Ivan Buddenhagen, former IITA Director of Cereal Improvement Program, passes on
4 August 2022
With a deep sense of loss, IITA announces the demise of the former Director of Cereal Improvement Program from 1975 to 1980, Ivan William Buddenhagen. He died at his Davis home in the USA on Saturday, 9 July 2022.
Ivan Buddenhagen led the international research program on rice and maize, producing varieties and hybrids widely grown across Africa. In 1986, the Institute received the King Baudouin International Agricultural Research Award for its accomplishments on a major viral disease of maize, Maize Streak Virus, as a result of his contributions to maize research during his years at IITA.
Buddenhagen’s 60-year career in the world of plants started with his education at Oregon State University in Corvallis, where he received a BSc in Botany, an MSc in Plant Pathology, and a PhD in Plant Pathology, Plant Breeding, and Genetics.
He was born in Ventura, California, in 1930 to a petroleum geologist father and mother who was a teacher. His professional journey covered countries like Costa Rica, Pakistan, Hawaii, and Honduras where he would discover the origin of the banana Moko disease, the ecology of the pathogen, and its mode of insect transmission. He also worked with breeders on developing resistance to the Moko disease.
His passion for science directed his research on the pathogenesis and integrated control of major diseases threatening banana cultivation for large plantations and smallholder farmers in Indonesia. With modest funding from the Nunhems Foundation, he conducted field research on banana and collected wild relatives of banana in Sumatra. As a result of his work, planting materials of disease-resistant bananas are now available for smallholder farmers of Indonesia.
As an academic, his track record for innovation resulted in his initiating new courses, new staff positions, and expanding funding to develop a mature department of plant pathology at the University of Hawaii. As Chairman of the Department of Plant Pathology, he also developed a full virology facility, expanded research on banana diseases, and helped develop a new plant science building with modern laboratory facilities for plant pathology.
During his six years at IITA, colleagues described him as a scientist with extensive knowledge, scientific rigor, and a capacity for lateral thinking. Buddenhagen will be remembered for thinking out of the box with a clear vision and his courage in tackling impediments to science.
The family farm in Oregon became the site for more of his efforts to improve crops. To reduce the role of viruses that limit garlic production and to encourage the possibility of new germplasm, he obtained many garlic varieties to obtain true garlic seed. After several years, he could provide true garlic seed for about 30 new varieties to other eager garlic breeders in six countries.
Buddenhagen is survived by his wife of 51 years, Evelyn, daughters, sons, and grandchildren.
Gifts in memory of Ivan may be given to: The UCDavis Botanical Conservatory at https://give.ucdavis.edu/go/botanicalconservatory; or, to, Yolo Hospice at https://yolocares.org/give/
Contributed by: Timilehin Osunde
