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Dr Eric Huttner

Dr Eric Huttner is the Research Program Manager for Crops since 2012. He started his career in plant molecular genetics working in public research institute, INRA, in France, and has worked for more than 20 years in a range of private companies, including founding a start-up plant genetic analysis service company. He has also been involved in managing public-private research initiatives in both Australia and France. Eric was a founding partner and director of Australia’s Cooperative Research Centre for Plant Science and a member of the Australian Biotechnology Advisory Council. He is a graduate of France’s leading agricultural science school, Institut National Agronomique (AgroParisTech) and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Chinese Academy of Science in 1987.

Enhancing drought tolerance and food security in Papua New Guinea: the potential of new taro germplasm

Creating taro varieties that have both the eating qualities of Dasheen taro and the drought tolerance of Eddoe taro by developing new hybrids using novel hybridisation methods recently developed in PNG.

Project code
CROP/2023/194
Program
Crops
Project start date
15 Nov 2023
Project end date
31 Jan 2025

Managing wheat blast in Bangladesh: identification and introgression of wheat blast resistance for rapid varietal development and dissemination

Characterising novel sources of wheat blast resistance, identification, and molecular mapping of resistance loci/gene(s) and their introgression into varietal development pipelines for rapid dissemination of resistant varieties in Bangladesh.

Project code
CROP/2020/165
Program
Crops
Project start date
01 Nov 2021
Project end date
30 Jun 2026

Weed management techniques for mechanised and broadcast lowland crop production systems in Cambodia and Laos

Developing sound weed management methods for direct seeded rice under two lowland agroecosystems; and as a result of good weed control in the field, establish the benefit in terms of grain quality.

Project code
CROP/2019/145
Program
Crops
Project start date
01 Jan 2021
Project end date
31 Dec 2025

Insect tolerant chickpea for Bangladesh

This project aimed to release the insect resistant chickpea to help the management of insect pests in a sustainable manner and improve chickpea production in Bangladesh. Although chickpea is a popular food legume in Bangladesh, there are many production constraints responsible for low yield, in particular insect pests. Genetic engineering to develop insect resistant (IR) legumes such as soybean and cowpea varieties with complete resistance to pod borers has been successful. These legumes are now approved for commercial cultivation and consumption.

Project code
CIM/2016/039
Program
Crops
Project start date
01 Mar 2017
Project end date
31 Dec 2019

Protecting stored grains against pests using a new silica technology – understanding distribution and extension pathways

Distribution/extension pathways for a new pest management technology, based on a form of silica known as synthetic amorphous silica (SAS), to small landholders in Tanzania.

Project code
CIM/2017/031
Program
Crops
Project start date
01 Jul 2019
Project end date
30 Jun 2021

Plant Health-a Major Challenge to achieving Sustainable 'Green' Agriculture in Myanmar

This project aimed to bench-mark farmers’ current pest management practices and pesticide use/misuse in food crops and develop practical recommendations and actions to address current and potential future problems. Rice remains the predominant commodity for domestic food security and export income in Myanmar. However, increases in pesticide-related poisoning in rural communities are now a matter of major national concern in Myanmar, especially where there is illegal cross-border trade in pesticides. 

Project code
CROP/2019/103
Program
Crops
Project start date
15 Apr 2019
Project end date
01 Sep 2020

Characterisation of Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) populations in South-East Asia and Northern Australia

Characterising the populations of Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm, FAW) in crop production systems of South-East Asia and Northern Australia as the first step towards developing long-term management options.

Project code
CROP/2020/144
Program
Crops
Project start date
30 Jun 2020
Project end date
31 Mar 2022

Workshop and review of innovation platforms to enable scaling out of conservation agriculture-based sustainable intensification in the Eastern Gangetic Plains

This project aimed to review progress made through the 'Innovation Platforms' which had been implemented since 2015 to enable scaling out of conservation agriculture-based sustainable intensification in the Eastern Gangetic Plains Innovation Platforms (IPs) have been implemented and supported since 2015 to enable scaling out of Conservation Agriculture-Based Sustainable Intensification (CASI) in the EGP (Eastern Gangetic Plains).

Project code
CSE/2017/015
Program
Crops
Project start date
15 Aug 2017
Project end date
31 Jan 2018

Using ICTs to enhance adoption of new agricultural technologies and innovations

This project aimed to see if information and communication technology (ICT)-based extension services could reach farmers, delivering information when and as needed. It aimed to examine the shortcomings of the ICT-based extension services in the Eastern Gangetic Plains and their potential to reach small and women farmers. The SRA could lead to a program that helps to achieve sustainable cropping practices, and overcomes technology adoption barriers.

Project code
CSE/2015/012
Program
Crops
Project start date
15 Jun 2015
Project end date
15 Aug 2016