Bridging Continents Through a Single Genome: The Napier Grass Story

Dr Ferdinand Lubobi Shamala attended the International Plant Breeding Course (IPBC) at Lanzhou University (China), where he received the Excellent Participant Award, recognising research engagement and scientific contribution. China had previously served as his academic home, where he completed his doctoral studies, refined his scientific perspective, and came to understand research as both a disciplined pursuit and a process of discovery. Returning in his capacity as a Future Africa Research Fellow, therefore, carried a profound sense of purpose and continuity.

In the search for resilient and sustainable agriculture, few crops illustrate the power of international collaboration as vividly as Napier grass — a vital forage plant supporting millions of smallholder dairy farmers across Africa. A recent partnership between scientists in Kenya and China, initiated through the International Plant Breeding Course (IPBC) at Lanzhou University (China), is demonstrating how genomic science can connect continents, drive innovation, and strengthen food systems.

A Genome That Sparked a Global Conversation

The collaboration traces its roots to a scientific discovery: the decoding of the Napier grass genome led by Professor Jiyu Zhang and his research group at Lanzhou University, China. Their work represented a landmark in understanding one of the world’s most important tropical forage species, offering tools to identify genes associated with disease resistance, drought tolerance, and productivity.

A publication on the genome caught the attention of a researcher in Kenya, where Napier grass (also known as Pennisetum purpureum) underpins dairy farming systems but faces persistent threats from head smut and stunt diseases. Recognising the potential for collaboration, Dr Shamala reached out to Zhang’s team to explore joint research opportunities. The exchange set in motion a scientific dialogue that soon evolved into a formal partnership, anchored by participation in the Plant Breeding Course hosted at Lanzhou University.

The International Plant Breeding Course: A Global Learning Hub

The IPBC has become a unique platform where young and established scientists from Asia, Africa, and Europe share advances in molecular breeding and agricultural genomics. The 2025 visit brought together participants from over 20 countries, reflecting a growing commitment to building transnational scientific capacity. Over the course of two intensive weeks, participants delved into CRISPR-Cas gene editing, genomic selection, AI-assisted phenotyping, and the development of bioinformatics pipelines. The approach combined classroom learning with field-based exposure, integrating technology with on-the-ground agricultural realities.

Participants from across the globe during a session at the 2nd International Plant Breeding Course, Lanzhou University (China).

For researchers from Africa, the course offered an opportunity to connect frontier science with urgent agricultural needs, particularly the development of disease-resistant, high-yielding forage crops critical to food and livestock systems.

“The IPBC model exemplifies how international partnerships can accelerate knowledge transfer and empower early-career scientists,” says Professor Zhang. “It allows participants to apply cutting-edge genomic tools to local challenges.”

Linking Genomic Tools to African Agricultural Realities

Kenya’s dairy sector depends heavily on Napier grass as a primary source of livestock feed. However, recurrent outbreaks of head smut and stunt diseases have led to significant productivity losses for smallholder farmers. Conventional breeding has been slow to keep pace with these challenges. Through the IPBC, participants explored how genomic techniques, such as marker-assisted selection and comparative genomics, could be adapted to accelerate breeding programs in African contexts. Integrating insights from the Chinese Napier grass genome study opened new possibilities for mapping resistance genes within Kenyan germplasm and developing improved cultivars.

Delivering my presentation on “Genomic Mapping of Resistant Genes in Kenyan Napier Grass” during the IPBC scientific session.

This convergence of global expertise and local application embodies the trans-disciplinary ethos of the Future Africa initiative, linking genomics, agricultural practice, and policy in pursuit of sustainable development.

“Each lesson was a bridge connecting China’s genomic technologies with Africa’s agricultural needs,” says one participant from MMUST. “The translation of these tools into breeding programs back home could make a tangible difference for farmers.”

