SCC80: Imagining the Future of Plant Breeding

(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)

Status: Active

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[10/15/2021] [10/27/2022] [08/07/2023] [09/20/2024]

Date of Annual Report: 10/15/2021

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 08/16/2021 - 08/16/2021
Period the Report Covers: 08/01/2020 - 08/01/2021

Participants

Participants Attachment:

20-21 SCC80_Annual_ Report_AP-D format_final.docx

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

20-21 SCC80_Annual_ Report_AP-D format_final.docx

Accomplishments

PBCC Accomplishments 2020-2021 <h1> </h1> <ul> <li>The USDA-NIFA Higher Education Challenge Grant ‘Enhancing Educational Outcomes for Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Use’ allowed the development of online courses and training materials on plant genetic resources. These courses and training materials are now available. The first graduate-level online course on plant genetic diversity (‘Plant Genetic Resources: Genomes, Genebanks, and Growers’) went on-line August 23, 2021. The Colorado State University course will be taught by plant geneticist Dr. Geoff Morris. It will be offered both in a ‘for academic credit’ version and a ‘non-credit’ version. <a href="http://pgrcourse.colostate.edu/">http://pgrcourse.colostate.edu/</a>.</li> <li>A public repository of plant genebank learning materials was made available at <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA3MDcuNDI4ODY5MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dyaW4tdS5vcmcvP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.lkuOfPK2znAZvDpgclN5c1kypocNitT9OOYWU_fDEsM%2Fs%2F862766547%2Fbr%2F108936577618-l&data=04%7C01%7Cricpratt%40nmsu.edu%7Cf8f6afe98e744eed42fa08d95774b1cf%7Ca3ec87a89fb84158ba8ff11bace1ebaa%7C1%7C0%7C637636981011550800%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=jTRrd27lMbJBWR45cqLZhaXimHX8eIwExlF%2FDX%2BbSqc%3D&reserved=0">GRIN-U.org</a>, part of USDA’s GRIN-Global site. Items are searchable by format (video, ebook, infographic, etc.) and topic. Training topics include: ‘Collection and Maintenance’, “Phenotyping and Genotyping’, ‘Crop Wild Relatives’, and “Plant Breeding’. Additions of content are expected in future. These instructional materials will be especially useful to the new generation of plant germplasm curators.</li> <li>PBCC sponsored a graduate student video contest to help promote the value and importance of germplasm resources to the future of sustainable crop production, and the value of graduate education in plant breeding (<a href="https://www.nrsp10.org/PBCC_student_videos">https://www.nrsp10.org/PBCC_student_videos</a>). The winning video was submitted by Adam D’Angelo (University of Wisconsin). It is titled ‘<a href="https://youtu.be/XaifdN8b99o">The Beet Family Reunion</a>’. The runner-up was a video about high quality soybean protein submitted by Renan Silva (University of Georgia). These videos highlight the importance of the USDA Plant Germplasm System by visually, and personally, demonstrating their use in cutting edge research to improve feed and food products used by everyone.</li> <li>A new graduate student video competition has been initiated. There will be two categories for contestants to submit video entries to: “Utilization and preservation of germplasm resources,” focused on germplasm utilization and conservation efforts and “A day-in-the-life of a plant breeding graduate student,” highlighting the fun and diverse nature of what graduate plant breeding training and education is like. https://www.plantbreeding.org/files/napb/video-contest-2021.pdf</li> <li>Initiated a survey on where our plant breeding graduates go to begin their careers. A preliminary report was presented on the current data received. PhD plant breeding graduates during the five-year period 2016-2020 numbered 360. Of those, 42% (150) went to private industry, and 49% (176) went to public positions (including post-docs), and 9% were unemployed at the time of graduation.</li> <li>The project proposal “Core Concepts: Roles in Graduate Plant Breeding Education, Curriculum Development and Monitoring” (PIs: Mahama, ISU; Luebberstedt, ISU; Retallick, ISU, Bohn, UIUC; Koundinya, UC-Davis) was submitted to the USDA-NIFA Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program.</li> <li>The U.S. public sector breeding capacity survey, in partnership with NIFA NRSP10 and NSF PGRP projects, was published in August 2020 (Coe, MT, Evans, KM, Gasic, K, Main, D. 2020. Plant Breeding Capacity in US Public Institutions. Crop Science 60:2373–2385. DOI: 10.1002/csc2.20227). Currently, 366 crop-specific breeding programs are registered on the NRSP10 map (<a href="https://www.nrsp10.org/pbcc-survey-geomap">https://www.nrsp10.org/pbcc-survey-geomap</a>).</li> <li>The publication Khoury, C.K., Kisel, Y., Kantar, M. et al. Science–graphic art partnerships to increase research impact. Commun Biol: 295 (2019). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-019-0516-1">https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-019-0516-1</a> became the most tracked article of similar age in the journal Communications Biology. The article has been accessed over 28,000 times.</li> <li>The eBook Volk, GM, and Byrne, PF. 2020. Crop wild relatives and their use in plant breeding. Public domain (<a href="https://colostate.pressbooks.pub/cropwildrelatives/">https://colostate.pressbooks.pub/cropwildrelatives/</a>) has now been accessed by more than 2,000 users.</li> <li>A Seed World pod-cast <a href="https://seedworld.com/napb-2020-dave-bubeck-and-richard-pratt-on-public-private-cooperation/">#NAPB 2020</a> was recorded by the Chairs of PBCC (Rich Pratt) and NAPB (Dave Bubeck) (published on-line 8/20/20)</li> <li>Additional best practices worksheets on plant breeding communication are available at <a href="https://www.plantbreeding.org/files/napb/science-communication-for-plant-breeding-tips-combined.pdf">https://www.plantbreeding.org/files/napb/science-communication-for-plant-breeding-tips-combined.pdf</a>.</li> <li>A new PBCC web-site was created in cooperation with NRSP10</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.nrsp10.org/index.php/PBCC_about_us">https://www.nrsp10.org/index.php/PBCC_about_us</a>   PBCC Short-term Outcomes: The above accomplishments have improved awareness among decision makers of the importance of genetic resources; improved communication among all plant breeders through partnerships with NAPB, American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), USDA, and the Seed Science Foundation to ensure the availability of crop germplasm; improved communication and awareness of genetic resources issues across public germplasm and breeding entities and private sector. New educational programs and products on germplasm collection and curation to meet training needs of plant breeders and germplasm curators were developed and released.

