present

know-how   messages delivery to   farmers by implementers on   the use of Aflasafe technology; ii) providing stewardship and technical backstopping

Dr. Robet Asied (R4D Director for West Africa Hub)

   for aflatoxin biocontrol projects in Ghana, including: preparing with the team the workplan including deliverables and budget for the activities of biological control of aflatoxins in maize and groundnut with Aflasafe GH01 and GH02 in Ghana, contributing in supervising and guiding the PhD student (Daniel Agbetiameh) to develop and prepare all standard protocols for establishment of field efficacy and carry-over trials and implement standard protocols for lab analyses [microbiology (strain isolation, mutant development, complementation) and chemical (aflatoxin extraction and quantification)]; iii) supervising and monitoring production of Aflasafe products of various countries and ensuring ensuring product quality, by IITA Aflasafe Manufacturing Plant in Ibadan, for the large-scale field efficacy validation and scaling-up with complementary projects; iv) contributing in training and sensitizing of different stakeholders and regulators in the maize and groundnut value chains in Nigeria (AgResults) and Ghana on the prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in crops and management and the use of Aflasafe as a mitigation strategy; v) helping in registration of aflasafe technology in Ghana and Burkina Faso; vi) building strategic partnership with Ghanaian regulatory authorities such as the EPA, and guiding the inspection of Aflasafe efficacy trials in farmers fields and strengthening national advocacy coalitions for supporting the process of aflasafe products registration in Ghana; vii) helping in developing a platform for partnership and networking for scaling-out and commercialization of aflasafe products, and marketing of aflatoxin reduced maize and groundnuts; viii) developing new formulations and delivery-carries for aflasafe biocontrol products based on potential use of the agricultural by-product (e.g. cassava peel pellets) to replace sorghum grains, and the use of Arabic Gum as coating material for the commercial delivery of the biopesticide aflasafe; ix) resource mobilization and fund raising through development of sound proposals and concept notes to be submitted to potential donors; x) scaling out of Aflasafe technology (products and know-how) in partnership with the complementary development organisations and projects (e.g. CIC, Spring Ghana); xi) preparing high quality technical reports of various aflasafe projects to IITA Project Administration Office as pre reporting requirements fordonors;

xii)   Publication & communication: handling data analysis and producing high quality peer reviewed scientific articles for publication in reputable international journals, and communicating and exchanging ideas, research news and findings, challenges with with various targetedaudience.

xiii)     management responsibilities include, managing technical aspects of mycotoxin/biocontrol research in pathology/Mycotoxin lab in IITA-Ibadan, managing large number of staff including lab manager, research supervisors, lab technicians, graduate students, trainees etc. at IITA HQ in Ibadan, and meetings to plan and review projectactivities

IITA (http://www.iita.org/) is one of the world's leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty, and supported primarily by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research

(CGIAR).

July 2011 –

August 2015

Full-time: Scientist (Biocontrol Specialist), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), IITA headquarters, Ibadan, Nigeria. Duties: leading and managing the Striga biocontrol research activities in Nigeria. Striga Biocontrol (BC) Technology is a component of the project entitled "Integrated Striga Management in Africa –ISMA” that funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), and led by the Nigeria-based IITA. The project is combining and intensively promoting the best-bet proven technologies including biocontrol to combat Striga and to enhance food security in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). These technologies are being promoted in participation with researchers, farmers, community based organizations, extension workers, policy makers, seed and input suppliers. Main activities include: i) assessing biosafety of Striga host-specific BC agents (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae), including impact on cerealhosts

or any other crops, and production of mycotoxicin; ii) validating the field efficacy and potential of BC technology for Striga control across different

Dr. Robet Asied (R4D Director for West Africa Hub)

Dr. David Chikoye

(R4D Director, and Head, Plant Production and Health Management

agroecological zones (AEZs); iii) evaluating the benefit and additive value of integrating BC with other complementary control technologies on Striga suppression and yield increase; iv) studding the compatibility of BC agents (isolates Foxy2 & PSM197) with the commonly used pesticides; v) increasing awareness of safety and benefit of BC technology with different stakeholders and regulators; vi) undertaking of socio-economic and cost benefit analysis of BC technology in collaboration with our socio-economist partners; vii) monitoring the survival and persistence of BC agent Foxy2 in maize rhizosphere soil using the developed molecular detection tools in collaboration with university of Hohenheim, Germany; viii) registration of BC technology in Nigeria; ix) transferring, domesticating and establishing BC inoculum production and seed coating technology unit at IITA HQ in Ibadan, and optimizing of cost effective mass production methods and seed coating protocols; x) building and strengthening strategic partnership for the development of the Striga BC technology, application and registration; xi) resource mobilization and fund raising; xii) Other management responsibilities include; Meetings to plan and review project activities including Regular meetings, Reports on key actions points, Meeting reports, sharing knowledge, expectations and results with donor, regulatory authorities, national research and extension staff.

