b'How Did Dan Barber Get It So Wrong?BY NOW, IM SURE MOSTof you have seen theFor farmers, this means the ability to produce new New York Times opinion piece by Celebrity Chef Danand improved varieties of better-performing and more Barber. Barber makes some sweeping generalizationssustainable crops.that mischaracterize the changes in plant breedingFor consumers, this means access to a variety and the seed industry over the past 100-plus years. of new and improved food options like: carrots with Barber has taken an active role in the seed indus- increased beta-carotene, which improves both the try, even co-founding his own seed company; but heappearance and nutritional profile; fruits and veg-grossly misses the mark in his article. The evolutionetables that are more convenient and appealing for of this great industry is due to the incredible invest- consumers, like personal-sized seedless watermelons, mentof both the public and private sectorsofmini-peppers and grape tomatoes; better tasting WAYNE GALE, time and money in critical research and development.produce that is more likely to become part of a healthy Chair of theThis forward-thinking investment by seed companies,diet, like butternut squash with an unusually rich, sweet, American Seedplant breeders, geneticists, agronomists and manystarchy flavor; and new varieties of fruits and vegeta-Trade Associationothers, has dramatically increased the understandingbles, such as broccolini, kale and improved varieties of and Stokes Seedsof what, genetically and biologically, makes a plant docauliflower. I would guess that Barber has served many president and CEO what it doesensuring we are well-prepared to meetof these things at his restaurant. And none of them whatever challenges come our way in global food andwould exist without modern plant breeding!agriculture production. It is true that the seed industry and the grower I agree with Barber that crop production acrosscommunity spend tens of millions of dollars on plant the United States has changed dramatically. Its hadbreeding and plant science issues on an annual basis. to, as farmers, ranchers and other agriculture produc- These efforts work to address many of the issues high-ers are facing a number of challenges impacting theirlighted in the article, such as: how to breed heirloom livelihoods. To stay competitive, they are being forcedflavors in conventional market tomatoes; how to create to do more with less, to produce higher yielding cropsgreening disease resistant citrus trees; how to enhance This industryon fewer acres, with the use of fewer resources. At thehealthy oils in crops like soybeans and sorghum; how same time, the agriculture community is dealing withto enhance flavors in leafy green lettuce varieties; and is a lot morerapidly-evolving plant pests and diseases, as well as aa multitude of other innovative research and discovery than rowchanging climate. In addition, a myriad of other issuesprojects across the vast crop production in the United like labor and harvesting, packaging and shipping,States.with benefits for our planet, our health and crops, andgovernment regulation and so much moremany ofour food.its a lot morewhich can be addressed through plant breeding. Plant breeding will continue to evolve because This industry is a lot more than row crops, and itsthats what breeders, geneticists and others dothey than 100a lot more than 100 companies, as Barber implies. Asdiscover and create new varieties on a regular basis. someone involved in the leadership of the AmericanScience changes, and I imagine that Gregor Mendel companiesSeed Trade Association, and who has worked in thewould be very proud of where the plant breeding and vegetable seed sector for more than 30 years, I knowplant science community has evolved to from his very full well the tremendous diversity and reach of thisearly genetic discoveries with his peas. A failure of business we call seed. From seed companies andUnited States agriculture to continue innovating and farmers, to distributors and technology providers, ourevolving would handcuff producers, of every produc-industry is dynamic and wide-ranging. From organic,tion typefrom conventional to organic to biotech. to traditional, to biotech, the seed industry offers farm- The seed industry has and will continue to evolve to ers and consumers unprecedented choices when itmeet the changing needs of famers and the changing comes to performance and variety. demands of consumers, and yes, even chefs. SW 80/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2019'