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I C A R D A N e w s INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN THE DRY AREAS P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012 Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105; E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG Website: www.icarda.cgiar.org |
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For
more information contact:
Dr Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG)
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24 March 2005
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| Dr Ashutosh Sarker, ICARDA
Lentil Breeder, was awarded a certificate of recognition from the
Government of Western Australia for his contribution to the development
of ‘Ceora’ – the first low-toxin grasspea variety in
Australia. The Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Government
of Western Australia, and the Director General of the Department of
Agriculture, Western Australia, jointly conferred the award on Dr
Sarker (in absentia) and other members of the team on 16 February
2005 and congratulated them for their contribution to the field of
human nutrition, animal feed and soil health. In 1994, while working as a pulse breeder in Bangladesh, Dr Sarker was invited by the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, and the Center for Legumes for Mediterranean Agriculture (CLIMA), as a Visiting Scientist to initiate grasspea and lentil genetic enhancement research for dryland agriculture in Western Australia. As a result of this research, 'Ceora,' the first low-toxin grasspea variety (ODAP content 0.04-0.09%) was bred and released in Australia based on a cross made that year. 'Ceora' is more tolerant to waterlogging and poor soils than other legume species. It is relatively more drought tolerant, disease resistant and adapted to medium to heavy textured soils. It produces higher seed yields and higher biomass under stress conditions, and is an important source of animal feed in drought years. Under bilateral agreement, 'Ceora' can be grown in Nepal, Bangladesh, and elsewhere for human consumption with no risks of neurolathyrism. Thus, ‘Ceora’ is an example of improving human nutrition through genetic detoxification. Congratulations! |
About
ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.cgiar.org)
serves the entire developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil,
and faba bean; and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management
of water, improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants
(sheep and goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In
the Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible
for the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage
legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of
the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) (www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition and health, and protecting the environment.