Episode 10 of 21: Deidre and the 4 decades

We’ve bean around the block host Antony Jarvie interviews Dr Deidre Fourie to celebrate the last four decades of bean research at the Grain Crops Research Institute in Potchefstroom. Deidre has recently retired from leading the team, and the interview covers the last 4 decades of bean research, organized in eras and covers the major decisions, developments and achievements. The intent of the show is to give credit the characters that have dedicated their lives to bean improvement in southern Africa.

The Willem Vermeulen era

Establishment of the disease-free certification scheme, which is the bed-rock of our current industry. The diseases which were included in the scheme and the seed production areas and protocols that still stand today are discussed.

The Liebenberg era

The brave decision to deploy the ‘I’ gene (more on this is published on the Plant Breeders website). The building of an amazing breeding team, with  Andries Liebenberg leading this with his agronomy background. Further including Brian Edington with a genetics background, Meri Liebenberg with her mycology expertise and Deidre Fourie with her bacteriology background.

The Fourie era

Following the retirement of Andries and Meri, Deidre took over the helm. She has been able to (single handedly) maintain the plant breeding momentum built over several decades and still develop and release new and innovative products. Her retirement leaves the GCRI at a crossroads in its history. What can the GCRI do to maintain the momentum of the last 40 years? Some funding ideas are shared.

The show is wrapped up with two plant breeding stories, explaining how some of South Africa’s favorite bean cultivars were developed.