b'Over 400 people came out for this years NAPB meeting held in St. Louis, MO.Rethinking Plant BreedingThat way of looking at the economics of business can also be turned on its headNAPB HEADS TO HAWAII IN 2025 to strengthen plant breeding, attendees heard. The NAPB is actively focusing on collaboration and mentorship to drive the next generation of plant breeding innovation, to ensure a new generation of breeders have a mindset that will ensure a progressive future for the profession. New NAPB president J.D. Rossouw, head of vegetables R&D for Bayer Crop Science. Rossouw sat down to talk about why the NAPB recently changed its name from the National Association of Plant Breeders to the National Association for Plant Breeding.About two years ago, discussions began within the NAPB about making the organization more inclusive, he said.The new name better encapsulatesThe National Association for Plant Breeding (NAPB) will hold its 2025 annual conference on the Big Island, what NAPB does by broadening theKona, Hawaii at the Outrigger Resort. It takes place May 18-22.scope of who should be members, he says. It gets hot in Hawaii in July, and we wanted to offer opportunities to enjoy some of the extra events that It brings together a diverse range ofyou can only do in Hawaii, says co-organizer Mikey Kantar, professor in the Department of Tropical Plant disciplines to support the plant breedingand Soil Sciences at the University of Hawaii, Manoa.field. Over the years, the technologies andThe mornings will be dedicated to talks and sessions, while the afternoons will allow attendees to fully skills represented within the associationembrace the islands natural beauty, Kantar says. From visiting coffee farms to exploring archaeological have evolved significantly. By changing the name, were recognizing this shiftsites that showcase ancient Hawaiian agricultural practices, attendees will have a range of unique activities and better representing the multifacetedto choose from.nature of modern plant breeding. Stay tuned to plantbreeding.org for registration info.Reimagining Plant BreedingPlant breeding today is indeed a lot more multifaceted than it used to be, and its a field where success takes time to mate-rialize. Thats why Klaus Koehler believes tenacity is an essential skill for breeders, as technology forces us to reimagine what it means to be a plant breeder. You need to be persistent and patient, because you must make a long-term commitment before you can really see the results of your work, says the global talent development lead for Corteva Agriscience. Along with Masha Trenhaile, head of university strategy & outreach at Bayer Crop Science, Kohler helped organ-ize this years Soft Skills Workshop held on July 21.The workshop, which featured leader-ship coach Jonathan Shaver of EnvisionThis years diversity and inclusion panel featured (from left) Kristine Callis-Duehl, of the Partners, brought young plant breedersDonald Danforth Plant Science Center; Justin Raymundo of BioSTL; Jeremy Williams of together to learn collaboration skills andBayer Crop Science; and Bobby Smith II from the University of Illinois at Urbana-solve problems.Champaign.OCTOBER 2024SEEDWORLD.COM /43'