University of Florida Plant Breeders Perspectives

Presented
by Jay
Scott
 1975 -2012

1. Severe reduction in Public Plant Breeding

Programs [eg. 1990-1994 lost 12.5 scientist years]

2. Increase in Private sector Plant Breeding [eg. 1990-

1994 gained 32 scientist years]
 Human Input
to Variety Development*

Private – 80%
SAES – 41%
USDA – 12%

* Source: Frey, K.J. 1996. National Plant Breeding Study

I. Human and financial resources devoted to plant
breeding research and development in the United States
in 1994. Spec. Rep. 98, Iowa State University, Ames.
 Plant Breeding in an Academic Enterprise

• At UF, plant breeding has several goals:

1. Develop improved cultivars

2. Basic research (published)
Research
• Improve the breeding process
• Discover new traits/molecular markers
3. Educate clientele about cultivars Extension
4. Teaching
• Train new plant breeders Teaching
• Teach basics of plant breeding
 Plant Breeding in a Commercial Enterprise

• In companies, plant breeding has several

goals:
1. Develop improved cultivars
2. Basic research (internal)
Research
• Improve the breeding process
• Discover new traits
3. Sell cultivars to clientele Sales

The primary element in common between academic and commercial

plant breeding is cultivar development, so,
the chief goal of plant breeding is development of improved cultivars.
 Plant Breeding in an Academic Enterprise
(in contrast to a Commercial Enterprise)
Goals of PB Academic Commercial
Improved cultivars
Basic Research ?
Educate growers XX
Train new plant breeders XX
Sales XX
• The chief goal of plant breeding is improved cultivars.
• In private business, the path to sales is straightforward.
• In an academic enterprise, the path to sales is not.

• Sales/Commercialization is a necessity to meet the goal.

 What is the role of UF-IFAS in the public
plant breeding process?

1. Manage personnel and support needed for

plant breeding research, teaching and
extension
2. Protect the integrity of UF-IFAS
– Establish quality standards for cultivar release
• Cultivar release policy
– Protect plant material from unauthorized use
• Manage MTA’s and Research Agreements
3. Establish rules by which funds are dispersed
– UF Intellectual Property Policy
(http://www.research.ufl.edu/otl/pdf/ipp.pdf)
 UF PLANT BREEDERS WORKGROUP
HISTORY/ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Formed in 1993, meet once a year, executive
committee meets with Dean of Research four
times a year
• With IFAS administration established a
breeder-friendly royalty plan for germplasm
releases
• Presently establishing a plant breeding
curriculum
• Promote plant breeding at UF
 UNIQUE FEATURES OF UF PLANT
BREEDING VS. OTHER STATES
• Wide diversity of crops, several not
being bred (much) in the private
sector
• Subtropical environment-relevance
to worldwide tropical agriculture
• “No” neighboring states
•Plant Breeding Program Plant Breeding Program
Overview Much of the plant agriculture in Florida depends on varieties developed by plant breeders at
Faculty the University of Florida. Plant breeding research at the University of Florida has lead to new
Students breeding methods, new varieties, and new production systems. Plant breeders are working
UF/IFAS PBWG with molecular biologists to see where new technologies can be applied in Florida.
Breeding Impacts
UF Breeding Graduates
Worldwide Prospective Students & Program Admissions
Contact Us The University of Florida is a world-wide leader in providing graduate training in plant
•Academics breeding, and because many other land grant universities have reduced or eliminated their
Degree Programs plant breeding programs, it is today more important than ever that we maintain a strong
•Admissions graduate program in plant breeding.
Requirements
How to Apply NEWS AND INFORMATION
Funding
For Int'l Students
•News and Events Dr. Fred Gmitter
Seminar Series 2011 FFVA Researcher of the Year
Workshop
Announcements
Awards
Employment Opportunities - Dr. Paul Lyrene
New Listings 2011 Florida Agricultural
Hall of Fame Inductee
http://breeders.ifas.ufl.edu
 Agronomy Department
Faculty Location Crop FTE

80%
Dr. F. Altpeter, Associate Professor Gainesville Bioenergy/Turf
Research

Dr. A. R. Soffes Blount, Associate North 70%

Forage/Turf
Professor Florida Research

Dr. K. E. Kenworthy, Assistant 70%

Gainesville Turfgrass
Professor Research

North 80%
Dr. B. L. Tillman, Associate Professor Peanut
Florida Research

Plant Pathology
100%
Dr. M. J. Davis, Professor Citrus REC Papaya
Research
 Environmental Horticulture
Faculty Location Crop FTE

