Photo reportage: mechanizing crop breeding stations in Africa to drive data accuracy

Mechanizing crop breeding stations is critical for optimizing the trialling and nursery processes in sub-Saharan Africa and ultimately speeding up the delivery of improved crop varieties. Any operations can be mechanized, from field preparation, to planting, harvesting, and seed processing. Equally important is equipping operational staff with the skills to efficiently operate machinery and conduct high-quality trials that yield reliable data, ensuring breeders can make well-informed decisions for advancing crop development. 

As part of the Crops to End Hunger (CtEH) project, Facilities Upgrade and Mechanization Improvement, a USD 15 million donation from GIZ has been allocated to equip key research stations worldwide with modern machinery and provide corresponding training to technical staff.

Training tailored to station needs

The training sessions provided in September and October in four countries are based on an assessment process that evaluated the needs of each station, conducted by CtEH Facilities Upgrade… project. These assessments identified specific equipment requirements and skills gaps, which the training sessions are designed to address. A continuous learning process that not only improves technical capacity but also fosters collaboration and networking among staff. 

Earlier this year, training on field preparation, pest and disease management, and planting, was provided to technical staff in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana. In this latest phase, operational staff from various countries, including Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi and Senegal, were trained on harvesting and seed processing techniques.

From left to right: Group pictures of training participants in Senegal, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia.

About 120 participants took part in the sessions. Attendees included staff from CGIAR Centers (CIMMYT, Africa Rice, IRRI, CIAT, and IITA) and national research Centers (KALRO, CERAAS, NACR, DR&SS, DARS, ZARI, IIAM, SCCI, NARO, ISRA-CRA, ISRA-CNRA, ISRA-CERAAS, NIHORT, CSIR-CRI, and CSIR-SARI). The sessions combined theory and hands-on practice in both classroom and field settings, with a focus on improving the accuracy and efficiency of crop improvement operations—specifically seed processing, phenotyping and data collection.

1. Seed processing

Participants received in-depth training on pre-harvesting and harvesting operations, with an emphasis on producing high-quality seed. In crop breeding, seeds play a vital role in the crop life cycle, so it is critical to ensure they meet their full potential to withstand adverse conditions and achieve high productivity.

Maize seed moisture content determination in Nigeria (left) and cold storage setup in Senegal (right).

Another focus of the sessions was seed drying. Participants were introduced to card drying systems and they gained a thorough understanding of optimal seed moisture content for threshing and storage.

Trainers also covered the operation and maintenance of the threshers, providing hands-on practice to build confidence in using the equipment, with a specific focus on safety rules. They were given ample opportunity to practice and explore the threshers received through the CtEH project, ensuring they can now use them effectively.

Participants learning the operation and maintenance of the threshers provided by CtEH in Senegal (left) and Nigeria (right).

The sessions also strengthened participants’ skills in seed conditioning, packaging, and treating. They learned how to use the Enterprise Breeding System (EBS), CGIAR’s preferred crop breeding data management platform, for experiment creation, packaging, barcoding, and experiment management. Trainees are now able to create QR codes and use the printers provided by the project to label experiments.

Participants being trained in using EBS for experiments, Nigeria

The training focused on seed inventory management, with participants introduced to continuous improvement and LEAN methodologies. They committed to implementing these techniques in seed storage and inventory management moving forward. 

2. Phenotyping

On the phenotyping side, participants were trained on work planning, respecting protocols, and using SOPs in data collection. They learned about Target Product Profiles and breeding strategies, focusing on essential traits and thresholds for breeding decisions. SOPs for phenotyping were introduced, ensuring consistent and high-quality data collection across CGIAR and national partners.

3. Digital data collection

Trainees were introduced to electronic data collection using tools such as the Field Book app and the Enterprise Breeding System. Trainers demonstrated how data can be collected seamlessly using mobile devices and uploaded to a central database. Participants now understand how to use the “Collect” feature in Field Book to organize and record data efficiently, and all participants have been registered on the EBS platform, committing to start using these tools for future trials.

Data collection using the FieldBook application to feed data into EBS in rice fields (left) and cassava fields in Nigeria

An ecosystem of tools and services for operational staff

The CtEH Facilities Upgrade… project is implemented by CGIAR Initiative on Breeding Resources, which provides an ecosystem of tools and services to breeders and breeding stations across the globe. In this framework, various units within the Initiative are developing solutions to support CGIAR and partner organizations’ technical staff, as highlighted during the recent training sessions. 

The Business Process Management unit is developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Work Instructions (WIs) for each step in the trialling and nursery processes. These were introduced during the sessions, where trainers demonstrated how to apply them in daily operations, underscoring the importance of standardized practices in breeding operations. 

The Digital Solutions unit, responsible for developing the Enterprise Breeding System (EBS) and other digital tools, is simplifying data collection and easing the workload of operational staff at breeding stations. 

Additionally, the Global Shared Services offers a range of services for trialling and nursery activities, including genotyping, elemental analysis, agronomic practices, and engineering support, further strengthening breeding operations.

Next Steps

In parallel with the training sessions, a maintenance workshop was held in Nigeria for stations that had received equipment and training. The workshop addressed technical challenges such as accessing support, sourcing spare parts, and finding service providers. Participants discussed ways to better coordinate maintenance activities across functions to ensure that the investments made through the CtEH project remain sustainable and continue to generate impact long after the project ends. They also discussed the costs associated with equipment upkeep. 

Looking ahead, the next phase of CtEH training will focus on irrigation systems, further enhancing the technical capacity of research station staff in sub-Saharan Africa who have received this vital equipment from CtEH.

***

Written by Julie Puech, Accelerated Breeding and Breeding Resources Initiatives. “Crops to End Hunger (CtEH)” is a multi-funder initiative that aims to accelerate and modernize the development, delivery and wide-scale use of new crop varieties that are better adapted to climate change and that address gender equity, nutrition, food security and poverty. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the generous supporters of this initiative, with special recognition to GIZ. Main image: Trainees in a rice field for phenotyping data collection, IITA Ibadan, Nigeria.