Nov. 5:Plant breeding industry leaders recognized the instrumental role of NCGA in obtaining funding for projects crucial to agricultural development at a conference this week in Pittsburgh. The Crop Science Society of America’s “Building a Strong Financial Base for Sustaining a Healthy Plant Breeding Community” symposium highlights NCGA’s accomplishments in creating and obtaining funding for the National Plant Genome Initiative and uses NCGA’s efforts as a case study in how to identify potential funding sources for plant breeding programs.

NCGA chose to focus efforts on these projects as they include a strong corn-related component in the Maize Genome Sequencing Project.

“The invitation to present at this conference on our strategies and successes in obtaining funding for the National Plant Genome Initiative serves as a testament to our industry leadership,” said Larry Hasheider, chair of the Research and Business Development Action Team. “We hope that by sharing this information we can help others implement strategies that benefit agriculture as a whole.”

Worldwide demand for a safe and secure food supply is growing with plant breeding at the forefront of sustainability discussions; however, many research programs have seen their funding decrease due to the erosion of public or formula grants. Now, researchers must explore alternative options for funding.

Symposium presenters will discuss successes in public-private partnerships; commercialization strategies now driving public programs; the impact of foundations in targeted support for cultivar development; and national and global programs that may help build global capacity and provide public support.

NCGA’s presentation, delivered by Research and Business Development Manager Robyn Stevens, will serve as a case study in a campaign that utilized non-conventional channels to great success. The presentation explains NCGA’s role as a voice for science and research funding to legislators in Washington, the association gained buy-in from legislators in a difficult budgetary environment by demonstrating results. Stevens will also explain how to stay involved in the research community, how to expand disciplines involved in research planning and how to articulate and advocate for significant increases in agricultural research funding.

Stevens strongly advocates the position that researchers, in the current funding climate, organize and communicate to the public and policymakers the importance of their work. A cohesive plan and consistent messaging are now necessary to obtain funding. NCGA advocates for plant breeding funding as these advances improve corn growers’ ability to provide feed, food and fuel to the world in an economical manner. Through increased plant yields, growers and researchers work in tandem to achieve production goals.

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