Breeding programs in the Private Sector

A member of CGIAR consortium www.iita.org

Breeding Programs in the

Private Sector

Ousmane Boukar and Ismail Y. Rabbi


Program Structure


• Type and scope of activities depend on:

– Crop

– Size of company

– Resources available

– Division of activities among different operating

units


R&D Pipeline• Discovery

• Phase 1 – Proof of concept

• Phase 2 – Early development phase

• Phase 3 – Advanced development phase

• Phase 4 – Pre-launch

• Launch


• Four areas of the variety development

pipeline

– Breeding (including molecular breeding)

– Biotechnology

– Agronomy

– Analytical Technologies

– Informatics (Genetics, Biometrics,

Bioinformatics, Programmers...)


Uses of markers in breeding pipelines • Quality Assurance:

– Parentage analysis

– Genetic purity tests

• Germplasm analysis through DNA fingerprinting– Arrangement of diversity (clustering, PCA, etc.)

– Protection of intellectual property (IITA == impact assessment through adoption studies).

• Trait Analysis – Association of traits with genomic regions (GWAS or QTL)

– Understanding of relationship among traits (linkage vs. pleiotropy?)

– Understanding the causes of variation (aid in gene cloning)

• Breeding – Assist in indirect selection of qualitative and quantitative traits

– Marker Assisted Backcrossing

• Seed chipping (non-destructive genotyping)


• Right research approach and organization

• Solving problem with better solutions

(always try to improve in throughput,

efficiency and targetting)

• Building on strengths


Enabling environment

• Fostering excellence (Pioneer)

– Stimulating environment for R&D scientists

– Offering scientific opportunities: training and

development programs

• Breeding academy (breeding and germplasm

management) focuses on developing the critical

skills necessary for modern breeding

• 3PM Academy: Excellence in project, Program and

Portofolio management

• Syngenta fellows programs


Priority Setting


• Research priority depends on growers and consumers (Market)

• The direction of new research is guided by our crop teams and based on customer need, technology, regulatory requirements and socio-political trends (Syngenta)

• Targets:

– Biotic stresses (weeds, insects, fungal diseases, nematodes),

– Abiotic stresses (environmental pressures such as drought or cold)

– Improved crop yield and quality.


Data Management/Decision

Support


• Big focus of R&D is the management of all the data being produced in research and development using computational biology– Phenotype (field and lab)

– Genotype

– Environment

– Soil

• Scientists produce, process, analyze, interpret, and report more 2.5 million data-points each day (Syngenta)

• All have centralized database (phenotype/genotype/more)

• Informatics support group (mentioned before)


Partnerships


• Universities

• Research institutes

• Private companies

– Collaborate with competitors (other breeding

companies)

• Germplasm conservation centers

– To acquire germplasm


Resource Allocation


• Huge R&D investment

• (Thousand of) scientists in multi-

disciplines

• Streamlined product development pipeline

without duplication of efforts.

– Example: One quantitative

genetics/biometrics serve all crops and trait

development programs

– Centralized Analytical Technology Lab


Example Monsanto


Example Pioneer

• In the past five years, DuPont Pioneer

R&D has doubled investment, increased

greenhouse space by more than 60% and

increased research square footage by

more than 30%. DuPont Pioneer R&D is

now comprised of more than 4,400

researchers operating in 125+ research

sites in 25 countries on six continents


Links with Allied Disciplines


• Functional areas:

– Agronomy

– Pathology

– Entomology

– Cell biology and tissue culture

– Applied genomics

– Plant transformation

– Quality analyses

– Regulatory affairs and intellectual property

issues

– Data base management, data analyses


• Collaboration across R&D

– Open innovation platform

– Formal R&D network

– Though seeders (external collaboration) -

Pioneer


Product Orientation, Delivery, and Stewardship


• Delivery options based on convenience and efficiency

• Global distribution network with flexibility to meet local needs

• Several sales professionals

• Wealth of information on product

• Numerous services to customers (expertise, solutions, financing…)

• Link key players across the agricultural value chain


Product stewardship

• Clear responsibility from initial research to discontinuation of a product

• Management of the life cycle of technologies for maximum product value, benefits, and longevity

• Pioneer:

– Grain marketing and approval

– Patents covered by technology agreement

– Product use guide


• Material safety data sheets

• Non-GMO validation certificates

• Insect resistance/weed management

• Best management practices for a

particular technology

• Seed treatment stewardship

Breeding programs in the Private Sector

Government & Nonprofit

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