The evolution of a partnership-based breeding program for organic corn

Abstract

This paper describes decades of research develop­ing a new type of corn (maize) cultivar that utilizes partnerships with seed-borne, bacterial endophytes to create environmentally friendly, nutritious corn that is better adapted to organic farming. Over time the project engaged and formed multiple, evolving networks of corn breeders and other scientists, organic farmers, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), private companies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), and state agricultural univer­sities in several states. It addressed and partly resolved the need for developing (a) yield-competi­tive hybrids with greater nutrient density (methio­nine and minerals), (b) better adapted inbreds for organic production conditions, and (c) reduced pollution from nitrogen fertilizers.

The partnership approach taken also differs from usual top-down mechanistic breeding approaches in that the methods of breeding entailed holistic attention, learning, and respect for what turned out to be corn plants evolving in symbiogenesis with beneficial microbial partners. Initial studies indicate that the resulting corn from the program is competitive in yield but has better nutritional value. It obtains more of its nitrogen from microbial biomass and organic matter and nitrogen fixation than does conventional corn. Its performance partially depends on seed-borne plant/microbial partnerships. This corn continues to be developed at the Mandaamin Institute but is also being commercially introduced for testing by farmers.