Conny Almekinders

·          Conny Almekinders graduated as crop physiologist at Wageningen University in 1983. From 1983 until 1989 she worked at the International Potato Center (CIP), Peru. This resulted in a PhD thesis in 1995. Her work with the Development Research Institute (IVO) in Tilburg and the Centre for Genetic Resources, CPRO-DLO (the Dutch Gene bank) focused on farmers, the diversity of crop varieties and seeds. She co-authored and edited 2 books on related issues: ‘Farmers' Seed Production, New Approaches and Practices’ (1999) and ‘Encouraging Diversity, The Conservation and Development of Plant Genetic Resources’ (2000). As reflected in her publications, most of her research is done through collaboration with research-partners in developing countries. At present she is affiliated to the chairgroup Technology and Agrarian Development, Wageningen University. She deals with the design, implementation and study of participatory approaches in plant breeding and seed production, and agricultural technology development more in general. More recently this has extended in to a specific interest for action-oriented work and the book Research in Action (2009).

Since September 2001 she is the research and training co-ordinator of the PAU PhD programme. She continues to collaborate with the regional PPB programme in Meso America, and participates in various other projects, like the FAO-coordinated project Using markets to promote the sustainable utilization of crop genetic resources.