Vegetable Breeding Institute (VBI)

The Vegetable Breeding Institute (VBI) includes faculty at Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison who are conducting basic and applied vegetable breeding research, as well as domestic and international members in the vegetable seed industry who actively support VBI research.

Mission Statement

The mission of the VBI is five-fold:

  1. To assure the continued development of improved vegetable breeding lines and varieties to meet future needs of the vegetable industry and the general public.
  2. To encourage the transition of basic and applied research findings into usable germplasm and methodologies for use by private sector plant breeders.
  3. To support applied vegetable breeding programs in which both graduate and undergraduate students may train to become capable vegetable breeders of the future.
  4. To provide a forum in which a continuing dialogue is encouraged between plant breeders in the private and public sectors.
  5. To ensure the fulfillment of its mission by providing ongoing financial support for vegetable breeding research at institutions represented by participating faculty.

Contact Us

Vegetable Breeding Institute
Cornell Universsity
School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Breeding and Genetics Section
103C Leland Lab
Ithaca, NY 14853

Email: VBI [at] cornell.edu (VBI[at]cornell[dot]edu)

  • Irwin Goldman (beets, carrots, onions)
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Email: ilgoldma [at] wisc.edu (ilgoldma[at]wisc[dot]edu)
     
  • Phillip D. Griffiths (broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, dry and snap bean)
    Cornell University
    E-mail: pdg8 [at] cornell.edu (pdg8[at]cornell[dot]edu)
     
  • Michael Mazourek (cucumber, melon, pepper, pumpkin, snap peas, summer and winter squash)
    Cornell University
    Email: mm284 [at] cornell.edu (mm284[at]cornell[dot]edu)
     
  • William F. Tracy (sweet corn)
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
    Email: wftracy [at] wisc.edu (wftracy[at]wisc[dot]edu)
     
  • Greg Vogel (tomato, eggplant)
    Cornell University
    Email: gmv23 [at] cornell.edu
  • VBI Advisor:
    Molly Jahn (VBI advisor)
    Dr. Jahn is no longer active in the VBI as a vegetable breeder but serves in an advisory capacity.  
    Email: mjahn [at] cals.wisc.edu (mjahn[at]cals[dot]wisc[dot]edu)

The following companies actively support the Cornell Vegetable Breeding Institute:

  • American Takii, Inc
    Salinas, CA
  • Bejo Seeds, Inc.
    Oceano, CA
  • Breeder Select, LLC
    Sioux Falls, SD
  • Chia Tai Company, Ltd.
    Samutsakorn, Thailand
  • CRC Limagrain Vegetable Seeds, Vilmorin & Cie
    Chappes, France
  • Clover Seed Company, Ltd
    Hong Kong, China
  • Crookham Company
    Caldwell, ID
  • Emerald Seed Company
    El Centro, CA
  • Enza Zaden USA, Inc.
    Salinas, CA
  • Feltrin Sementes LTDA
    Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
  • Harris Seeds/Garden Trends, Inc
    Rochester, NY 
  • High Mowing Organic Seeds
    Wolcott, VT
  • East-West Seed Group, Hortigenetics Research (S.E. Asia) Ltd.
    Chiangmai, Thailand
  • Hudson Valley Seed Co.
    Accord, NY
  • Johnny's Selected Seeds
    Albion, ME
  • Nunhems, USA, Inc./BASF Vegetable Seeds 
    Davis, CA
  • Outstanding Seed Company
    Beaver Falls    PA
  • Plennegy (Pty) Ltd/Starke Ayers
    Greytown, South Africa
  • Rijk Zwaan USA Inc. 
    Salinas, CA
  • Row 7 Seed Company
    Dobbs Ferry, NY
  • Rupp Seeds, Inc
    Wauseon, OH
  • Sakata Seed America, Inc.
    Salinas, CA
  • Sakata Seed Sudamerica,Ltda.
    Braganca Paulista, Brazil
  • Seeds by Design, Inc.
    Willows, CA
  • Seneca Foods Corporation
    Janesville, WI
  • Seneca Vegetable Research
    Hall, NY
  • Tokita Seed Co., Ltd.
    Saitama-ken, Japan