The
Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship enables outstanding scientists from
developing countries to carry out research on the conservation and use
of agricultural and forest biodiversity. The research involves
collaboration with an academic institution outside of the fellows’ home
countries. To date, 41 scientists from 25 countries from all regions of
the world have received the Fellowship.
Many studies have focused on crops and species of significant economic, nutritional and cultural importance to the Fellows' home countries; examples include wild and domesticated populations of cactus, ebony, pistachio, cacao, common vetch, peach, oat, wild potato, Grewia optiva, sorghum, fluted pumpkin, oriental beech, emmer wheat and barley.
Many studies have focused on crops and species of significant economic, nutritional and cultural importance to the Fellows' home countries; examples include wild and domesticated populations of cactus, ebony, pistachio, cacao, common vetch, peach, oat, wild potato, Grewia optiva, sorghum, fluted pumpkin, oriental beech, emmer wheat and barley.
A History of the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship
Bioversity
International established the Vavilov-Frankel Fellowship in 1989 to
commemorate the unique and pioneering contributions to plant science
made by Academician Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov of Russia and Sir Otto
Frankel of Australia.
Vavilov was one of the
first scientists to recognize the value of genetic diversity in
domesticated crop plants and their wild relatives to crop improvement.
Perhaps his most lasting contribution was the identification of eight
geographic areas, known as 'centres of diversity', that contain a large
proportion of this diversity. Frankel was an early advocate of the
importance of landraces for plant breeding. He also played a major role
in raising international awareness of the urgency of conserving plant
genetic resources.
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