BROOKINGS, S.D. — South Dakota State University will host the third Edgar S. McFadden Symposium on Wheat Improvement on May 1- 2, 2018.
“We are excited to host this symposium for the second time and are honored to continue to recognize McFadden’s work on wheat development,” shared Dr. David Wright, Head of the Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science. “We have some top-notch speakers this year, so I think the event will be very educational and enjoyable for all who attend.”
The symposium is focused on continuing Edgar S. McFadden’s legacy by honoring him and other global leaders in wheat research. Edgar S. McFadden accomplished the first major breakthrough in conferring genetic resistance to stem rust in 1916 in the garden of a Brookings boarding house. The seed from which it grew was named “Hope wheat.”
“McFadden’s breakthrough kindled the Green Revolution,” said Dr. Wright. “His work is still making a difference today.”
The symposium begins with a banquet at McCrory Gardens on the evening of Tuesday, May 1. Dr. R.A. McIntosh, Professor Emeritus at the University of Sydney, Australia, will be speaking about rust history and the way forward. Kevin Kephart, Vice President Emeritus for Research and Economic Development at South Dakota State University, will also be sharing the story of Edgar S. McFadden.
A scientific symposium featuring the latest research on wheat will be held Wednesday, May 2, in the SDSU Student Union.
Sanjay Rajaram, 2014 World Food Prize Winner for developing disease-resistant wheat, will kick off the day as the keynote speaker. The scientific symposium will be comprised of educational sessions featuring speakers from universities and organizations who will discuss the importance of wheat and share latest research.
All sessions are open to the public. Onsite registration will be available. There is a reduced price for students to attend.
For more information, contact the Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Department at SDSU.PlantScienceDepartment@sdstate.edu or 605-688-4600.
— South Dakota State University
For more news from South Dakota, click here.
For more news from North Dakota, click here.