Grad Student Chosen for Prestigious Plant Breeding Fellowship

Doctoral candidate Daniel Caddell will work to improve rice crops for farmers

Daniel Caddell, a Ph.D. candidate in plant biology at the University of California, Davis, is one of 14 fellows in the prestigious Monsanto Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program (MBBISP) for 2013.

“Having the opportunity to study abroad with MBBISP will keep me focused on what aspects of my research will be the most beneficial to farmers throughout the world,” said Caddell, who works with Professor Pam Ronald in the UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology. “With a growing global population and less land devoted to agriculture, we need to find new and innovative ways to improve yields and improve rice varieties to grow in areas they may not have been able to survive previously.”

Caddell, a native of Oceanside, Calif. near San Diego, is passionate about using his research to help meet society’s farming needs.

“I hope my research is able to make a difference to farming in the future by reducing the amount of crops that are being lost to disease while further reducing the need for pesticide applications,” said Caddell. “Although I didn’t grow up farming, I have a great appreciation for the men and women who toil year in and year out so that the rest of us have food on our tables.”

Established in 2009, the fellowship program began in honor of two of the world’s most pre-eminent rice and wheat breeders: Dr. Henry Beachell and Nobel laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug. Their lifelong work laid the foundation for the tremendous increases in rice and wheat production that continue to help feed the world today. MBBISP has provided 38 scholars from 19 different countries the opportunity to pursue their Ph.D. degree at leading universities and to collaborate with research institutions around the world.

As part of the company’s commitment to sustainable agriculture, Monsanto pledged $10 million through the MBBISP to provide fellowship opportunities to highly motivated individuals seeking their Ph.D. degree in rice or wheat plant breeding. Through the fellowship, Caddell will gain the leadership skills, education and tools to positively impact rice farmers around the world and improve the future of agriculture. In addition, Caddell and other scholars will experience unique learning experiences including:

• Scholar-developed applied research programs that include experiential learning in both developed and developing countries
• Participation in the World Food Prize and Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa
• Opportunities to interact with leaders in government, research, academia, and industry

MBBISP scholars receive a generous student stipend, tuition, applicable fees, health insurance, research fees and travel, as well as funds for the collaborating institution and advising professor.

For more information about the program, visit www.monsanto.com/mbbischolars.