta qualidade (Guide for burning bricks for the building of Diffued Light Stores for the storage of high quality seed potato)
  • Manual: Jardim Escholar da Batata Doce de Polpa Alaranjada rica em pro-vitamina A (School Garden for Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato rich in pro-vitamin A)
  • Flyer: A Doce que da Saude -Batato Doce de Polpa Alaranjada (The Sweet that gives health – Orange fleshed sweetpotato)
  • Flyer: Pão de Ouro (Golden Bread)

Rostock University, Institut of Agroecology

  • Plant breeding (MSc course)
  • Potato Agronomy
  • Crop husbandry in the tropics and subtropics.

University College Cork, Department of Plant Science

  • 1995-1996: 3rd year Plant Pathology course
  • 1996: Computer Bio-Statistics course

Adult Education, Agricultural School Quassel

  • Chemistry for Environmental Technicians
  • Physics for Environmental Technicians

Contact

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