UF to host USDA’s Breeding Insight program, supporting pecans and other crops

The University of Florida (UF) is now home to Breeding Insight (BI), a USDA Agricultural Research Service-funded program that supports public breeding efforts nationwide, including more than 61 USDA and university-based programs.

The program currently works with nearly 50 species, including pecans, blueberries, strawberries, citrus, grapes, and other fruit and vegetable crops, as well as honeybees and aquaculture species.

Using advanced tools such as high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and custom software, Breeding Insight scientists are working to accelerate the development of pest- and disease-resistant crops that are more robust, nutritious and profitable for growers.

For nut growers, this could mean improved pecan varieties with better yield potential. In addition to disease resistance, the program works to:

• Develop plant varieties better suited to mechanized harvesting, reducing labor and costs
• Extend the shelf life of nuts and other crops
• Increase efficiency for crops with long growing cycles, including fruit and nut trees

“The shift of the program to the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) solidifies UF as a leading plant breeding center and brings additional seed funding and data resources to our breeders,” said Damian Adams, UF/IFAS associate dean for research and program manager. “It also positions us to better support Florida and U.S. agriculture through accelerated precision-breeding efforts.”

UF/IFAS was selected to host Breeding Insight due to its strong agricultural programs, stakeholder relationships and high-performance computing infrastructure. The program could expand to support additional Florida crops in the future, including cabbage, cantaloupes, avocados and nursery plants.