Publications

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 10/27/2022

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 08/08/2022 - 08/11/2022
Period the Report Covers: 09/01/2021 - 08/31/2022

Participants

Attendee University
Kate Evans Washington State
Soon Li Tech Washington State
Allen Van Deynze UC Davis
Mikey Kantar UH Manoa
Bill Tracy University of Wisconsin
Martin Bohn University of Illinois
Thomas Lubberstedt ISU
Pat Byrne CSU
George Graef University of Nebraska
Jim McFerson Oregon State retired
David Baltensperger Texas A &M
David Franscis Ohio State
Douglin Zheng University of Georgia
Sandra Brandham Clemson
Ksenjia Gasic Clemson
Jodi Scheffler USDA-ARS Stonville MS
Francisco Gomez Michigan State
Iago Hale New Hampshire University
Jenny Koebernick Auburn
Per McCord Oregon State
Wayne Smith Texas A &M
Duke Pauli University of Arizona
Amanda Hulse-Kemp USDA
Paul Zankowski USDA

Brief Summary of Minutes

Summary: An overview of the activities and accomplishments during the past year was presented by Past Chair Richard Pratt in the absence of Chair Wayne Smith, attending virtually. The four objectives (1. enhance communication among plant breeders, 2. Assemble and disseminate information about U.S. plant breeding, 3. Promote plant breeding relative to national goals/needs, and 4. Identify research and educational opportunities) of the SCC80 Project were reviewed with the group. Dr. Jenny Koebernick from Auburn University was welcomed as the incoming secretary for PBCC. Highlights of the year’s activities were presented.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments: PBCC Accomplishments and Impacts 2021/22: the impacts and accomplishments noted below should, and we believe have, lead to improved awareness among decision makers about the roll of plant breeding and plant genetic resources in modern agriculture as well as in the well-being of humanity. Protocols and pathways to get such information into the hands of appropriate leaders and into the curricula at all levels of education need to continue to be developed. PBCC will continue to communicate through associations with the National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB), the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), USDA, the Seed Science Foundation, and our professional societies.   Impacts from PBCC activity and effort   <ul> <li>Colorado State University developed and continues to develop a series of courses aimed at training future leaders in plant genetic resources (<a href="http://pgrcourse.colostate.edu">http://pgrcourse.colostate.edu</a>) that was originally supported by a USDA-NIFA Higher Education Challenge Grant. This effort currently offers three 1-hour courses that provide an introduction to the conservation and use of plant genetic resources that can be taken for academic credit or as continuing education (non-academic credit).</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>The public repository of material describing the importance and necessity of plant genebanks continues to be available at <a href="https://grin-u.org">https://grin-u.org</a>. This site contains self-training information on [1] gene bank fundamentals, [2] collection maintenance, [3] phenotyping and genotyping, and [4] crop wild relatives with multiple topics within each subject. Content continues to be expanded and currently includes seven e-books.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Information on plant breeding needs, accomplishments, impacts, etc. such as the “Incredible Feats of Plant Breeding” newsletter and survey of initial employment for plant breeding students noted below were shared with decision makers at land grant universities through PBCC state reps.</li> </ul>   Accomplishments: 2021-2022   <ul> <li>The PBCC graduate student video contest was modified to solicit and accept videos throughout the year. Each submission that meets the published criteria will receive a $ 100 award and the video selected as the outstanding video of the year will receive an additional $ 300 and recognition at the annual NAPB/PBCC meeting. This year’s winner was “What it’s Like to be a Graduate Student,” by Mr. Julian Ginori from the University of Florida (<a href="https://www.nrsp10.org/PBCC_student_videos">Student Videos | NRSP10</a>).