Global Plant Breeding
Educational Institutions
- International Agricultural Research Centers
- Bioversity International (Plant Genetic Resources) (formerly IPGRI)
- Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
- International Center for Maize and Wheat (CIMMYT)
- International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
- International Potato Center (CIP)
- International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
- International Breeding Organizations
- Plant Breeding Education Materials
- U.S. Government Organizations
- U.S. Universities (List)
- Assistantships / Fellowships available
- U.S. Land Grant Universities (List)
- Crops for Health, Colorado State University
Careers / Employers
- International Agricultural Research Centers
- Bioversity International (Plant Genetic Resources) (formerly IPGRI)
- Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
- International Center for Maize and Wheat (CIMMYT)
- International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
- International Potato Center (CIP)
- International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
- Plant Breeders of Interest and Brief Biographies
- Seed Companies
- Seedquest (Seed Industry Jobs)
- U.S. Dept. Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS)
- U.S. Dept. Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (general employment)
- U.S. Universities (List)
- Assistantships / Fellowships available
- U.S. Land Grant Universities (List)
- 10 largest plant breeding trainers (alphabetic order):
- Cornell University, Ithaca NY (Plant Breeding Department)
- Iowa State University, Ames IA (Agronomic Plant Breeding)
- Michigan State University, East Lansing MI (Plant Breeding Program)
- North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC (Plant Breeding Consortium)
- North Dakota State University, Fargo ND (Plant Breeding Program)
- Oregon State University, Corvallis OR (Agronomy / Horticulture)
- Texas A&M University, College Station TX (Crop & Soil / Horticulture)
- University of Minnesota-St.Paul MN (Agronomic Plant Breeding)
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln NE (Plant Breeding Program)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison WI (Plant Breeding Program)
Newsletters / Information
- Newsletters
- Agricultural Research science magazine (USDA-ARS)
- ASHS Newsletter (American Society for Horticultural Science)
- CSA News (Crop Science Society of America)
- FAO Plant Breeding Newsletter (Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations)
- Conference and Working Group minutes
Meetings / Events
- National Association of Plant Breeders / Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee
- Annual Meetings / Conferences
- Other Meetings / Events
- Plant Breeding Academy (UC Davis)
- Cucurbitaceae 2022 (cucurbit conference)
Publications / Surveys
Plant breeding, and agriculture have contributed significantly to crop yields, and consequently to the global economy. Several articles, reports, and surveys have evaluated the impacts of plant breeding on global agriculture.
- Articles, Reports, Surveys
- Congressional gold medal winner: Norman Borlaug
- Economic Returns from Agricultural Research, USDA article (pdf)
- Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building
- GAO report, 2007. USDA: Information on classical plant and animal breeding activities
- Moose, S.P. and R.H. Mumm, 2008. Molecular plant breeding as the foundation for 21st century crop improvement. Plant Physiology 147: 969-977.
- Surveys: Human and Financial Resources Devoted to Plant Breeding
- Traxler, G., A. Acquaye, K.J. Frey and A.M. Thro. 2005. Public Plant Breeding Resources in the US: Study Results for the year 2001.
- Survey: Plant Breeding Student Training
- Source: Guner, N. and T.C. Wehner. 2003. Survey of U.S. land-grant universities for training of plant breeding students. Crop Sci. 43: 1938-1944.
- Survey: Student Training and Germplasm Availability
- Price, S. 1999. Public and Private Plant Breeding. Nature Biotechnology 17: 938.
- Symposium, 2005 – Plant Breeding and the Public Sector: Who Will Train Plant Breeders in the U.S. and around the World?
- Hancock, J.F. 2006. Introduction to the symposium. HortScience 41: 28-29 (pdf).
- Morris, M., G. Edmeades and E. Pehu. 2006. The global need for plant breeding capacity: What roles for the public and private sectors? HortScience 41: 30-39 (pdf).
- Baenziger, P.S. 2006. Plant breeding training in the U.S. HortScience 41: 40-44 (pdf).
- Bliss, F. 2006. Plant breeding in the U.S. private sector. HortScience 41: 45-47 (pdf).
- Khush, G.S. 2006. Impact of international centers on plant breeding training. HortScience 41: 48-49 (pdf).
- Guimaraes, E.P., E. Kueneman and M.J. Carena. 2006. Assessment of national plant breeding and biotechnology capacity in Africa and recommendations for future capacity building. HortScience 41: 50-52 (pdf).
- Ransom, C., C. Particka, K. Ando and J. Olmstead. 2006. Report of breakout group 1. What kind of training do plant breeders need, and how can we most effectively provide that training? HortScience 41: 53-54 (pdf).
- Weebadde, C. and C. Mensah. 2006. Report of breakout group 2. How will we provide improved varieties of specialty, minor and subsistence crops in the future? HortScience 41: 55 (pdf).
- Terpstra, K., H. Oraby and V. Vallejo. 2006. Report of breakout group 3. How can the public and private sectors most effectively partner to train new generations of plant breeders? HortScience 41: 56 (pdf).
- Conference Minutes and Working Groups
- Crop Germplasm Committees (NPGS)
- Journals and Non-Refereed Publications
- Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research publications (CGIAR)
Grants / Awards
- Grants
- Awards
Public Relations
- Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building (GIPB)
- History of the CGIAR
- Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee
- Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding, Iowa State University
Our Mission
The idea for this website originated at the Plant Breeding Symposium organized by the Plant Breeding and Genetics group at Michigan State University (chair: James Hancock), and held at MSU on 10 to 11 March 2005. The objective of the Global Plant Breeding website is to provide information on plant breeding around the world, and to encourage discussion and information exchange.
The Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee was formed and then formalized at the meeting hosting by NC State University in February, 2007. PBCC information was included in the Global Plant Breeding website to help get the committee organized.
Plant breeding information and links are provided for areas of interest. For example, the International Centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Public plant breeders work in the USDA, the US Forest Service, and at land grant universities. Private plant breeders work at seed companies and food processing companies.
Related Links
- Plant Breeding Organizations – Commercial
- Plant Breeding Organizations – Scientific
- American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)
- Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
- Crop Science Society of America (CSSA)
- European Association for Research on Plant Breeding (EUCARPIA)
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building (GIPB)
- International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS)
- U.S. Dept. Agriulture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS)