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Rabat – Moroccan scientist Mustapha El Bouhssini was awarded the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award for his research on insect-resistant crops. The award was presented during the International Congress on Plant Resistance to Insects, held March 6 to 9 in Hertfordshire, England.
The award is given out every two years, recognizing extensive work and scientific contributions to the field of genetic plant resistance to pests, according to the International Center for Agricultural Research in The Dry Areas (ICARDA-Morocco)in a press release.
Dr. El Bouhssini has contributed to the development of germplasm in hard and soft wheat varieties, which are resistant to the pesky Hessian flies of Morocco. He has also been actively involved in the development of other insect-resistant germplasm such as wheat bugs, chickpea leaf miners, and Russian aphids.
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The “Lifetime Achievement Award” is Dr. El Bouhssini’s 14th prize; he previously received five awards from ICARDA, two national research prizes, and seven awards from other international bodies.
In 1980, Dr. Bouhssini received a Bachelor of Science in Techniques in Agronomy from the National School of Agriculture in Meknes (ENAM), Morocco. He then moved to the U.S. in 1992, where he received a Doctorate of Science in Entomology from Kansas State University.
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Dr. El Bouhssini has held several prominent positions, including serving as a researching entomologist for ICARDA and an assistant professor at the University of Kansas. He now works for the ICARDA regional platform in Rabat with an elite team of international researchers.