</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>The PBCC website at <a href="https://www.nrsp10.org/PBCC">PBCC About Us | NRSP10</a> continues to be updated and improved. This site now reflects the PBCC state committee representatives, white papers dealing with the key elements of the committee; white papers on “the key to global food security,” “genebanks and conservation,” harnessing new technologies (for plant breeding),” “incredible feats of plant breeding-cosmic crisp apple,” and incredible feats of plant breeding-introgression in peanut;” publications on plant breeding capacity in the U.S.; survey on job placement of new plant breeding PhDs; several publications on the future of plant breeding; student videos; and the beginning of core concepts for graduate education in plant breeding.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Completed a survey of 87 universities with agricultural programs to determine number of PhD degrees in plant breeding were award over a five-year time frame and if initial employment was in the  private or public sector (<a href="https://www.nrsp10.org/US_public_plant_breeding_capacity">US Public Plant Breeding Capacity | NRSP10</a>). A total of 477 PhD degrees were awarded in the area of plant breeding from 36 of 53 universities offering such degrees between 2015 and 2020. At graduation, 44 % of the 477 new PhD plant breeders were employed by the private sector, 48 % by the public sector (including as post docs), and 8 % were unemployed or unknown.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Progress continues by Luebberstedt, Mahama, Retallick, Bohn, and Main (and others) in developing a set of core educational concepts for training/educating plant breeders at the MS and PhD levels (<a href="https://www.nrsp10.org/core_concepts">Plant Breeding Core Concepts | NRSP10</a>).</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Based on the wide range of plant breeding course capacity across universities involved in the survey above, PBCC has initiated discussions on how to improve availability of plant breeding topics. Early suggestions include recorded modules with national leaders in specific areas to be delivered synchronously or asynchronously, delivery of complete advanced courses, and short-term visiting instructors to present face to face lectures.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>A Seed World pod cast online at <a href="https://seedworld.com/napb/">NAPB - Seed World</a> with the chair of PBCC, discussing PBCC thoughts and direction.</li> </ul>   2022 PBCC Annual Meeting (in-person and remote), 11 August 2022   An overview of the activities and accomplishments during the past year was presented by Past Chair Richard Pratt in the absence of Chair Wayne Smith, attending virtually. The four objectives (1. enhance communication among plant breeders, 2. Assemble and disseminate information about U.S. plant breeding, 3. Promote plant breeding relative to national goals/needs, and 4. Identify research and educational opportunities) of the SCC80 Project were reviewed with the group. Dr. Jenny Koebernick from Auburn University was welcomed as the incoming secretary for PBCC.             Highlights of the year’s activities were presented by Pratt and included: <ul> <li>Completion and distribution of a PBCC survey to determine the initial employment of new PhD graduates in plant breeding for 2015 – 2020 (public or private). The committee contacted 120 agronomy or horticultural departments at 87 universities. <ul> <li>Determined that 36 of the 87 granted 477 PhD degrees in plant breeding</li> <li>210 (44%) gained initial employment in the private sector; 228 (48%) gained employment in the public sector (includes post doc positions); and 39 (8%) unknown or unemployed at graduation.</li> <li>Number of PhD degrees granted during this 5-year period ranged from 0 (17 universities) to 47. Ten universities granted 60% of the degrees granted. <ul> <li>Suggests a range in the ability to cover the multitude of subject matter for a PhD degree</li> <li>Other interpretations <ul> <li>Public sector commitment to plant breeding appears to remain strong</li> <li>92% employment at graduation indicates a strong industry</li> </ul> </li> <li>Julian Ginori from the University of Florida was this year’s winner of the PBCC video contest with his entry on “What’s Its like to be a Graduate Student.” <ul> <li>The contest was modified this year such that each entry that meets the published guidelines will receive $ 100 and the outstanding entry for the year will receive an additional $ 300.