breeding programs in the private sector
TRANSCRIPT
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Breeding Programs in the
Private Sector
Ousmane Boukar and Ismail Y. Rabbi
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Program Structure
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• Type and scope of activities depend on:
– Crop
– Size of company
– Resources available
– Division of activities among different operating
units
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R&D Pipeline• Discovery
• Phase 1 – Proof of concept
• Phase 2 – Early development phase
• Phase 3 – Advanced development phase
• Phase 4 – Pre-launch
• Launch
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• Four areas of the variety development
pipeline
– Breeding (including molecular breeding)
– Biotechnology
– Agronomy
– Analytical Technologies
– Informatics (Genetics, Biometrics,
Bioinformatics, Programmers...)
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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)
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• Right research approach and organization
• Solving problem with better solutions
(always try to improve in throughput,
efficiency and targetting)
• Building on strengths
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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
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Priority Setting
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• 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.
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Data Management/Decision
Support
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• 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)
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Partnerships
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• Universities
• Research institutes
• Private companies
– Collaborate with competitors (other breeding
companies)
• Germplasm conservation centers
– To acquire germplasm
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Resource Allocation
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• 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
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Example Monsanto
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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
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Links with Allied Disciplines
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• 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
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• Collaboration across R&D
– Open innovation platform
– Formal R&D network
– Though seeders (external collaboration) -
Pioneer
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Product Orientation, Delivery, and Stewardship
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• 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
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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
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• Material safety data sheets
• Non-GMO validation certificates
• Insect resistance/weed management
• Best management practices for a
particular technology
• Seed treatment stewardship