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Education and Preparation of Plant Breeders for Careers in Global Crop Improvement

Professor Emeritus, Univ. of California, Davis, CA 95616 and Sr. Director, R&D Special Projects, Seminis Vegetable Seeds, 37437 Hwy. 16, Woodland, CA 95695

^* Corresponding author (Fred.Bliss{at}Seminis.com).

Plant breeding is essential to global food security and to a viable strategy for developing efficient plant sources for biofuels. Despite expanding demand for professionals educated in breeding fundamentals and able to integrate evolving new technology for crop improvement, public-supported programs are diminishing. To meet future needs for breeders engaged in cultivar development, prebreeding and population improvement, biotechnology and applied genomics, and education and training, greater support must be forthcoming from public funding and businesses that are future employers. Colleges and universities with supporting curricula should work together to develop collaborative programs and courses of study that prepare new graduates for future employment, which will be largely in the private sector in developed countries and the public sector in developing countries. Broad-based efforts to increase public awareness about the impact of plant breeding and inform students about career opportunities are needed to assure that highly qualified, dedicated new professionals replace the large numbers of current breeders nearing retirement.

Abbreviations: FTE, full-time equivalent • IARC, International Agricultural Research Center • NGO, nongovernmental organization • SAES, state agricultural experiment station