</li> </ul> </li> <li>PBCC continues efforts to identify a core set of concepts necessary for training MS and PhD students in plant breeding</li> <li>PBCC is considering advocating a program where teachers of plant breeding courses and concepts will agree to present modules of concepts at universities that have a limited number of plant breeding professors and courses.</li> <li>The PBCC continuous to applaud and support Drs. Byrne, Volk, et al. in their development of E-books, videos, etc. on Plant Genetic Resources.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul>   Future Goals   Below are goals for each objective for the new 5-year project:   Objective 1: Resource Analyses Collect, analyze, and disseminate information about the U.S. plant breeding effort in both public and private sectors, to include human capacity and access to enabling knowledge, technologies, germplasm, and infrastructure. [Chair, Wayne Smith]   Regarding the survey concerning job-placement of Ph.D. plant breeding graduates, there was a consensus to consider extensions of this activity such as ways to make advanced teaching modules available to low plant breeding enrollment universities. The information on the survey is available on the PBCC website and in CSA News 67:32-33.   <ul> <li>contact a subset of respondents, e.g., the top 10 grantors of PhD plant breeding degrees, and determine percent going to post doc positions and the percent returning to their home country</li> </ul> Additional data of interest that we may wish to garner: <ul> <li>number of universities offering an UG plant breeding degree</li> <li>number of universities offering an UG certificate or minor in plant breeding</li> <li>number of universities offering UG plant breeding courses but no degree or minor/certificate</li> <li>number of universities offering a significant module on plant breeding within a general UG course in agronomy/horticulture/plant or crop science.</li> </ul> Objective 2: Genetic Resources Conservation and Utilization Promote the conservation, characterization, and utilization of plant genetic resources and access to those resources for plant breeding. [Co-Chairs, Drs. Duke Pauli and Barb Liedl]   Present objectives for this coming year <ol> <li>Increase the number of students participants in the PBCC video</li> <li>need additional content for promotional purposes</li> </ol> <ul> <li>considered easy ways to engage public</li> </ul> <ol> <li>Increase PBBC membership involvement in USDA Crop Germplasm Committees</li> </ol> Objective 3: Education Explore the U.S. plant breeding education capacity across universities and identify potential gaps and ways of achieving more uniform teaching capacity. [Chair, Martin Bohn] <ul> <li>Complete the “white paper” on education capacity for submission to Crop Science</li> <li>Revise and resubmit higher education challenge grant.</li> <li>Discuss and develop action points for the following issues:</li> </ul> <ol> <li>How is the capacity of teaching plant breeding distributed among institutions?</li> <li>How are undergraduates exposed to plant breeding?</li> </ol> <ul> <li>How do we deal with the lack of student diversity?</li> </ul>   Objective 4. Communication Comments: Improve communication [1] among public plant breeders and federal-state-local agencies on plant breeding policy issues, including alerts to existing and emerging threats to agricultural security that are relevant to plant breeding; [2] among public plant breeding programs and university administrators through enhancing the mission and impact of PBCC state representatives; and [3] between the plant breeding community and public audiences. [ Chair, Dr. Mikey Kantar]   <ul> <li>Concentrate on ways to develop the potential of the “Fantastic Feats in Plant Breeding” newsletter: <ul> <li>Determine ways and distribute to: <ul> <li>Decision makers such as experiment station directors, department heads, etc.</li> <li>Pre collegiate students and K-12 science teachers <ul> <li>State science fairs</li> <li>4H events</li> <li>Grower events</li> <li>Voc-ag teachers</li> <li>FFA clubs</li> <li></li> </ul> </li> <li>Develop packets of information the state reps could present PBCC products to the Deans and Directors at their respective institutions.</li> <li>Perhaps PBCC could develop a newsletter (quarterly) to help keep everyone informed regarding new hires, variety releases, PBCC products etc.</li> <li>Post a list of all the PBCC reps and participants at the new website. Perhaps add a picture and a link to their website, and post short videos they provide about their programs?</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul>

