10 GERMINATION.CA NOVEMBER 2018 NORMAN BORLAUG is known as the father of the Green Revolution for saving millions of lives throughout the world by developing high-yielding wheat varieties during the mid-20th century. He was also known for training large numbers of young people (whom he referred to as “hunger fighters”) who could follow in his footsteps. Nine years after his death, we sat down with eight of these modern hunger-fighters during the 2018 meeting of the National Association of Plant Breeders in Guelph, Ont., which took place in August. These eight individuals comprise this year’s Borlaug Scholars — young people who represent the next generation of plant breeding leaders. All eight scholars offer important advice and lessons for how to succeed in the challenging modern world of plant breeding — including how to stay focused and motivated and how to shatter old myths — like the belief that sacrificing sleep for studying is a recipe for success, and the opinion that science and spirituality can’t co- exist. But we didn’t just take their word for it. The advice they give and lessons they offer are backed up by expe- rienced stalwarts of the plant breeding world who can attest to the fact that young breeders are coming up in a different time, but one that’s still governed by timeless wisdom that’s as true today as it was in the past. Best of all, this advice doesn’t apply only to plant breeders, but to all of us involved in seed and agriculture in general. NAPB2018:THEFIVEWs WHO: The National Association of Plant Breeders has a membership of over 434, comprised of breeders from around Canada and the United States. Membership includes students and established plant breeders from all walks of life who work on a multitude of different crops. WHAT: The NAPB’s mission is to “strengthen plant breeding to promote food security, quality of life and a sustainable future.” The NAPB is often considered an American organization, when it is in fact open to breeders from outside the United States. WHERE: The 2018 annual meeting — the organization’s eighth annual get-together — was held in at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. WHEN: The meeting took place Aug. 7-10, 2018. WHY: The NAPB has always had a small Canadian component (less than 10 per cent), but Canadian membership is growing, and the group hopes hosting it outside the United States for the first time will increase awareness of the NAPB’s international mandate. HOW: Plant breeders can join the NAPB by visiting plantbreeding. org and clicking the Membership tab. For video and audio interviews, plus info on this year’s NAPB award winners, visit germination.ca/category/napb-annual- meeting-2018 ON LOCATION: NAPB 2018 • GUELPH, ON SECRETSTOSUCCESS FROMTHENEXTGENERATION We sit down with a slew of young minds — both undergrad and graduate students — to find out what it takes to succeed in the modern world of plant breeding. Marc Zienkiewicz