The Science of Connection

Beyond the technical training, the IPBC emphasised the social dimension of science, fostering collaboration, mentorship, and cross-cultural dialogue. The course’s diverse participants exchanged insights not only in laboratories but also over shared meals and field excursions, underscoring that scientific innovation thrives on human connection. Among the program’s mentors was Professor Phil Rolston from New Zealand, a veteran plant scientist with seven decades of experience and a longstanding relationship with Chinese research institutions. His advice to younger researchers captured the spirit of sustained inquiry that underpins scientific progress. Such interactions demonstrate how mentorship and intercultural engagement can shape global scientific communities that transcend national or institutional boundaries.

Dr Ferdinand Lubobi Shamala (right) with Prof. Phil Rolston (New Zealand), whose 68 visits to China and lifelong dedication to plant science were truly inspiring. 

Meeting the Mind Behind the Genome

A highlight of the IPBC experience was the opportunity for visiting researchers to meet Professor Jiyu Zhang and his team in person. In the university’s greenhouse, participants observed live collections representing diverse global germplasm.

Discussions focused on integrating African Napier varieties into the existing genomic database to identify resistance gene clusters and improve the crop’s resilience under varied climatic and disease conditions. The meeting resulted in an agreement to establish long-term collaboration between Lanzhou University and MMUST, focusing on joint genomic studies, germplasm exchange, and the training of early-career scientists. “Our partnership captures what science should be — a bridge between continents, built on curiosity and trust,” Professor Zhang noted during the closing session.

Dr Ferdinand Lubobi (left) and Professor Jiyu Zhang (right), the lead researcher on the Napier grass genome project at Lanzhou University's research greenhouse. The Napier grass plants visible in the background represent the focus of their new collaborative research on genomic mapping of resistant genes in Kenyan Napier grass germplasm.

Lessons from China’s Agricultural Frontiers

The IPBC curriculum extended beyond campus laboratories to China’s major agricultural research and production sites. Participants visited the Zhangye National Corn Seed Industrial Park, where automation and precision technologies have revolutionised seed production.

Field visit to Ganzhou Herbage Improvement Station, where innovation meets real-world agriculture.

At the Ganzhou Herbage Improvement Station, extensive field trials of forage crops were observed under varying environmental conditions, demonstrating how advanced breeding techniques translate into improved yields and increased farmer adoption. These field experiences offered a clear message: Genomic science is most powerful when integrated with real-world agricultural systems, aligning laboratory insights with farmer outcomes.

Hands-on training in advanced molecular marker applications and genomic analysis techniques.

Recognition and Shared Achievement

The program concluded with a closing ceremony that celebrated the diverse contributions of the participants. Among the recognitions was the Excellent Participant Award, acknowledging outstanding research engagement and collaboration, awarded to FAR-LeaF research fellow Dr Shamala.

Yet, as participants reflected, the most valuable outcomes lay in the relationships forged, the perspectives gained, and the collective sense of purpose. “What stands out,” one attendee observed, “is not only the technology but the people — scientists from different backgrounds working together toward a common goal.”

Participants display their certificates during the closing ceremony of IPBC in China.

Toward a Shared Scientific Future

Back in Kenya, the collaboration continues to grow. Teams from MMUST and Lanzhou University are jointly analysing Napier grass germplasm collections, exploring shared databases, and developing capacity-building programs for African plant breeders. This initiative aligns with the broader Belt and Road Plant Breeding Alliance, a consortium linking universities and research institutions across Asia and Africa to advance sustainable agriculture through genomic innovation.

This partnership exemplifies a growing trend in contemporary science — one that recognises that the challenges of climate resilience, food security, and biodiversity conservation cannot be solved in isolation. They demand cooperation across disciplines, institutions, and borders.

What began with a single genome paper has evolved into a bridge of collaboration, linking Kenya and China through shared knowledge, mutual respect, and a commitment to the future of global agriculture. This also aligns with the words of Prof. Zhang: “Science begins with curiosity, but it thrives on connection.”

Acknowledgments

This collaboration was made possible through the Future Africa Research Fellowship at the University of Pretoria, which provided travel support, and Lanzhou University, which sponsored participation in the International Plant Breeding Course. Their combined support has fostered a partnership that continues to expand the frontiers of genomic research and agricultural innovation across continents.

Research visit report by Ferdinand Lubobi Shamala reworked for publication by Leti Kleyn.