Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee
SCC-080
P. Stephen Baenziger
& Friends
University of Nebraska
Plant Breeding Coordinating
Committee (PBCC):
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The Need
What the PBCC is organizationally
Purpose
Key Focus Areas
Expected Outputs
Next three meetings
Number of plant breeders engaged in breeding activities on
different crop groups in the public and private sectors of the U.S.
in 1994 and 2001.
Crops
SAES
1994
2001
ARS/USDA
Private sector
1994
1994
2001
2001
Total
1994
2001
Grain
246
200
54
89
903
1026
1203
1315
Fiber
20
24
13
11
103
123
136
157
Forage
38
27
33
13
51
65
122
105
Sugar
4
4
15
0
25
4
44
8
Vegetables
99
55
22
25
268
123
389
203
Ornamentals
18
39
5
0
64
83
87
122
Fruit & Nut
60
41
29
23
32
12
121
76
Lawn & Turf
15
16
0
0
41
9
56
24
Others
28
18
6
0
10
100
44
118
528
424
177
161
1497
1545
2202
2130
Total
Adapted from: Frey (1996); Traxler et al. (2005); Morris et al. (2006).
The Need: (cont.)
• Plant breeding is an undervalued science.
• Plant breeding is an underfunded science.
• We run the risk of letting others define our
science and field.
PBCC (SCC-080) Organization
• Multi-Statewide Coordinating Committee
• Part of the Landgrant University/CSREES federal
funds.
• Though based in CSREES, the committee is open
to all, and has liaisons to USDA-ARS & USDAFS, to many Scientific/Professional Societies, and
to Industry.
• Formed in 2006 and held it first workshop in
February, 2007 at Raleigh, NC.
• http://cuke.hort.ncsu.edu/gpb/pr/pbccmain.html
• http://lgu.umd.edu/lgu_v2/homepages/home.c
fm?trackID=7536
PBCC Purpose:
• The Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee
will be a forum for leadership regarding
issues, problems and opportunities of longterm strategic importance to the contribution
of plant breeding to national goals. The
committee will create the only regular
opportunity to provide such leadership across
all crops. The nature of plant breeding as an
integrative discipline par excellence will be
reflected in multidisciplinary committee
membership.
• http://cuke.hort.ncsu.edu/gpb/pr/pbccmain.html
PBCC Objectives:
1. Enhance communication between plant
breeders in different sectors and crops
2. Assemble information about the U.S. plant
breeding effort
3. Describe and promote plant breeding in
terms of national goals
4. Identify research and/or education priorities
5. Other activities related to leadership and
strategic planning for plant breeding, as
identified by the members
http://cuke.hort.ncsu.edu/gpb/pr/pbccmain.html
PBCC Expected Outcomes:
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A stable forum for identifying and analyzing
issues of strategic importance to plant
breeding.
A broader understanding of the role of plant
breeding for meeting national goals
Resources for leadership, for example:
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Materials for communicating about the role of
plant breeding for meeting national goals
Strategies for responding to challenges and
opportunities for plant breeding
http://cuke.hort.ncsu.edu/gpb/pr/pbccmain.html
National Goals: USDA
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Excellence in Science and Technology
A Globally Competitive Agricultural System
Competitiveness, Sustainability and Quality
of Life in Rural America
• Safe and Secure Food and Fiber System
• Healthy, Well-nourished Population
• Harmony Between Agriculture and the
Environment
• Education and Training of Plant Breeders
(newly-formed, not a national goal)
http://cuke.hort.ncsu.edu/gpb/pr/pbccmain.html
Subcommittees:
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Excellence in Science and Technology
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Globally Competitive Agricultural
System
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David Stelly, Chair
Craig Yencho, Secretary
Rob Bertram, Chair
James McFerson, Secretary
Competitiveness, Sustainability and
Quality of Life in Rural America
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Marcelo Carena, Chair
Keith Woeste, Secretary
Subcommittees: (cont.)
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Safe and Secure Food and Fiber System
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Healthy, Well-nourished Population
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Travis Frey, Chair
James Holland, Secretary
Linda Pollak, Chair
Michael Havey, Secretary
Harmony Between Agriculture and the
Environment
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Charlie Brummer, Chair
Richard Pratt, Secretary
Subcommittees: (cont.)
