The Genomic & Open-source Breeding Informatics Initiative

In the last ten years, genotyping costs have dropped significantly, making feasible powerful new breeding approaches that can take advantage of the vast amounts of genomic data that have been generated in staple crops such as rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, and chickpea. The Genomic & Open-source Breeding Informatics Initiative (GOBII) is the first large-scale public-sector effort to enable systematic application of high-density genotypic information to the breeding of staple crops in the developing world. The project will develop and implement genomic data management systems to enhance the capacity of public-sector breeding programs to deliver increased rates of genetic gain in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The genomic data management systems will include databases, analysis pipelines, and decision support tools for plant breeders.