Additional resrach activities include: i) assessing and evaluating the pathogenicity and virulence of the newly isolated indigenous F. oxysporum f.sp. strigae strains collected from Striga plants and different AEZs in Nigeria, against Striga, for their future promotion as bioherbicides for Striga control; ii) evaluating the influence of the coating material on the efficacy   of metsulfuron methyl (MSM) and imazapyr herbicides – treated seeds of the IR-Maize Hybrids in controlling S. hermonthica; and iii) contributing in investigating and understanding the genetic diversity in S. hermonthica with host-parasite specificity for developing maize cultivars with durable resistance to Striga adapted to differentAEZs.

IITA (http://www.iita.org/) is one of the world's leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition, and poverty, and supported primarily by the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research

(CGIAR).

Dec 2008 –

present

Full-time: Associate Professor, Department of Botany and Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Shambat, Sudan: Duties: i) Conception, updating and teaching agricultural biotechnology and botany courses mainly introduction to biotechnology, biological control of weeds, biopesticide development, ecology and biodiversity, ii) conducting research, iii) supervising graduate and undergraduate students and organizing other activities e.g. seminars, workshops and field days etc., iii) preparation and writing up of research projects, scientific manuscripts including papers, poster and oral presentations, and iv) Developing linkages and working relationships, joint research and collaboration with relevant international professional institutions and organizations, v) Establishing collaboration with relevant industry in the field of bio-pesticides in Germany (e.g., SUET Saat-u Ernte- Technik, Prophyta Biologischer Pflanzenschutz GmbH) and in Kenya (Real IMP)inordertotransferofinnovativetechnologies(formulationandseed

treatment) into practical field application, and vi) helping in the addminstrative work. of the faculty.

May 2005 –

Nov. 2008

Full-time: Research Scientist and Postdoctoral Fellow in Georg Forster Research Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation (AvH), Bonn, at the Institute of plant production and Agroecoloy in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. Within this program, research projects and related activities are designed to promote the transfer of knowledge and new methods, so as to contribute to further development in developing countries. My research project dealt with the development of environmentally friendly, easy, effective and inexpensive bioherbicidal formulations and delivery systems of biocontrol agents for

Striga in Sub-Saharan Africa for large-scale application. Duties:

Prof. Cadisch, Head of Agronomy Department & Director of the Centre for Agriculture in the Tropics and Subtropics

Prof. Kroschel, Head, Agroecology/Integrated Pest Management,

1. Conducting research: mainly on ecological weed management, which include: 1) Optimising the conditions that increase the efficacy of both seed treatment and Pesta formulations containingStriga-mycoherbicides;

2) Optimising the fermentation conditions that enhance the mass- production of the fungal inoculum; 3) Improving shelf life of mycoherbicides (bio-products); 4) Studying the development and survival of Striga-mycoherbicides “Fusarium oxysporum” in colonising the root system of sorghum applied as seed treatment (including histological studies using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy); 5) Collaborating in characterizing of Striga-mycoherbicides “fungal pathogens” using molecular biology tools; 6) Integrating Striga mycoherbicidal formulations (Pesta & seed treatment) with existing Striga control measures such as sorghum and maize resistant varieties as well as with some selected fungicides using seed treatment technology to control simultaneously Striga and some sorghum and maize fungal diseases under field conditions of West Africa.

1. Teaching activity: Participating as resource person in the teaching activities of the Department of Agronomy, Institute of Plant Production and Agrarecology in the Tropics und Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germnay. In particular, conception, updating and teaching the issues dealing with pest and weed biological control of the Module 5104 “Advanced Crop Production Methods”.

2. Publication & communication: During 2005-2008, I published with co- authors, 9 scientific papers in referred Journals e.g. Biocontrol Science and Technology, Weed Research, Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, Nigerian Journal of Botany, The Open Mycology Journal. In addition, I participated and presented research results (oral and posters) in international conferences and symposia on biological control of weeds, weed science, phytopathology and relevant disciplines. Moreover, I wrote technical and research reports to prestigious international scientific and development organizations including Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nation (FAO) &AvH.

