Elizabeth Parkes

Accomplished cassava breeder with extensive experience at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), specializing in genetic analysis and stakeholder engagement. Successfully led modernization initiatives, enhancing breeding efficiency and fostering gender inclusivity. Proven track record in resource mobilization and community outreach, contributing to the development of high-yield, disease-resistant cassava varieties.

• African Plant Breeders Association Conference, 10/25/21 - 10/30/21, Kigali, Rwanda
• International Society for Tropical Root Crops-Africa Branch Conference, 09/20/21 - 09/24/21, Lusaka, Zambia
• Induction of Flowering Workshop, 01/23/20 - 01/24/20, Cali, Colombia
• African Plant Breeders Association and Maiden International Conference, 10/23/19 - 10/25/19, Legon, Ghana
• RTB Breeding CoP Satellite Meeting, 10/22/19, Accra, Ghana
• Gender Responsive Product Profile Development Workshop, 11/12/18 - 11/13/18, Ithaca, NY, USA
• CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas Annual Meeting, 10/25/18 - 10/28/18, Palmira, Colombia
• 18th Triennial symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops, 10/22/18 - 10/25/18, Cali, Colombia
• International Conference on Food and Nutritional Security in Africa, 10/03/18 - 10/04/18, Accra, Ghana
• Fourth Scientific Conference of the Global Cassava Partnership for the 21st century, 06/11/18 - 06/15/18, Cotonou, Benin

• Released five new biofortified cassava varieties in Nigeria in partnership with colleagues at IITA and NRCRI
• Drafted manual for cassava production and utilization jointly with colleagues of the IITA cassava team
• Supervised 10 graduate students (5 PhD and 5 MSc); 2 PhD and 4 MSc students have graduated, and 3 PhDs and 1 MSc. are still working on their theses. These are 4 females and 6 males.
• Regional nurseries with NARS in developing countries established towards scaling out of biofortified cassava utilization
• Backstopped cassava biofortification project in INERA DRC and NRCRI Nigeria
• Seeds from hybridization at Ubiaja and tissue culture plantlets made available to partners
• Initiated Cassava biofortification community of practice
• Trained unit staff and enforced the use of data capturing device to be a routine practice
• Trained NARS partners during capacity and team building workshops
• Established strong and healthy relationships with NARS in almost all cassava growing countries
• Collaborated with IITA’s Crop Utilization team for product development and testing
• Developed a proposal with a team on quantification of carotenoids in cassava and submitted to GTZ
• Enhanced the team spirit of the cassava breeding unit for effective and good working climate

• Validation of SNP Markers for Diversity Analysis, Quality Control, and Trait Selection in a Biofortified Cassava Population, Mbanjo, E., Ogungbesan, A. O., Agbona, A., Akpotuzor, P. A., Toyinbo, S., Iluebbey, P., Rabbi, I. Y., Peteti, P., Motomura-Wages, S., Norton, J., Zhang, X., Bohorquez-Chaux, A., Mushoriwa, H., Egesi, C., Kulakow, P., Parkes, E., 2024, Plants, 13, 16, 2328, doi.org/10.3390/plants13162328
• Development of portfolio management tools in crop breeding programs: a case study of cassava in sub-Saharan Africa, Egesi, C., Mbanjo, E., Kawuki, R, Teeken, B., Rabbi, I. Y., Prempeh, R. N., Jiwuba, L., Njoku, D., Kulembeka, H., Gwandu, F., Woyengo, V. W., Parkes, E., Ofei, R., Banda, V. R., Ntawuruhunga, P., Derera, J., Weber, S., Kulakow, P., 2024, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1322562
• Genome-wide association study for yield and quality of granulated cassava processed product

Maiden Name: Bediako