Nurturing data champions: Empowering ADCIN partners for data-driven decision making in plant breeding

The CIMMYT Dryland Crops Program (DCP), in collaboration with the Africa Dryland Crops Improvement Network (ADCIN), held an intensive, hands-on workshop from July 8-12, 2024, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Sponsored by the ADCIN Steering Team, this training aimed to significantly strengthen the capabilities of ESA NARES partners in advanced data management and analytics—essential tools for making data-driven decisions in plant breeding. Hosted by the Tanzania Agriculture Research Institute (TARI), the workshop equipped 40 participants from nine East and Southern African (ESA) countries with skills to analyze and interpret complex datasets, thereby supporting breeding programs for key crops, including chickpea, finger millet, pearl millet, pigeonpea, and sorghum.

This training workshop was possible thanks to financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and CGIAR.

With 34% female representation among participants, the workshop emphasized gender balance, reflecting ADCIN’s commitment to inclusivity in capacity building. The overarching goal was to cultivate “data champions” within the NARES network, enhancing essential analytical skills and fostering innovative, resilient breeding practices across the region. 

The workshop was meticulously organized by Dr. Abhishek Rathore of CIMMYT, Dr. Rachael Kisilu from KALRO (Kenya), Dr. George Karwani from TARI (Tanzania), and Dr. Dagnachew Besha from EIAR-DZARC (Ethiopia). Additional resource persons, including Dr. Roma Rani Das, Dr. Subhrajit Satpathy, Dr. Nilesh Mishra, and Dr. Victor Musau, shared their expertise across various sessions, guiding participants in the effective application of advanced analytical tools. 

This impactful workshop was made possible through generous funding from the ADCIN Steering Team, which provided the essential resources needed to ensure its successful implementation and lasting benefit to the ESA NARES partners. 

Core themes of the workshop

1. Integrated Data Management Systems for Field Trials: Participants learned to manage field trial data using the Breeding Data Management System (BMS), a foundational tool for trial creation, data import/export, and analysis. BMS provides a structured framework for handling large volumes of trial data, ensuring accuracy and traceability from the field to the analysis stage. This foundation supports the broader analytics pipelines, enhancing data quality and usability for advanced breeding decisions. 
2. Advanced Analytics for Breeding Decisions Using Bioflow, the CGIAR Data Analytics Pipeline: A major focus of workshop was on Bioflow, the CGIAR Breeding Data Analytics Pipeline, key tools for high-level statistical analysis and real-time insights. Bioflow’s intuitive interface allows breeders to process data efficiently and derive actionable insights promptly. Bioflow provides robust capabilities for multi-site and single-site analyses, quality assurance, and data uploading directly from data management systems. Participants applied these tools to their own datasets, learning how to perform quality control, single-trial, and multi-trial analyses, and interpret results. This approach empowers breeders to make timely, data-driven decisions and adjust breeding strategies dynamically, thus accelerating crop improvements and ensuring adaptive, resilient breeding. 
3. Data Exploration and Visualization Techniques for Insightful Analysis: Training in R provided participants with the tools for data exploration, visualization, and statistical analysis. Using R’s data visualization packages like ggplot2, participants transformed raw datasets into meaningful visual insights, identifying trends and patterns crucial to breeding decisions. This skill set complements the analyses conducted in Bioflow and enhanced participants capability to interpret and present breeding data effectively. 
4. On-Farm Trial Management for Farmer-Centric Breeding: Participants explored the Tricot On-Farm Trial System through ClimMob, which supports the design, management, and analysis of on-farm trials. This platform enables breeders to involve farmers directly in the evaluation process, integrating farm-level data into the breeding pipeline for a more holistic understanding of variety performance. This hands-on training in ClimMob provided participants with the confidence to design on-farm trials that incorporate local farmer preferences and environmental variables, making breeding outcomes more applicable and impactful at the farm level. 
5. Practical Applications and Collaborative Data Clinics: Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in data clinics where they applied Bioflow and R to real network data. In crop-country groups, they analyzed and presented insights on data quality control, analysis outcomes, and breeding strategies. These sessions consolidated the participants’ learning and encouraged collaboration across countries, with each group presenting findings that illustrated the practical application of advanced analytics to real breeding challenges. 

Workshop outcomes and impact

The training resulted in a highly skilled cohort of ESA NARES data champions. With 66.7% of participants expressing high confidence and 24.2% feeling confident in applying their newly acquired skills, the workshop reinforced a culture of data-driven breeding. Notably, 34% of participants were women, reflecting ADCIN NARES’s commitment to gender diversity and inclusion in skill development. 

Comments from Participants

Dr. Sheila De Natividade Juma, Plant Breeder at the Mozambique Agriculture Research Institute, highlighted the workshop’s impact: “The CIMMYT-led training provided a valuable opportunity to enhance our skills in statistical analysis tools and software. Our exposure to advanced platforms equips us to address complex data management and analysis challenges with greater strategic insight.”

Dr. Onen Denish Oyaro, Research Associate, Groundnut Breeding, NARO – National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute, Uganda, said, “I extend my heartfelt thanks to the CIMMYT Breeding Informatics team and the ADCIN NARES team for their thoughtful design of the training course, which includes ample hands-on sessions. This approach will significantly enhance our skills and empower us as data champions, equipping us to lead the way in utilizing advanced data analysis tools and platforms within NARES crop breeding programs”. 

This initiative not only advanced participants’ technical skills but also strengthened the capacity for strategic breeding decisions across ESA. With the combined power of Bioflow, the CGIAR Pipeline, and R, these newly trained data champions are equipped to drive impactful, adaptive breeding practices for a more resilient agricultural future across the region.