SEPTEMBER 2017 GERMINATION.CA 31 looking at how to incorporate dozens of genes for disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, oil quality, et cetera,” he recalls. “This has changed the structure of programs to deal with the amount of crossing and organization required. The technology is also constantly changing and becoming more available at a practical breed- ing level. Use of markers and genomic analysis in breeding is always increasing.”  As a result, Gillis says that during his first two years at DL Seeds, he was exposed to all aspects of the breeding program where he basi- cally did a bit of everything.  “This helped me to gain a great understand- ing of our operations and, in 2013, I took on more responsibility for the breeding program,” he explains. “As my past training was in pathology, I didn’t have a strong background in breeding and genetics theory other than on-the-job train- ing. However, the Plant Breeding Academy course through UC Davis provided me with a strong foundation of genetics and statistics and exposure to many different ideas and breeding programs.” In his current position, his main role is in “core” breeding, which involves the development of new inbred lines, creating hybrids and testing them in canola.  “The main focus is yield, maturity, lodging resistance and seed quality traits, but other trials such as disease resistance have become increas- ingly important,” Gillis explains. “This requires the setup and analysis of several different types of field trials, including yield testing at several locations and disease nurseries. Analyzing the trials and being the first to see the data for new products is probably the best part of the job. I am also responsible for female develop- ment in our hybrid systems. Helping develop a new product which provides something new or better to our marketing partners and ulti- mately growers is also very rewarding.” Curtis Van Laecke, head of research and product advancement at Horizon Seeds in Courtland, Ont., says what he likes most about plant breeding is having complete control over the development and the ability to choose which genetics to advance. “Genetically modified traits have seen a large area of change over the past decade, which has had a direct impact on how plant breeding is executed. It is definitely more precise these days as we talk about gene mapping and trait integra- tion versus conventional plant breeding. Also, the speed to commercialization has also changed as the landscape has become highly competitive.” Many Educational Paths Van Laecke, like both Gillis and Bradford, also graduated from the Plant Breeding Academy at UC Davis after earning a bachelor of science degree in plant science, with a minor in agricul- ture from the University of Guelph. “I cannot say enough about the programs at the University of Guelph,” he says, when asked what schools or programs he would recommend to those interested in pursuing a career in plant breeding. “I would also say you don’t have to specialize in agriculture, but rather focus on plant sciences and other supporting areas such as plant pathol- ogy, statistics, and the like. Additionally, continu- ing education — not only for students — but also those in today’s workforce is important as science continues to evolve. We can never know enough about what we do, and it is important to want to continue to learn and better your overall depth of knowledge.” Bradford concurs and adds, “The most direct path is through degrees in plant biology or genetics and graduate study in breeding. Plant pathology or biotechnology are also relevant undergraduate programs for plant breeders. There are positions for persons with master’s degrees, but increasingly, breeders for larger companies run big programs and more often have PhDs.” It also valuable to participate in seed trade organizations, including the Canadian Seed Trade Association, American Seed Trade Association, International Seed Federation, and local state and provincial seed organizations, Bradford notes. “It is an extremely exciting time to be a plant breeder,” adds Bradford. “The tools available make it much more efficient to combine single and multiple traits into elite germplasm, which means that breeders can see much more of their work come to fruition and commercialization in their careers.” What’s Next? As for where the plant breeding industry is headed in the next two to five years, Bradford says in the short term, the expanding application of new genome-based breeding methods will transform the way breeding is done and enable companies to more quickly respond to changing conditions (climate, pests, diseases) and improve product quality (flavour, nutrition). “Two critical events currently in progress are a proposal to change the regulations governing genetically engineered varieties, and the federal GMO labeling law passed last year in the U.S.” “The coming year may be the most critical one in the last three decades for the future of plant breeding, depending on how these two fac- tors work out.” Kent Bradford is director of the Seed Biotechnology Center (SBC) at the University of California — Davis. Evan Gillis is a canola breeder at DL Seeds in Manitoba. Curtis Van Laecke, head of research and product advancement at Horizon Seeds in Courtland, Ont., says what he likes most about plant breeding is having complete control over the development and the ability to choose which genetics to advance.