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Sustaining Public Plant Breeding to Meet Future National Needs

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Sustaining Public Plant Breeding to Meet Future National Needs JOBNAME: horts 43#2 2008 PAGE: 1 OUTPUT: February 13 14:27:33 2008 tsp/horts/158649/02529 HORTSCIENCE 43(2):298–299. 2008. improved diet plays an important role in reducing the incidence of many health- related problems such as nutrient deficiencies, Sustaining Public Plant Breeding allergenicity, obesity, and diabetes. Plant breeders have contributed and will continue to Meet Future National Needs to contribute to improved diet by increasing 1 health-promoting food properties (antioxi- James F. Hancock dants, fiber, vitamins, and so on), decreasing Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, 342 Plant and Soil unhealthy factors (allergens, unhealthy oils), Sciences Building, East Lansing, MI 48824 altering the shelf life of food commodities, expanding where crops can be grown, Charles Stuber improving the desirability of healthy foods CALS, Agricultural Research Service, North Carolina State University, (flavor, appearance, convenience), and reduc- Raleigh, NC 27695 ing chemical input through increased pest resistance. The subcommittee dealing with a ‘‘safe A landmark workshop was held at North University of Wisconsin (Vice-chair, psimon@ and secure food and fiber system’’ indicated Carolina State University in Feb. 2007 to wisc.edu), and Todd Wehner at North Caro- that a key issue associated with our supply develop a national plant breeding coordinat- lina University (Secretary, todd_wehner@ of energy is the increasing need to produce ing committee and discuss the critical role ncsu.edu). biofuels. The production of biofuels through that plant breeders play in the security of our The overall tone for discussion at the the use of plant products provides cleaner, nation’s food and fiber resources. The work- meeting was set by a group of leading experts more environmentally friendly fuels and re- shop was organized by Ann Marie Thro, who presented talks on how plant breeding duces our dependency on foreign oil. A poten- National Program Staff, USDA-CSREES, fits into six national goals: 1) excellence in tial consequence of increasing the use of with the aid of a steering committee of plant science and technology (Stephen Baenziger plant products for biofuels is a reduction in breeders. Approximately 160 participants and Fred Bliss); 2) a globally competitive their supply for food consumption. The group from all over the United States and many agricultural system (Ronnie Coffman, Robert suggested that these concerns can be miti- foreign countries attended the meeting, rep- Herdt, and William Niebur); 3) competitive- gated through the development of improved resenting both the public (140) and private ness, sustainability, and quality of life in rural varieties of plants that produce more yield (20) sector. America (William Tracy, John Navazio, and and biomass and resist more stresses. The workshop was organized in response Marcelo Carena); 4) a safe and secure food It was repeated often by the subgroups to concern about the steady decline in na- and biomaterials system (James Holland and that our nation must maintain an ample sup- tional plant breeding investment over the last Thomas Isleib); 5) a healthy well-nourished ply of well-trained plant breeders. The com- 20 years, which has led to a significant reduc- population (Linda Pollak and Philipp Simon); petitiveness of U.S. science depends on a tion in the number of public plant breeders in and 6) harmony between agriculture and en- continuous supply of innovative, well-educated, the United States and a substantial weakening vironment (Charles Brummer and Stephen team-oriented plant breeders that can address of university education programs. Several Jones). A review of these talks can be found complex research problems such as climate previous meetings have drawn attention to in Stuber and Hancock (2007). change, renewable energy, sustainability, the decline in our nation’s plant breeding After the presentations, the participants diminishing per-capita natural resources, capacity [National Plant Breeding Study broke into six subcommittees to discuss how and improved human health. There needs to (NPBS), 1994–96; 2001, http://www.csrees. plant breeders fit into each of the national be a national priority focused on maintaining usda.gov/nea/plants/part/pbgg_part_study.html; goals described by the speakers. The groups and strengthening university plant breeding Seeds and Breeds 2003, 2005, http://savin were asked to answer three questions: 1) How and training programs in support of Ameri- gourseed.org/pdf/2003SeedsAndBreedsCon can plant breeding support the goals? 