1. The Ginés‐Mera Fellowship
Fund for Postgraduates Studies in Biodiversity
2003 – 2010

2. The 3D’s (Discovery, Development and Delivery):
Global Genetic Resources Working for Women and the Poor
Global Genetic Resources Working for Women and the Poor
This workshop aims to celebrate the life, work and vision of Dr.
This workshop aims to celebrate the life work and vision of Dr
Maria Jesus (Chusa) Gines and Ms. Veronique Mera, two
professionals whose careers were dedicated to improving the
lives of the rural poor and women through the strategic
li f h l d h h h i
discovery, deployment and delivery of plant genetic resources

3. A dual citizen of Spain and Canada Chusa was a respected
Canada,
biodiversity expert and molecular biologist, with a keen interest in
plant genetic conservation. Through her diverse international
contacts and activities, she also championed the rights of poor
farmers. She received her PhD in biology (molecular genetics and
biotechnology) from Carleton University in Ottawa in 1987, and a
graduate diploma in International Development and Cooperation
from the University of Ottawa in 1991
Veronica, a dual citizen of Ecuador and the Netherlands, received
her MSc in Management of A i lt l K
h MS i M t f Agricultural Knowledge S t
l d Systems i in
1998 from Wageningen University and Research Centre in the
Netherlands
These two scientists, who dedicated their lives to the social and
economic advancement of the rural poor in developing countries,
will long be remembered by their colleagues and friends both
within and beyond the Cassava Biotechnology Network

4. The Ginés-Mera Fellowship
Objectives
To provide opportunities and support students from the developing countries of the
p pp pp p g
world to undertake thesis research addressing key elements of the sustainable use
and conservation of agricultural biodiversity, in particular:
•Molecular characterization of agrobiodiversity
•Molecular characterization of agrobiodiversity
•Community‐based conservation of genetic agrobiodiversity
•Intellectual property rights and access to agricultural genetic resources
p p y g g g

5. The Ginés‐Mera Fellowship
Proposals received & Approved
l i d& d
50
46
40
30
22
20
10 11 10
10
5
0
ASIA AFRICA LATIN AMERICA
RECEIVED APPROVED

6. The Ginés-Mera Fellowship
Latin America
Women 5 4 MSc – 1 PhD
Men 5 3 MSc– 3 PhD
Africa
Women 2 2 MSc
Men 3 2 MSc – 1 PhD
Asia
Women 4 2 MSc - 2 PhD
Men 6 4 MSc - 2 PhD

7. The Ginés Mera Fellowship
The Ginés‐Mera Fellowship
Latin América
Adriana Mercedes Alzate
Astrid Johanna Arango
Constanza Quintero
Juliana Chacón
Javier Llacsa Tacuri
Nelson Royero
Roosevelt Escobar
John Ocampo
Adriana Bohorquez
Luiz Carvalho

8. The Ginés Mera Fellowship
The Ginés‐Mera Fellowship
Africa Fellowships
Anthony Pariyo
Gerardine Mukeshimana
Sandra Ndgire
S d Nd i
Stephen Buah
Stephen Buah
Wamatsembe Isaac

9. The Ginés Mera Fellowship
The Ginés‐Mera Fellowship
Asia Fellowships
Bui Tan Yen
B iT Y
Mob Serey
Myat Hpoo Ngone
Myat Hpoo Ngone
Myat Thuzar Thein
Ngo Thi Nga
g g
Nguyen Phuong
Nguyen van Noi
Phonepsaseuth Phengsavanh
Sarith Hin
Tan Jun

10. The Ginés‐Mera Fellowship
Fund for Postgraduates Studies in Biodiversity
Referee Journals
R.H. Escobar; CM. Hernández; N. Larrahondo; G. Ospina; J. Restrepo; L. Muñoz; J.Tohme
and W.M.Roca. 2006. Tissue culture for farmers: Participatory adaptation of Low‐
input cassava propagation in Colombia. Expl.Agric.vol 42, pp. 103‐120.
Juliana Chacón, Santiago Madriñan, Daniel Debouck, Fausto Rodriguez, Joe Tohme.
2008. Phylogenetic patterns in the genus Manihot (Euphorbiaceae_inferred from
analyses of nuclear and chloroplast DNA regions. Molecular Pylogenetics and
Evolution 49: 260‐267
E l i 49 260 267
John Ocampo Pérez; Geo Coopens d’Eeckenbrugge, Maria Restrepo, Andy Jarvis, Mike
Salazar and Creuci Caetano. 2007. Diversity of Colombian Passiifloraceae:
y
biogeography and an updated list for conservation. Biota Colombiana 8(1): 1‐45.
Johanna Arango‐Ulloa; Adriana Bohorquez; Myriam C. Duque; Briggite L. Maass. 2009.
Diversity of the calabash tree (Crescentia cujete L.) in Colombia. Agroforestry
Diversity of the calabash tree (Crescentia cujete L ) in Colombia Agroforestry
System. Vol 76 (3): 543‐553
More to come

11. “I understood the immense potential of cassava landraces for
genetic improvement after carrying out a research in the great
lakes region of Af i
l k i f Africa with th grant secured f
ith the t d from Gi é M
Ginés Mera
Memoral Fellowship for Biodiversity study in Africa”
Anthony Pariyo
"The Ginés-Mera Fellowship is a very reasonable
project. I would like to say thank you to this fellowship
that gave me a chance to study at a graduate level as
well as funding me for thesis research including training
on ruminant nutrition and laboratory work with theories
and practices at the University of New England,
Armidale, Australia.“ Mob Serey
“The opportunity offered by the Ginés Mera
Fellowship to study the conservation of native
potato variability in the Andean region has pro en
ariabilit proven
to be a millestone not only for my professional
career but also for my personal life. The Study
gave me a solid scientific background in
biodiversity conservation, specifically in the
y p y
Andean an Amazon regions.”
Javier Llacsa Tacuri

12. Chusa in our mind and heart
Chusa in our mind and heart
Diversity

13. Chusa in our mind and heart
Chusa in our mind and heart
Drive
Determination

14. Chusa in our mind and heart
Chusa in our mind and heart
Delight to
D li ht t
work with
work with

15. The Ginés‐Mera Fellowship
Fund for Postgraduates Studies in Biodiversity
2003 – 2010