Publications

Impact Statements

Developed and distributed newsletter describing the "Incredible Feats of Plant Breeding" for use by K-12 and collegiate educators

Date of Annual Report: 08/07/2023

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 07/17/2023 - 07/17/2023
Period the Report Covers: 08/12/2022 - 07/16/2023

Participants

Participants Attachment:

PBCC_annual_meeting_Participants.pdf

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

PBCC_annnual_meeting_minutes.pdf

Accomplishments

Accomplishments: PBCC Accomplishments and Impacts 2022/23: The impacts and accomplishments noted below should, and we believe have, lead to improved awareness among decision-makers about the role of plant breeding and plant genetic resources in modern agriculture as it relates to improving the human condition both nationally and internationally. Protocols and pathways to get such information into the hands of appropriate leaders and into educational curricula at all levels of education need continued development. The PBCC will continue communicating through associations with the National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB), the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), USDA, the Seed Science Foundation, and our professional societies.  Accomplishments: 2022-2023   <ul> <li>The PBCC website at <a href="https://www.nrsp10.org/PBCC">PBCC About Us | NRSP10</a> continues to be updated and improved. This site now reflects the PBCC state committee representatives, white papers dealing with the key elements of the committee; white papers on “the key to global food security,” “genebanks and conservation,” harnessing new technologies (for plant breeding),” “incredible feats of plant breeding-cosmic crisp apple,” “incredible feats of plant breeding-introgression in peanut,” “incredible feats of plant breeding - fusarium resistance in strawberry,” and “incredible feats of plant breeding - red bran rice;” publications on plant breeding capacity in the U.S.; survey on job placement of new plant breeding PhDs; several publications on the future of plant breeding; student videos; and the beginning of core concepts for graduate education in plant breeding.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Two more plant breeding success stories, one focused on biotic pathogen resistance in strawberry and the other on biofortification of rice, were created and now available on the PBCC website (<a href="https://www.nrsp10.org/PBCC_plant_breeding_outputs">https://www.nrsp10.org/PBCC_plant_breeding_outputs</a>)</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Creation and distribution of the 2023 Survey of U.S. Public Plant Breeding Capacity. This survey is conducted every five years to assess the current capacity of plant breeding to meet U.S societal needs. It focuses on resource allocation (personnel time, financial resources, and level of local, state, and federal support) to identify what challenges are common among public plant breeding programs. The last survey was completed in 2018 and the findings were published in Crop Science (<a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20227">https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20227</a>). The paper has been cited over 20 times and has been shared with key stakeholders as a way to draw attention to public plant breeding needs.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Progress continues by Luebberstedt, Mahama, Retallick, Bohn, and Main (and others) in developing a set of core educational concepts for training/educating plant breeders at the MS and PhD levels (<a href="https://www.nrsp10.org/core_concepts">Plant Breeding Core Concepts | NRSP10</a>).</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Based on the wide range of plant breeding course capacity across universities involved in the survey above, PBCC has initiated discussions on how to improve the availability of plant breeding topics. Early suggestions include recorded modules with national leaders in specific areas to be delivered synchronously or asynchronously, delivery of complete advanced courses, and short-term visiting instructors to present face-to-face</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>A Seed World podcast online at <a href="https://www.seedworld.com/duke-pauli-says-its-possible-to-talk-to-plants/">NAPB - Seed World</a> with the Chair of PBCC, discussing PBCC thoughts and direction, and how PBCC can best serve U.S. public breeding.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Creating a newly updated directory of State Experiment Station Directors, Deans, Associate Deans of Research, or other university administrations responsible for agricultural research at 1862, 1890, and 1994 LGUs. This was essential as one of PBCC’s core functions is communication, therefore, having an updated directory was critical. This resource is available at <a href="https://www.nrsp10.org/PBCC_reporting_and_admin">PBCC Reporting and Admin</a>, selecting “State Experiment Station Directors” at the bottom of the page.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>A manuscript on principles of public speaking for plant sciences has been accepted at Agricultural and Environmental Letters <ul> <li>Kantar, MB, Wang, D, Hale, I, Pratt, R, Jensen, JV, Lewenstein, BV. 2023. Improving Communicating in the Agricultural Sciences. (accepted Agriculture and Environmental Letters)</li> </ul> </li> </ul>   <ul> <li>The operation and function of PBCC was detailed and codified in a newly created PBCC Operational document. This document was created to capture how the PBCC functions and provide a repository for key documents (such as budget information, reimbursement procedures). The document provides transparency in how PBCC operates and will help ensure continuity in the organization’s operation.</li> </ul>   <ul> <li>Developing the basis for material describing how efficient germplasm transition can occur at institutions with respect to several scenarios such as breeder retirement, closing of position, and hiring of new plant breeders. More on this output is described below.</li> </ul>