70%
Dr. D. G. Clark, Professor Gainesville Coleus
Research

Caladium,
Gerbera 80%
Dr. Z. Deng, Associate Professor Gulf Coast
Daisy, Research
Lisianthus

Dr. Rosanna Freyre, Research 100%

Gainesville Ornamentals
Scientist Research

Ornamental
Dr. R. J. Henny, Associate Professor Mid-Florida
Foliage
 Horticultural Science
Faculty Crop FTE

70%
Dr. J. Chaparro, Associate Professor Gainesville Stone fruits
Research
100%
Dr. F. G. Gmitter, Jr., Professor Citrus REC Citrus
Research

Dr. J. W. Grosser, Professor Citrus REC Citrus

Dr. Samuel Hutton, Assistant 80%

Gulf Coast Tomato
Professor Research
Lettuce,
Dr. Huangjun Lu, Assistant Professor Belle Glade
Turfgrass
80%
Dr. J. Olmstead, Assistant Professor Gainesville Blueberry
Research
80%
Dr. J. W. Scott, Professor Gulf Coast Tomato
Research
Dr. Vance Whitaker, Assistant 80%
Gulf Coast Strawberry
Professor Research
UF BREEDING FACULTY SUMMARY
• Approximately 16 Breeding Faculty
• Six positions in Gainesville, others at
5 research centers
• Three breeders with teaching
appointments, others teach
breeding related courses
 SOME UF PLANT BREEDING
CONCERNS
• Money
• Teaching Faculty, student numbers
in classes
• Loss of Faculty-wheat, clover (2),
squash, sweet corn
• Marketing of Varieties
 A FEW UF PLANT BREEDING
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• ‘Florida Staysweet’ sh2 sweet corn
• Low chill blueberries and peaches
• ‘Festival’ strawberry
• High oleic peanuts
• Ice box watermelons
• Fusarium wilt race 2 and race 3 resistant
tomatoes, Tasti-LeeTM tomato
 Importance of Florida
Foundation Seed Producers to UF
Plant Breeders
 Vehicle to get cultivars produced and sold
 Manage commercialization proposals
 Assists with selection of companies to
license and sell through contract
negotiations
 Collect and distribute royalties
 Produce seed for peanut and small grains
 Importance of Royalties
 Key funding source-no deadlines
 Allows for enhancement of future variety
development
 Allows for more fundamental research
 Provides funding for graduate student
education
 Important consideration for administration
in filling breeding positions
Rye Grass and Clover Royalty Expenditures, June 2011 – May 2012

$6,701.97 , 6%

$13,064.80 , 11% Administrative

Employee Wage-Benefits
Grad Std. Wage-Benefits-Tuition
Operating
$14,467.32 , 13% $21,124.17 , 19%
Repair and Mantenance
Travel

$35,522.90 , 31% $23,176.38 , 20%

Royalties Accrued in 2011:
$ 81,320.86

Total Expenditures (Chart):

$114,057.54 [140%]
 Expenditures of Peanut Royalties, June 2011- May 2012

$7,198 , 3%
$6,680 , 3%

$25,106 , 11% Administrative OH (11%)

Employee Wage-Benefits

Grad Std. Wage-Benefits-Tuition

$40,102 , 17%
Operating

Repair & Maintenance

Travel
$38,893 , 17%
$111,428 , 49%

Royalties Accrued in 2011:

$203,381

Total Expenditures (chart):

$229,408 [113%]
 Tomato Breeding Program June 2011-May 2012

$4,563
5% $9,665, 11% Administrative
Employee Earnings-Benefits
Grad Std. Wage-Benefit-Tuition
$13,894, 15% Repairs & Maintenance
Other Operating Expense
Travel

$6,170, 7%

Royalties accrued in 2011:

$6,838, 7% $98,140

$49,409, 55% Total Expenditures (chart):

$85,976 [88%]
 Strawberry Breeding Program June 2011-May 2012

$25,553, 7%
$38,292 11%
Administrative Overhead
Employee Earnings-Benefits
Grad Std Earnings-Benefits-Tuition
Repairs & Maintenance
Other Operating Expense
$72,027, 21% Travel

Royalties accrued in 2011:

$214,683, 63% $405.815

$13,245, Total Expenditures (chart):

4% $368,376 [91%]
$4,573,
1%
 Plant Breeders Expectations
Regarding FFSP & FAES
 Timeliness in dealing with clientele groups:
-Documents adequate to protect all parties
but not unduly complex
-We are willing to help where needed
 Enforcement of contracts
 Marketing??
 Flexibility- One size does not fit all
 Maintain breeding program-friendly royalties
THE
END