b'Over 400 people came out for this years NAPB meeting held in St. Louis, MO.Breeders to the National Association for Plant Breeding. NAPB HEADS TO HAWAII IN 2025 About two years ago, discussions began within the NAPB about making the organization more inclusive, he said.The new name better encapsulates what NAPB does by broadening the scope of who should be members, he says.It brings together a diverse range of disciplines to support the plant breeding field. Over the years, the technologies and skills represented within the associa-tion have evolved significantly. By chang-ing the name, were recognizing this shift and better representing the multifaceted nature of modern plant breeding.Reimagining Plant BreedingPlant breeding today is indeed a lot moreThe National Association for Plant Breeding (NAPB) will hold its 2025 annual conference multifaceted than it used to be, and its aon the Big Island, Kona, Hawaii at the Outrigger Resort. It takes place May 18-22.field where success takes time to materi-alize. Thats why Klaus Koehler believesIt gets hot in Hawaii in July, and we wanted to offer opportunities to enjoy some of the tenacity is an essential skill for breeders,extra events that you can only do in Hawaii, says co-organizer Mikey Kantar, professor as technology forces us to reimagine whatin the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Hawaii, it means to be a plant breeder.Manoa.You need to be persistent and patient,The mornings will be dedicated to talks and sessions, while the afternoons will allow because you must make a long-termattendees to fully embrace the islands natural beauty, Kantar says. From visiting coffee commitment before you can reallyfarms to exploring archaeological sites that showcase ancient Hawaiian agricultural see the results of your work, says thepractices, attendees will have a range of unique activities to choose from.global talent development lead for Corteva Agriscience. Along with MashaStay tuned to plantbreeding.org for registration info.Trenhaile, head of university strategy & outreach at Bayer Crop Science, Kohler helped organize this years Soft Skills Workshop held on July 21.The workshop, which featured leader-ship coach Jonathan Shaver of Envision Partners, brought young plant breeders together to learn collaboration skills and solve problems. With the rapid advancements in technology over the last 10 to 15 years, breeders have become much more inter-connected as a community, Koehler says. That means they need to put their heads together more than ever before.He believes one of the most impor-tant skills is understanding and setting your prioritiesboth professionally and personally. Its crucial to take the time to really think about what matters most toThis years diversity and inclusion panel featured (from left) Kristine Callis-Duehl of the Donald you.Danforth Plant Science Center; Justin Raymundo of BioSTL; Jeremy Williams of Bayer Crop Once youve identified your topScience; and Bobby Smith II from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.priorities, focus on the 20% of activities NOVEMBER 2024 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA 13'