Course Description
This comprehensive training program on Speed Breeding, hosted by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), offers a pioneering curriculum designed to address the needs of agri-businesses and seed industries worldwide. As the first-of-its-kind initiative, the course integrates IRRI’s groundbreaking expertise in developing the SpeedBreed facility and the innovative SpeedFlower protocol for rice—achievements that have revolutionized rapid crop cycling and seed multiplication. Participants will gain a holistic understanding of speed breeding, from foundational principles to advanced applications, covering both short-day and long-day crops. Through hands-on modules, global experts will guide training participants in optimizing light, temperature, and automation protocols while demonstrating techniques to integrate speed breeding with genome editing, genomic selection, and data analytics.
The program bridges theory and practice, offering immersive farm and lab visits at IRRI’s South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC), alongside tailored sessions on facility development, seed handling, crop-specific protocols, and resource-efficient breeding strategies. Designed for professionals across the public and private sectors, this training fosters future collaboration through discussions on the Speed Breeding Consortium and networking with leading researchers. By combining IRRI’s cutting-edge innovations with a globally relevant curriculum, participants will leave equipped to enhance varietal development, maximize seed production, and drive sustainable agri-business growth in an era of climate and market challenges.
Course Objectives
By the end of the training course, the participants should be able to:
- Gain hands-on experience in developing Speed Breeding Protocols for different short and long-day crops
- Acquire insights to maximize seed production and multiplication under speed breeding
- Capture learnings on crossing protocols to maximize breeding efficiency
- Understand techniques on the Integration of speed breeding with other techniques to maximize resource use.
Target Audience
The course is intended for the private and public sectors working on speed breeding, plant breeding, and the seed industry. The training can accommodate a maximum of 15 participants.
Key Modules:
- Understanding the Setup Requirements of Speed Breeding Facilities for Different Crops
- Understanding the Practical Aspects of Speed Breeding Protocol Optimization
- Understanding the Optimization of Crossing and Seed Advancement Protocols under Speed Breeding Conditions
- Future perspectives
Learning Modality
The course will be delivered face-to-face through activities involving classroom lectures, hands-on training, and field visits.