Participatory breeding in organic systems: Experiences from maize case studies in the United States

Participatory breeding and crop selection can satis­fy the needs of underserved groups of farmers (e.g., organic producers, farmers producing spe­cialty grain for niche markets) neglected by the modern global seed industry. Participatory research methods that value local knowledge and facilitate the active involvement of producers, researchers, and other actors involved in the agri-food system are tactics that can help us achieve sustainable agri­culture. Interest in the use of participatory methods to increase the value of U.S. land-grant universities to society has grown rapidly during the last decade. Interest includes re-engagement in the develop­ment of maize hybrids that perform well in a diverse range of heterogeneous growing environ­ments and that are better suited for sustainability-minded producers, buyers, and consumers. Sys­tems-based breeding aimed at protecting the envi­ronment and providing food, fiber, and energy while considering equity issues, has been proposed as a way to overcome the shortcomings of privat­ized approaches. In this article, we consider recent projects that use collaborative methods for hybrid maize breeding, cultivar testing, and genetic research to develop, identify, and deliver traits associated with crop performance, quality, and sus­tainability. Three case studies consider the efforts focused on developing non-GMO varieties for organic and specialty markets. We find that, unlike many successful efforts focused on the improve­ment of other crops, there are few promising mod­els for participatory breeding of hybrid maize. Even though many projects have sought to involve stakeholders with a variety of methods, all have struggled to meaningfully engage farmers in maize hybrid improvement. Still, our reflection of case studies calls for systems-based breeding and sug­gests a path forward. This route would seek to address the needs, perspectives, and values of a broader range of actors participating in the food system by leveraging technologies and infrastruc­ture in service of the public. Land-grant universities are well positioned to play a crucial role in coordi­nating efforts, facilitating partnerships, and sup­porting breeding programs that satisfy societal wants that include health, equity, and care.