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Education and Training of Plant
Breeders
– Thomas Stalker, Chair
– David Knauft, Secretary
Officers:
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Stephen Baenziger, Chair (Email:
pbaenziger1@unl.edu)
Phil Simon, Vice chair (Email:
psimon@wisc.edu)
Todd Wehner, Secretary (Email:
todd_wehner@ncsu.edu)
Representatives:
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Mark Hussey, Administrative advisor
Anne Marie Thro, CSREES
representative
Kay Simmons, USDA-ARS
representative
Randy Johnson, US Forest Service
advisor
Liaisons:
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Ronnie Coffman, Liaison to International
Plant Breeding Centers
Bill Tracy, Liaison to Private Non-Profit
Breeders
Steve McKeand, Liaison to Forestry Plant
Breeders
Herb Ohm, Liaison to CSSA Plant Breeders
Linda Wessel-Beaver, Liaison to ASHS
Plant Breeders
Greg Tolla, Liaison to NCCPB
Plant Breeding… Nature, Life, Health
Impact
Knowledge & products
Excellence in Science
Breeders & scientists, vision, information & outcomes
Breeding infrastructure Requires:
Investment, facilities, teaching, research, experience, careers
Shared Support
Provided by individuals, businesses, public agencies, and institutions
Plant Breeding
Life Sustaining Products
Natural
Variation
Genetic
Improvements
•Safe, Nutritious Food
•Animal Feed
Science
Testing
&
&
•Fibers & Natural Products
•Pharmaceuticals, Drugs
•Renewable Energy
Technology
Creative
Innovation
New Varieties
Delivery
New
Knowledge
•Urban & Rural habitats
Sustainable
Ecosystems
….Public Education and Research...........
……………………………… Business and Industry
We want to be inclusive and we recognize the continuum of research.
Plant Breeding: The Ultimate
Impact Science
• We need a better definition. We need to
emphasize our science, lessen our “art” and
“business”. Reframing ourselves.
• We need a definition that is readily understandable
by lay audiences.
• If we describe plant breeding as an impact
science—we need to have examples.
• Note: We do not want others to define ourselves.
Examples: Impact Science
• Opaque-2 maize---improve nutrition
• Low phytate crops---reduce pollution
• Green Revolution crops---feed the starving
Common threads are:
• Great need
• Excellent science and outcomes
• Draws in and expands related sciences and our
own science.
Other Examples: Impact
Science
• Plant domestication
• Heterosis
• Disease & insect resistance (host-parasite
interactions)
• Wide environmental adaptability
• Increased productivity
Strategic Positioning for Future
Impact
• Reliable supply of well-educated and
capable scientists and technologists in plant
breeding and the related disciplines.
• Excellence in science and technology which
requires excellence in education and
infrastructure.
• Our Goal: To be the early adopter of new
information and technology.
Failure to Act Alternative:
• Without achieving excellence in science, we can be
assured that agriculture will not be competitive, the
environment will suffer, and human populations will
suffer from lack of food security and have a stagnant
economy (e.g. the food tax).
• In 30 to 40 developing countries there is insufficient
plant breeding infrastructure for food security or
sustainable agribusiness sector. FAO report.
• Alternative: Last to know, last to use, none to benefit.
What Does Excellence in
Science Mean?
• Do we need an International Plant Breeding
Society?
• Do we need focused, professional conferences that
discuss the science of plant breeding and foster a
cohesive and common voice?
• If plant breeding conferences are held in
conjunction with other societal meetings, does that
send a message that plant breeding is not relevant
in its own right?
What Does Excellence in
Science Mean?
• What is the strategy for renewal and
sustainability of our profession?
• Can we develop a set of metrics to measure
our profession’s health?
• How are breeders recognized currently or in
the future as impact scientists by the larger
scientific community and general society?
Is accreditation desired or needed?
How is Excellence Measured?
• Where does plant breeding fit in the
panorama of scientific excellence?
• What are the impacts of the products and
outcomes from plant breeding (cultivars,
new knowledge, breakthroughs)?
• Status and standing of education/training
program? Do we need a report card?
Breakthroughs of the
Year:AAAS
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2006: Poincaré Conjecture Proved.
2005: Watching Evolution in Action.
2004: Water on Mars
2003: Understanding Cosmic Microwaves
(to understand the Universe)
• 2002: Small RNAs (note sequencing rice
genome made it to the top ten)
• 2001: Nanoscale computing circuits
Building the Base
• The base should be very broad (public, nonprofit, private, international).
• It is more than Ph.D.s. It is M.S., B.S.
scientists and those that work in related
fields who need plant breeding experience.
• It includes outreach and education at
diverse levels. We need freedom to operate
in a modern world.
Future job opportunities in different breeding activities in developed and developing countries
of the public and private sectors.
Type of job based on breeding
activities
Public sector
Developed
Private sector
Developing
Developed
Developing
Breeding research/teaching
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Cultivar development
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Genomics & markers
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Transgene biology
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Cell/tissue culture
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Plant pathology/breeding
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Field support technologies
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Extension/parabreeder
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Product development & marketing
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Business management/admin.
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Germplasm enhancement
Lab support technologies
Intellectual property/regulatory
Note: Four diamonds indicate relatively greater opportunities, one diamond lesser future
opportunities.
Plant Breeding Education:
• Innovative.
• Creative.
• Evolving (our tools are changing, as is our
access to these new techniques).
• Partnerships with industry—most of our
graduates will work in industry.
The Next Three Meetings:
• 2008: Monsanto
• 2009: University of Wisconsin
• 2010: Pioneer Hi-Bred
Summary: Plant Breeding Has
• Vibrancy based upon knowledge creation
and impact.
• Optimism based upon past and future
successes.
• Openness and sharing.
• Strength and need to face the future.
Thank you