Stef de Haan has been appointed professor by special appointment in Seed Systems and Agrobiodiversity at Wageningen University & Research. Effective 1 September, the new chair will be part of the Biosystematics chair group. This will be supported by the International Potato Center (CIP), which is part of the global research partnership CGIAR.
De Haan says that he hopes "that our research can make a difference for the global rural population, particularly for the more disadvantaged farmers who need to earn a living in challenging, marginal agroecosystems."
Richard Harrison, managing director of the Plant Sciences Group at WUR says: "We are very pleased with the appointment of Stef de Haan as a special professor. His expertise and dedication are of great value to our mission to promote sustainable agricultural practices worldwide. His embedding within CIP and more broadly the CGIAR network offers great opportunities for closer alliances."
In his role as professor by special appointment in Seed Systems and Agrobiodiversity, De Haan will continue to promote the preservation of as many traditional crops and their wild relatives as possible. There will also be a focus on less familiar and forgotten crops, in order to benefit ecological sustainability and food diversity.
For more information:
Wageningen University and Research
https://www.wur.nl