Potential and Challenges in Harnessing Public Genomic Research to Meet Global Food and Resource Needs

Funding for crop genomic research has produced unprecedented information on plant genome structure and variation. Emerging initiatives seek resources to translate this information into improved cultivars with novel characteristics, and to provide enhanced predictive tools for growers via full season monitoring. Despite this exciting potential, the challenge and need has never been greater to find a path to market of novel research discoveries. Translation of basic information often faces the valley of death, due in large part to inexperience of scientists in the process of commercialization, relatively little entrepreneurial funding in the ag sector, and insufficient and non-uniform data to enable major companies to evaluate potential technologies. Furthermore, utilization of resources such as transgenic crops requires resources and training for appropriate stewardship and to meet regulatory requirements. Examples of the potential of genomics from our work in maize will be provided, and opportunities to meet potential challenges will be discussed.