Publications

<ul> <li>A manuscript on principles of public speaking for plant sciences has been accepted at Agricultural and Environmental Letters <ul> <li>Kantar, MB, Wang, D, Hale, I, Pratt, R, Jensen, JV, Lewenstein, BV. 2023. Improving Communicating in the Agricultural Sciences. (accepted Agriculture and Environmental Letters)</li> </ul> </li> </ul>

Impact Statements

Continued development and distribution of plant breeding success stories that are in the format of one-page (double sided), comic book style to convey the successes and impact of plant breeding. This type of handout has increased the visibility of plant breeding, both its practice and impact, to the public as well as key stakeholders within Land Grant Universities (LGU).

Date of Annual Report: 09/20/2024

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 07/22/2024 - 07/22/2024
Period the Report Covers: 07/17/2023 - 07/21/2024

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

PBCC Accomplishments and Impacts 2023/24 The Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee (SCC80) has continued to identify and undertake specific initiatives and activities that address systemic issues facing plant breeding in the public sector while supporting all organizations served by the discipline. In alignment with its four objectives, the committee has served the national plant breeding community by assembling and disseminating information about US plant breeding, promoting plant breeding relative to national goals/needs, enhancing communication about plant breeding impacts and issues, and supporting plant breeding education. Accomplishments: 2023-2024 <ul> <li>Building on the extensive feedback received during the 2023 PBCC Annual Business Meeting, the committee envisioned, planned, and led a day-long conference on the topic of supporting successful transitions in public plant breeding programs. With support from by a USDA Conference Grant, the meeting convened a diverse group of 36 participants from the public, private, non-profit, and government sectors. As shown in the conference program (see Business Meeting Minutes, Appendix D), the morning was dedicated to consideration of eight in-depth transition case-studies, followed by a full afternoon of small group discussions and reporting out on the following four focus areas: 1) Data management for successful breeding program transitions; 2) Designing strategic personnel overlap; 3) Best practices in program valuation and IP management; and 4) Documenting breeding program methods and operational knowledge. Key insights related to programmatic and institutional best practices were identified with potential to address the systemic vulnerability that program transitions pose in the public breeding sector. Through this work, the PBCC has effectively elevated the issue of germplasm transitions nationally. The conference ended with a plan for developing and submitting a white paper on the subject by the end of the calendar year.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Concerted effort resulted in essentially doubling SCC80 membership, from only 21 states represented in the project in September 2023 to a current total of 40 states and territories, some of which had never been part of SCC80 before. Increasing interest and engagement in PBCC’s work was similarly reflected in the large attendance at its 2024 Annual Business Meeting, including seven graduate students (a group never before involved in PBCC work).</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Responses to the committee’s 2023 Survey of U.S. Public Plant Breeding Capacity were collected, and the initial curation of those 244 responses is complete. As a core activity of the committee, this survey is conducted every five years to assess national public plant breeding to meet societal needs. The survey focuses on resource allocation (personnel time, financial resources, and level of local, state, and federal support) to identify what challenges are common among public plant breeding programs. Data analysis is underway, with the goal of sharing results by the end of the calendar year.