The Section of Plant Breeding and Genetics is globally recognized for developing innovative approaches to crop improvement. Section faculty conduct “translational research” that bridges the gap between fundamental research and its implementation in applied breeding programs, leading to superior crop varieties.
- Faculty involved in breeding specific crops are found on the SIPS Research by Crop page
- Research and resources focused on state and national needs are listed on the Plant Breeding & Genetics Outreach & Extension page
Global food security initiatives with Cornell leadership
Many Plant Breeding & Genetics Faculty are jointly appointed in Cornell's Department of Global Development
Rebecca Nelson serves as the Scientific Director for the McKnight Foundation's Collaborative Crop Research Program, a competitive grants program that funds agricultural research in developing countries.
Genomic Open-source Breeding informatics initiative (GOBii) are a team of developers, statisticians, bioinformaticists and breeders with multiple Plant Breeding & Genetics faculty participating
The NextGen Cassava Breeding project seeks to modernize partner cassava breeding institutions in Africa and use cutting-edge tools for improved cassava varieties with involvement from multiple Plant Breeding & Genetics faculty
The Borlaug Global Rust Initiative (BGRI) is an international consortium, led in part by Cornell faculty, working to reduce the world’s vulnerability wheat rust and enhance world wheat productivity
The Rice Diversity Project is a collaborative effort directed by Susan McCouch and others to explore the genetic basis of variation in rice and its wild ancestors, identifying genes that can enhance the performance of modern cultivars.
At the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement, we equip National Agricultural Research Institutes with the power to define unique goals and drive crop improvement to reduce malnutrition, hunger and provide equitable benefits to women and youth.
International agriculture news
Learn more about our work to address global challenges in food security and sustainability
News
The program – to be led by Larry Smart, professor of horticulture in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences – will integrate AgriTech expertise to help the state’s hops growers overcome breeding and disease-management challenges. Craft...
News
A breakthrough technology developed by Cornell researchers uses nanoscale sensors and fiber optics to measure water status just inside a leaf’s surface, where water in plants is most actively managed. The engineering feat provides a minimally invasive research tool that will greatly advance the understanding of basic plant biology, and opens the door for breeding more drought-resistant crops.
News
An anonymous gift of $1.5 million to support Cornell AgriTech research will improve grapevine health, quality, yields and profitability in New York state’s wine and grape industry through the creation of an endowed graduate student research...
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When today’s growers cultivate new varieties — trying to produce better tasting and more disease-resistant grapes — it takes 2-4 years for breeders to learn if they have the genetic ingredients for the perfect flower. Females set fruit, but...
