Objective
Genetic uniformity can lead to vulnerability to crop pathogens, insects, and abiotic factors, thereby compromising food security. Breeding with un-adapted, exotic germplasm is done in order to introduce useful genetic diversity for minimizing risks to production, introducing unique traits, or improving trait performance.
This is a long term process requiring coordinated effort and use of multiple, diverse testing environments to evaluate the materials for useful traits, develop or modify breeding methodologies and procedures, conduct breeding efforts in field nurseries and evaluate some traits via laboratory analyses.
By reducing genetic vulnerability and providing genetic improvements that increase productivity or utilization for food, feed, bio-energy and other industrial uses, the value of the crop to producers and end-users is enhanced and consumers ultimately benefit.