Associate Barley Breeder - VOPS Caledon at The South African Breweries (SAB)

The key purpose of this job is to develop and deliver enhanced barley varieties, for the local and international brewing industry, which are aligned to brewing industry’s quality requirements.

Key roles and responsibilities:

Support the pre-breeding program (speed breeding, disease resistance, marker assisted selection) and the malting barley breeding program in order to optimally develop and release new barley varieties that are acceptable to the brewing industry and superior to the existing commercial varieties, in terms of both agronomics and malting & brewing quality by:

• Remaining up to date with new developments in international breeding protocols;
• Understanding the stakeholders (producers, maltster and brewers) requirements
• Ensures timeous production, malting and brewing evaluation and feedback on new varieties

Support the selection of the germplasm bank to ensure that superior new lines are available for crossings through the following actions:

• Maintaining contact with breeding programs worldwide, in order to obtain as wide a range of germplasm as possible;
• Importing germplasm and evaluating it in the field;
• Maintaining contact with the industry, in order to stay up to date with changes in the agronomy, disease resistance, production practices, pest control and the malt and brewing industry;
• Evaluating research projects; analyze data, compile reports and communicate results
• Developing an evaluation strategy for introductions
• Direct pre-breeding program with a focus on quality
• Maintain germplasm

Support the only South African based barley re-combination crossing program from existing or new lines, by:

• Identify lines and introductions with the required characteristics for use as parents in the recombination program;
• Collecting the identified varieties and lines from the respective nurseries, locally and abroad;
• Planning the re-combinations according to the long term strategy;
• Emasculating and pollinating plants according to planning; and
• Planning the F1 combinations for and execute the doubled haploid program
• Planning the F1 combinations for and execute the disease breeding program
• Planning the F1 combinations for the MAS with a focus on HFM

Support the planting and selection of the material in all the filial generations from the re-combination crossings to ensure pure breeding progenies according to long term strategy for each specific cross by:

• Evaluating the material and selecting and marking single plants from generation 2 to 4 and single rows in generation 5;
• Selecting material from germplasm to line evaluation throughout the lifespan of the breeding program to release new varieties

Support the selection of the lines in the trial evaluation program to ensure that superior new varieties are available for experimental release through the following actions:

• Evaluating the material, validate, analyze data, select superior lines and compile reports from elite 1 to line evaluation trials,
• Communicating/discussing trial and commercial results with the barley industry

Support the planning and execution of a ‘phasing in’ strategy for all the new barley varieties and negotiate the removal of old varieties from the industry, (Stage Gate Process):

• Planning the seed production of all the experimental varieties (post breeding process;
• Promoting cultivation of new varieties

Provides technical support to the industry;

• Establishing and maintaining a sound knowledge of the barley industry;
• Planning, designing and managing research projects directed at solving identified problems in the industry;
• Planning, designing and managing research projects directed at the optimization of cultivation practices for the newly released varieties;
• Analyze data, preparing required reports, literature searches, scientific manuscripts, presentations and progress reports in order to communicate the results to barley producers and agricultural advisors of relevant organizations and/or farmer groups

Support preparation and implementation of the budget for the barley development program.

Knowledge and Experience required:

• Minimum a Masters degree in Genetics or Plant Breeding
• Minimum of 2 years hands on small grain breeding experience (given the nature of the breeding process)
• Experience with Hordeum vulgare pathogens will be an advantage
• Statistical Analysis programme (Agrobase, R, Genstat etc) knowledge will be an advantage

Roles, Skills and Attributes required:

Skills:

• In-depth knowledge of plant breeding.
• Analytical knowledge of breeding progeny.
• Communication, presentation and interpersonal.
• Computer Literacy 

Attributes:

• Ability to interact, liaise and communicate with all stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Negotiation skills.
•  Attention to detail.
•  Unstructured problem solving ability.
• Ability to make decisions independently.
• Ability dealing with a variety of key stakeholders.