Plant Breeding Stakeholder Comment Site

What specific short, medium, or long-term plant breeding goals should USDA pursue during the next 5-6 years, and how should USDA deliver plant breeding products with regard to intellectual property, technology transfer, and partnerships with public and private sectors?

Comment on USDA’s role in plant breeding education and mentorship. Does it produce value, and is it adequately balanced with the main activities of the various USDA agencies that practice or facilitate plant breeding? Also, how can USDA education and mentorship be improved during the next 5-10 years?

Are the plant breeding synergies between the public and private sectors and allied agencies, such as commodity organizations, effective, and how can they be improved?

Considering that plant breeding is a shared responsibility between the public and private sectors, how should plant breeding responsibilities and obligations be divided between public and private sectors, and what should be the obligations and responsibilities of USDA in this partnership during the next 5-10 years?

USDA investment in plant breeding occurs primarily through intramural breeding programs in ARS, NRCS, and Forest Service, and from extramural competitive and capacity funding to universities and ARS trough NIFA. Considering that public sector research is under-funded, are there ways that the private sector and commodity organizations might partner with USDA during the next 5-10 years to maximize efficiency and breeding impact from the available public sector plant breeding investments?