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>To ensure effectiveness and avoid redundancy in achieving its objectives, the PBCC continues to actively communicate and partner with allied organizations such as the National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB), the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), USDA, the Seed Science Foundation, and related professional societies. Toward this end, communication channels with the NAPB have been formalized, with the PBCC Chair now attending monthly NAPB EC+ meeting and one member of the PBCC EC serving as an ex officio member on NAPB’s Advocacy Committee.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>The PBCC website (https://www.nrsp10.org/PBCC) continues to be updated and improved, with links to key committee outputs, including white papers, informational resources, public breeding communication pieces, and an updated directory of State Experiment Station Directors, Deans, Associate Deans of Research, or other university administrations responsible for agricultural research at 1862, 1890, and 1994 land-grant universities</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Two more plant breeding success stories, one focused on NIR-based quantitation of dry matter in cassava and the other on breeding for sawfly resistance in wheat, were created, distributed at the 2024 NAPB annual meeting, and are now digitally available on the PBCC website (https://www.nrsp10.org/PBCC_plant_breeding_outputs)</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Progress continues in developing a set of core educational concepts for training/educating plant breeders at the MS and PhD levels. Because core concepts serve as the foundation for curriculum development and assessment in plant breeding education, their identification ensures that graduate programs align with the needs of both academia and industry. In this activity area, the PBCC prepared a white paper titled "Core Concepts: Roles in Graduate Plant Breeding Education, Curriculum Development, and Monitoring" and submitted two proposals for funding to the USDA NIFA Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program and the Seed Science Foundation. Although both submissions were unsuccessful, the committee has continued its work identifying and defining core concepts in plant breeding education while also articulating how core concepts differ from fundamental facts, subdisciplines, and specific competencies, thereby maintaining a focus on key ideas critical for understanding the broader discipline. The PBCC-led team spearheading this work includes representatives from academia and the plant breeding industry, ensuring the broad expertise necessary to align educational goals with industry demands. Over the next several months, the team will consolidate its lists of core concepts, gather feedback, and share a revised version with stakeholders. The final concepts will be presented at the 2025 Annual PBCC meeting.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>The PBCC Operational Document continues to be refined and updated. The document provides transparency in how PBCC operates in the effort to ensure continuity in the organization’s work.</li> </ul> Impacts The PBCC’s work in bringing attention to the pervasive issue of the threat to plant genetic resources during public plant breeding program transitions has effectively elevated awareness of the problem nationally. With the day-long conference on this topic now complete and a summary white paper underway, the PBCC is poised over the coming year to build on this awareness and help develop strategies to address the issue. The public repository of materials describing the importance and necessity of plant genebanks continues to be available at https://grin-u.org. This site contains self-training information on [1] gene bank fundamentals, [2] collection maintenance, [3] phenotyping and genotyping, and [4] crop wild relatives with multiple topics within each subject. Content continues to be expanded and currently includes nine e-books. Ongoing development and distribution of comic book-style plant breeding success stories continue to convey the successes and impacts of plant breeding. Designed to be accessible to members of the general public, these resources effectively elevate the value of plant breeding, along with understanding of its goals and methods, to key stakeholders.

Publications

A manuscript on communication best practices in the agricultural sciences was published in Agricultural and Environmental Letters: Kantar MB, Wang DR, Hale I, Pratt RC, Jensen JV, Lewenstein BV (2023) Improving agricultural science communication through intentionality. Agricultural & Environmental Letters, 8(2), e20115.