EL BATAN, Mexico (CIMMYT) – A DuPont Pioneer leadership delegation visited CIMMYT HQ on May 12 to explore public-private collaboration approaches within the new CGIAR Excellence in Breeding Platform (EiB). The high level delegation, included Geoff Graham, Vice President of Plant Breeding, and other members of management from Global Breeding & Marker Technology Field Technology Innovation & Operations, and Africa, and Latin America regional operations. The team got acquainted with the EiB through interactions with CGIAR scientists and a tour of the CIMMYT scientific facilities.
The visit focused on mutually beneficial collaboration that would enable CGIAR and DuPont Pioneer breeding programs to better capitalize on each other’s experiences, and strengthen knowledge sharing in the pre-competitive domain. The ultimate aim is to improve public and private breeding programs targeting the developing world, including for crops with lower private sector investments.
This visit is the latest in a series of new public-private collaborations with DuPont Pioneer. During CIMMYT’s 50th anniversary celebrations DuPont Pioneer and CIMMYT entered a Master Alliance Agreement to jointly develop improved crops using CRISPR-Cas advanced plant breeding technology for characteristics that address the needs of smallholder farmers around the world.
“Public and private sector breeding programs may target different farming communities and agricultural commodities,” said Marianne Banziger, CIMMYT Deputy Director General for Research and Partnerships. “Nonetheless there are many areas where we can learn from each other and thereby accelerate benefits reaching farming communities, both in poorer and wealthier countries.”
The Excellence in Breeding Platform is one of three new platforms within the new CGIAR portfolio. Drawing from innovations in the public and private sector, the Platform will provide access to cutting-edge tools, services and best practices, application-oriented training and practical advice with the intention to modernize breeding programs targeting the developing world.
Innovations 