3. Other activities and duties: 1) Developing, managing and raising funds for research projects, 2) Organizing and conducting international training courses in cooperation with international institutions. For example, I have been selected as an international expert by the technical supervision of Plant Protection Service (AGPP) of FAO and in close collaboration with ICARDA, to conduct an international training course on biological   control of the parasitic weed Orobanche in September 2005; 3) Developing linkages and working relationships, joint research and collaboration with many international professional institutions and organizations e.g. IITA; 4) Establishing collaboration with relevant industry in the field of bio-pesticides in Germany (e.g., SUET Saat-u Ernte-Technik, Prophyta Biologischer Pflanzenschutz GmbH) in order to transfer of innovative technologies (formulation and seed treatment)into

practical field application.

International Potato Center (CIP), Lima 12, Peru

Feb. 2002 –

April 2004

Full time: Assistant scientist at the Institute of Plant Production and Agroecology in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. Duties: 1) Conducting research in the field biological control of weeds particularly bioherbicide development and delivery including mycoherbicide formulations, inoclum mass production, enhancement of mycoherbicides efficacy etc.; 2) Assisting in the preparation and writing of research projects; 3) Preparing and writing up of scientific manuscripts (publications) including papers and book chapters; 4) Participating as resource person in demonstrating and preparing the laboratory and greenhouse materials for practical courses for Masterstudents;

5) Establishing collaboration with relevant industry in the field of bio- pesticides in Germany; 6) Participating and presenting research results (oral and posters) in international relevant conferences and symposia; 7) Participating in the seminars and conferences organized by the Institute etc.).

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kroschel, Head of Agronomy Department

Oct. 1997-

PhD study at the Institute of plant production and Agroecoloy in the Tropics

Prof. Dr. Kroschel, Head of Agronomy Department

Jan. 2002

and Subtropics, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.

01.08 - 10.09.2000

Full time: Visiting research scientist at Danish Governmental Institute of Seed pathology for Developing Countries (DGISP), Copenhagen, Denmark. Duties: During this period I developed and optimised a new technique (seed coating protocol) for delivering biological control agents for the control of root parasitic weeds as well as seed-borne pathogens. I introduced also for the first time some of the technologies used for studying biology and management of parasitic weeds to the biological control group of DGISP.

Dr. Vibeke Leth

Aug. – Oct. 1997

Full time: Lecturer, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zalingei, Zalingei, Sudan. Duties: 1) Preparing and teaching crop protection courses, 2) Supervising graduate students, 3) Supervising and participating in organization of other activities e.g. seminars, field days etc.

Nov. 1993 –

July 1995

MSc study at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.

Prof. Dr. Fetana, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science

April 1992 –

Jul. 1997

Full time: teaching assistant, Faculty of Agriculture, University of EL- Fashir (Zalingei), EL-Fashir/Zalingei, Sudan. Duties: (i) Teaching, preparing and demonstrating Botany courses for preliminary year of the faculties of Agriculture, Medicine, Veterinary and Education (Biology); (ii) Teaching, preparing and demonstrating microbiology courses for second year students in the department of Biology, Faculty ofEducation.

July 1995 –

March 1996

Full time: Visiting research assistant in the research program of the Supra- regional German Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ)- project “Ecology and management of Parasitic Weeds”, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. Duties: 1) Studying the biology and control of the parasitic weed Orobanche spp.; 2) Evaluating data collected in Ethiopia on the infestation and distribution of the fly Phytomyza orobanchia; 3) Performing autecological studies with Phytomyza orobanchia; 4) identification and classification of microorganisms associated with diseased Orobanche ramosa; 5) Maintaining and preserving of fungal culture collections; 6) Testing and screening of pathogenicity of fungal isolates for biocontrol of Orobanche ramosa; 7) Data evaluation using different statistical analysisprograms.

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kroschel (project Co-ordinator)

July 1991 –

March 1992

Part time: Teaching assistant in the Department of Agricultural Science and Food Technology, College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan. Duties: Instructing, preparing and demonstrating Economic Entomology practical courses for the third year student,

Dr. Ibrahim A. Ibrahim, Head of Department

Feb. 1991 –

Feb. 1992

Part time: Teaching assistant in Botany Department, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Sudan. Duties: Teaching, preparing and demonstrating Botany courses for preliminary year students,

Dr. Sirag Ali Ibrahim, Head of Department

Feb. 1991 –

Feb. 1992

Part time: Teaching assistant in the Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Sudan. Duties: Teaching, preparing and demonstrating agricultural zoology practical classes for second year student,

Dr. M. A/Halim Sidding