b'year data to advance material from one stage in the pipeline to the next, but climate change has caused more sporadic weather patterns. We believe we build a buffer for climate trends by utilizing multi-year predictions, and ultimately multi-year selection schemes in local geographies, enabling selec-tion for products that will perform the best in future growing sea-sons, Bubeck says. Seed improvements take time, and using this model allows com-panies to leverage data to create stable solutions no matter what each specific year brings.Leddin says location-based prediction tools are also helpful. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and Bureau of Meteorology, Climate Change in Australia web- When it comes breeding, breeders are focused on food security in the midst of changing climates site offers a tool that uses weather and it requires some creative thinking to solve. patterns and location information so farmers can see towns in other areasfall. However, it relies more heavily on the applicationfrom, Leddin says, and thats that currently model the climateof glyphosate to control weeds, which some see as awhere more complications can their own area will likely experiencedifferent problem. In addition, organic farming solvesemerge. in 20 or 30 years.some consumer and conservation issues, but yields areThey need to rank them in It draws lines to other townsdrastically reduced and the land is not as productive,importance for selection and not that have the climate youll prob- which increases the greenhouse gasses produced. all traits are positively correlated. ably have, Leddin says. It allowsThats what we do as plant breeders. We look atFor example, they might select for farmers to start planning earlier. the whole picture, the global picture, Leddin says.forage yield in grasses, which can For example, Leddin says theIts important to consider a global disease perspec- then decrease seed yield, Leddin wine industry utilizes this tool whentive as well. says. planting new varieties because itOne problem were working on right now is thatStill, in the midst of climate takes several decades for the vinessoybeans in Latin America need mechanisms to dealchange, breeders and seed compa-to produce.with Asian soybean rust, a foliar blight that causes a lotnies are optimistic about the poten-They can use this map to seeof problems in that area, Bubeck says. Its not some- tial for progress. what varieties will thrive in theirthing U.S. soybean farmers are faced with yet, but weWere in a better position today future climate based on what varie- have to be ready if that disease evolves and rust sporesthan ever before because we can ties are thriving in similar climatescould begin to overwinter across the Midwest.use advanced prediction systems right now, Leddin says.Pest and disease pressures vary widely across theand molecular data at the genomic U.S. from the more arid western growing areas to thelevel to target the traits growers Future Focus more humid eastern growing environments. care about, Bubeck says.Food security in the midst ofOur western climate is more arid and we typi- Leddin says the key thing to changing climates will require out- cally see more disease pressure in the east with higherremember is that this is global of-the-box thinking, as solving onehumidity and more cloud cover, but as those condi- initiative, and seed breeders are all problem could create another. tions change, we have to consider those additionalworking towards the future.For example, a lot of cropping inchallenges in new areas, Bubeck says.We have to look at food secu-Australia is now done with minimalDifferent flowering times are another importantrity in the face of climate change tillage, which increases soil carbonbreeding goal as plants have to adapt to new climates.from a global point of view. Thats and helps combat reduced rain- There are many traits that seed breeders selectour responsibility.SW62/ SEEDWORLD.COMINTERNATIONAL EDITION 2020'