ICRISAT, The Peanut Foundation, Peanut CRSP and IER are pleased to announce the fourth meeting of the International Peanut Genome Initiative (IPGI), Advances in Arachis through Genomics & Biotechnology (AAGB-2009), to be held in conjunction with the West & Central Africa Regional Peanut Workshop on October 19 - 22, 2009 in Bamako, Mali, Africa

The IPGI is a committed step by the research community in peanut producing nations to meet the needs of the global groundnut industry and help improve the livelihood, nutritional security and sustainability of peanut production, especially in dry areas. Ensuring an adequate supply of peanuts or groundnuts poses challenges and opportunities that require new vision and strategies for improving productivity and crop quality in ways that enable manufacturer of high quality and safe food products. Aflatoxin contamination is a particular concern because it significantly influences groundnut trade in global markets. In addition, safeguarding the health of children demands more affordable and safe use of groundnut in local foods, particularly in Africa. Thus, members of the IPGI are called upon to step forward together to face the challenge of developing new agronomic varieties that meet higher quality standards and improve human nutrition.

Achieving these goals begins with improved communication between scientists working at all scientific levels and members of the peanut value-chain. AAGB-2009 in Bamako, Mali will catalyze this process by providing a forum for sharing current information and establishing international collaboration on research that will help improve the yield, quality and safety of groundnut. Published proceedings of this conference will further document the tradition of excellence in international peanut research that has been established through prior IPGI conferences in Guangzhou, China; Atlanta, GA, USA; and Hyderabad (A.P.), India.

Call for Abstracts

The Organizing Committee invites scientists/students to participate and make poster
presentations for the research conference. A slot of 2 hours every day has been dedicated for
poster sessions and discussion. Abstracts of maximum 250 words should be submitted in soft
form (preferably Microsoft WORD form) through e-mail to aagb.icrisat@cgiar.org (please
mention “Abstract for AAGB-2009” in the subject line of the mail). .

Conference Secretariat

ICRISAT Bamako
BP 320
Bamako, Mali
Tel : +223 2223375; Fax : +223 2228683;
Email : aagb.icrisat@cgiar.org   
website : http://aagb2009.icrisat.org/