2) What can agriculture, horticulture, and forestry ference.pdf, http://www.agron.iastate.edu/ is needed to assemble a factual and compel- science. seedsandbreeds/; Plant Breeding Education ling case? 3) What partnerships should plant The ‘‘excellence in science’’ group Workshop, 2005 Michigan State University, breeding build with others? The groups were stressed that plant breeding students must HortScience 2006;41(1), http://hrt.msu.edu/ then directed to develop outlines of an action develop deep insight into a broad range of PBSymp/HancockSymposium.pdf], but their plan for the next 5 y as well as a 2-y near-term scientific endeavors, including the biological, message was not nationally audible or sus- plan, which they presented as preliminary genetic, and breeding behavior of crop spe- tained through the establishment of a perma- outlines to the whole group at the end of the cies. Knowledge is needed on the individual nent leadership group interested in maintaining meeting. These action plans are to be com- species biology, genetics, germplasm, domes- plant breeding as a science and profession. pleted in the coming year. ticated culture, variability to abiotic and The new committee was established as a A number of common themes emerged biotic challenges, biology and genetics of Land Grant University Multistate Project out of the group deliberations. When discus- symbionts and pathogens, their uses, and also (SCC 080) and will actively work to raise sing how plant breeding can support the six the markets and industries into which they fit. awareness of what plant breeders have done national goals outlined, most subcommittees The genetic advances of today in plant breed- for the nation and how they can contribute to stressed that maintaining the genetic diversity ing are often based on experiments conducted the future vitality of the U.S. economy. The of our crops is paramount as plant breeders years ago. Thus, people who become plant group will also seek to strengthen U.S. plant continue to develop well-adapted hybrids and breeders must develop foresight that is years breeding capacity by encouraging improve- varieties that are nutritious, productive, resis- and even decades ahead of the crop germ- ments in infrastructure and education. The first tant to biotic and abiotic stresses, and have a plasm base used in agriculture today. slate of officers is: Stephen Baenziger at the place in a value-added economy. The group When asked to describe what is needed to University of Nebraska (Chair, pbaenziger1@ on ‘‘harmony between agriculture and the assemble a factual and compelling case for unl.edu), Philipp Simon, USDA-ARS at the environment’’ stressed that plant breeders plant breeding, the most common observa- need to develop cultivars that combine well tion among the subcommittees was that plant with sustainable management strategies to breeders need to more effectively communi- Received for publication 24 Aug. 2007. Accepted minimize negative impacts on the environ- cate their numerous past successes and the for publication 22 Oct. 2007. ment and positively affect the biosphere. potential for new successes, the key being to 1To whom reprint requests should be addressed; The subcommittee on a ‘‘healthy, well- let community leaders and decision-makers e-mail [email protected] nourished population’’ made the case that know just what they have accomplished and 298 HORTSCIENCE VOL. 43(2) APRIL 2008 JOBNAME: horts 43#2 2008 PAGE: 2 OUTPUT: February 13 14:27:36 2008 tsp/horts/158649/02529 FEATURE what they can provide. It was suggested by and development pathway. The number of sity); and Safe and Secure Food: Travis Frey, many groups that plant breeders develop possible partnerships is large, ranging from Chair (Monsanto Inc.) and James Holland, symposia at cross-science meetings like governmental agencies at the federal and Secretary (North Carolina State University). American Association for the Advancement state levels to foundations and nongovern- Emphasizing the importance of education, a of Science (AAAS) to more fully integrate mental organizations. new subcommittee for education was also plant breeding into the scientific community There was a unified call for plant breeders established by the executive group, which and raise awareness of its contributions. To to form partnerships with agricultural com- will be chaired by Tom Stalker (North this end, an AAAS symposium entitled panies and organizations that successfully Carolina University) with David Knauft as ‘‘Crops for Health: Improving the Health- lobby policymakers such as the Farm Bureau, Secretary (University of Georgia). Education promoting Properties of Food’’ that includes American Seed Trade Association, economic was deemed critical to the future supply of presentations by plant breeders and nutrition/ developmental councils, and commodity plant breeders. health researchers is scheduled for the 2008 groups. The group on ‘‘harmony between In addition to these
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