Online Reporter
Sifelani Tsiko
Fact Check Editor
ZIMBABWE will next week host the 4th biennial African Plant Breeders Association’s (APBA) Conference at the country’s premier resort, Victoria Falls.
The 4th edition of APBA will take place from October 6 – 8, 2025, with pre-conference activities scheduled for October 4–5.
“Preparations and all logistics are now in place for a successful conference,” said Zimbabwe Plant Breeders Association (PBA) president, Dr Casper Kamutando.
“This was made possible by the immense support we received from the Government, in particular the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, as well as the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority
“We are also grateful for the material support received from different local and international institutions.”
The guest of honour for this conference is the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of Zimbabwe Dr Anxious Masuka.
“We are expecting close to 400 delegates from Africa and beyond to participate at this conference,” Dr Kamutando said.
“More than 100 papers will be presented as posters and several high-level panel discussions have been designed, covering various aspects of plant breeding and genetics
“We seek to win the race against food insecurity, malnutrition and climate change through genetic innovations. We also want local corporates to market their brands to our visitors.
“All crop value chain actors in Zimbabwe should take advantage of this opportunity to market their brands across Africa and beyond.”
APBA organises biennial conferences to share and discuss plant breeding advancements in Africa and globally, fostering networking opportunities among plant breeders and various other sectors, including the public sector, private industry, and organisations like the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.
Participants are expected to contribute to various activities at the conference, including panel discussions, plenary sessions, oral and poster presentations.
In addition, APBA will hold elections for a new leadership and an award ceremony to honour African luminaries who have made notable contributions in plant breeding and genetics.
Zimbabwe has a long history of organised plant breeding, seed certification and production, and as a result, the country has established a good reputation in seed production and distribution.
It is widely regarded as an outstanding example and generally reliable supplier of high-quality seed of several crops.
In addition, the country has trained a number of plant breeders who now hold influential positions in regional and international plant breeding bodies.
