Innovation Platforms – Plant Breeding for Sustainable Farming Systems Martin O. Bohn Crop Sciences University of Illinois International Food Security Symposium - University of Illinois, February 10, 2015

Poverty induces Food Insecurity

Would there be food insecurity, malnutrition, and hunger without poverty? Do we need to focus on production increase or poverty reduction? o Research and technology development for securing/increasing production are important but not sufficient to reduce food insecurity. o Shift to “Research in Development” to address challenges together with rural people, rather than for them. o We learn together what the issues are and tap into problem solving ability from different angles o Innovation platforms rather than technology dissemination Food Insecurity

Secure food production for a growing population Conserve natural resources Cheap food Healthy food Conserve biodiversity Can Plant Breeding and Genetics help to solve these conflicts? Our Research Agenda

► Root development and architecture o Performance under biotic and abiotic stresses ► Plant × Environment interactions o Plant × Insects o Plant × Soil microbiome o Plant × Production community ► Grain processing o Impact on nutritional quality ► High throughput phenotyping tools and devices ► Study of complex systems o Genomic selection o Doubled Haploids Research Areas

●EMAMP N parents = 12 offPVPs N EMAMP = 1650 RILs ●GEM, CIMMYT Inbred development Illinois WCR Synthetic ●EMAMP Subpopulation Research Areas - Germplasm

Realize field-scale, high-throughput, and “open” phenotyping technology for plant breeding. Complementary skillsets (“Synergies”) required: o Instrumentation o Algorithms for trait extraction, e.g., from images o Statistical tools, e.g., new experimental designs, genetic interpretation Research – Vision [HTP]

Breeder Agronomist Farmer Processor Retailer Consumer Agribusiness Extension Service NGOs Universities The Value Chain Model o How to connect our Research Interests, Expertise, and Capacitates with the actual Needs and Local assets (incl. knowledge) (“Research in Development”)? o How do we develop relevant innovations? o How do we create impact? Government

Goals Constrains Options Innovation Platforms International / National Regional / Local o Agenda for Agricultural Development o Policies o Specific problems are addressed. o What works, what doesn’t? Breeding for Resilience Breeding for Climate Smart Agriculture Research in Development Deeper engagement of communities

Innovation Platforms - Examples o Innovation Platforms are a promising tool to Identify problems Find solutions or seek partnerships to develop solutions Implement and monitor solutions/ innovations o “Ghana Oil Platform” ●Stakeholder group, which sets agenda for experiments ●Experimentation group o NSF – Industry/University Cooperative Research Program Extension Global Good Practice: Innovation PlatformsExtension Global Good Practice: Innovation Platforms,