The Section of Plant Breeding and Genetics is globally recognized for developing innovative approaches to crop improvement. Section faculty conduct “translational research” that bridges the gap between fundamental research and its implementation in applied breeding programs, leading to superior crop varieties.

Global food security initiatives with Cornell leadership

Many Plant Breeding & Genetics Faculty are jointly appointed in Cornell's Department of Global Development.

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Partners with scientists and stakeholders around the globe to co-develop tools, technologies, and methods in crop improvement that address local concerns and focus on building equitable community impact.

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An effort to enable interoperability among plant breeding databases. A standardized RESTful web service API for communicating plant breeding data, this community-driven standard is free to all.

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Rebecca Nelson serves as the Scientific Director for the McKnight Foundation's CCRP, a competitive grants program that funds agricultural research in developing countries.

diseased wheat

The Borlaug Global Rust Initiative (BGRI) is an international consortium, led in part by Cornell faculty, working to reduce the world’s vulnerability wheat rust and enhance world wheat productivity.

cassava tubers

The NextGen Cassava Breeding project helped modernize partner cassava breeding institutions in Africa and used cutting-edge tools to improve cassava varieties with involvement from multiple Plant Breeding & Genetics faculty.

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The Alliance for Science seeks to promote access to scientific innovation as a means of enhancing food security, improving environmental sustainability and raising the quality of life globally.