b"With the rapid advancements incan't replicate. It turns out, U.S. sunflower technology over the last 10 to 15 years,fields produce around 25,000 tons of nat-breeders have become much more inter- ural rubber annually from the plant leaves. connected as a community, Koehler says.However, the rubber's concentration is That means they need to put their headstoo low for cost-effective extraction.together more than ever before. Edison Agrosciences is tackling this He believes one of the most importantissue by boosting the natural rubber con-skills is understanding and setting yourcentration in sunflower. prioritiesboth professionally and per- We're still in the early days, but by sonally. Its crucial to take the time to reallythe end of next year, we hope to have think about what matters most to you.testable products that companies like Once youve identified your top priori- Borlaug Scholar Deysi Alvaro Ceja isGoodyear and Bridgestone can use to ties, focus on the 20% of activities that willstudent research assistant at the Universitycreate real-world rubber products, he have the greatest impact on your success,of California-Davis. said.both in your career and personal life. But its not just well-known plants like In academia, there's a strong empha- sunflower that are making waves as the sis on publishing papers, being the leadplant breeding revolution goes on, confer-author, and pushing forward indepen- ence attendees heard.dently, Trenhaile notes. But when youIn May, panelist Kevin Cook and his move into industry, the focus shiftsyouteam at CoverCress reached a mile-need to be more collaborative and workstoneharvesting over 1,000 acres of effectively within a team.CoverCress, a winter oilseed crop devel-I think that's a skill that can some- oped from field pennycress, which didnt times be lacking. Another critical skill isexist in agriculture a decade ago. Hes communication, and this isn't just impor- spearheading a revolutionnot just tant in plant breedingit's crucial fortweaking existing crops but inventing everyone. Often, people hesitate to admitentirely new ones. they're stuck, but I believe that reachingBack in 2013, CoverCress (formerly out and communicating with colleaguesArvegenix) was founded by a group of can lead to faster solutions than trying toinnovators inspired by USDA research.figure everything out on your own. They saw potential in pennycress oil for Borlaug Scholar Deysi Alvaro Ceja, stu- Paul Skroch of Edison Agrosciences speaksbiofuels. The timing was perfect.dent research assistant at the University ofduring the closing panel at this years NAPBBut they needed germplasmsome-California-Davis, did just that. She soughtmeeting in St. Louis. thing to build on. So, company found-out mentors who helped guide her toers literally drove across the country, becoming successful in plant breeding.collecting pennycress from ditches and Its her top piece of advice to others justof aspiring plant scientists. He was athis seed became the foundation of the getting started out. Shes now working tograduate student with dreams of revo- breeding program. An early employeeboost the vitamin C content of tomato. lutionizing agriculture through cutting- brought back a sample from the side of a Immerse yourself in hands-on experi- edge research. Fast-forward to theColorado highway. ences and never stop learning. This field isNAPB conference in St. Louis, where heThat sample turned out to be a all about continuous growth and develop- came full circle as he took part in a panelgame-changer, with early vigor and a ment. It's also crucial to not be afraid ofdiscussion with several other St. Louisshatter resistance genetraits we des-taking risks and pursuing opportunitiesstartups on the topic of revolutionizingperately needed, he said.that push you out of your comfort zone,plant breeding. Theyve developed a greenhouse oper-she told Seed World.With a Ph.D in plant breeding fromation that allows them to complete four As a first-generation grad student, itthe University of Wisconsin, hes focusingcycles per year, pushing the boundaries of was tough to overcome the fear of puttingon experimental design and data. Heswhats possible in crop domestication.SWmyself out there and asking for help. Butcurrently vice president of breeding for breaking that barrier was a game-changerEdison Agrosciences in St. Louis, wheres for me. hes working to capture the potential of natural sunflower rubber. WHERE Revolutionizing Plant BreedingThe United States relies on over $2ON THE WEBThirty years ago, Paul Skroch steppedbillion worth of natural rubber each year, outside of his comfort zone and foundused in countless products due to itsFor video interviews, podcast episodes and other content from the himself in a room speaking to a groupunique properties that synthetic materials2024 meeting of the NAPB, visit seedworld.com/tag/napb/44/ SEEDWORLD.COMOCTOBER 2024"