1. Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics (IPBGG)
Joe Bouton, Interim Director
University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

2. A Brief History of “Modern” Plant Breeding at the University of Georgia
1994
UGA Research Foundation (UGARF) formalizes the licensing of GAES-developed cultivars
1995
UGARF Cultivar Development Grant Program
Uses royalty returns to fund applied cultivar development projects
11 projects initially funded
Currently > $1.0 million/year + $0.7 million/year to program enhancements 2

3. Plant Breeding at UGA 21 ~500 $3,800,000 per year
Faculty in Plant Breeding in CAES at UGA
More than any other US university
~500
Cultivars released
Many diverse species
$3,800,000 per year
Annual royalties from UGA-developed cultivars since 2007

4. Enhancing Infrastructure and Programs
1997
UGARF funds Plant Genome Analysis Equipment Grant ($0.75 million)
1998
Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) funds UGA Plant and Animal Genomics Initiative ($27 million)
2001
Center for Applied Genetic Technologies (CAGT) Building completed
2003
GA Seed Development Commission and GRA endow Eminent Scholar in Crop Genomics ($1.5 million)
2005
Michael A. Dirr Professorship (HORT)
2007
Vincent J. Dooley Professorship (HORT) 4

5. Formation of the Institute Response to need for breeders & strong support from state and national seed companies
2006
USDA designates Plant Breeding, Genetics & Genomics as a ‘National Needs’ area
2008 – Spring
Board of Reagents approve Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics– officially begins 1 July (Jerry Cherry and Roger Boerma)
2008 – Fall
BOR approves MS and PhD programs in Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics (David Knauft)
2010 – Summer
PBGG course designation obtained
Have 16 PBGG courses 5

6. UGA/CAES Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics
Missions
To develop improved plant cultivars (varieties) from agronomic and horticultural species of importance to Georgia, the United States, and worldwide.
To conduct research and train graduate students in modern plant breeding methodology and technique – including applying genetic and genomic tools to cultivar (variety) development.

7. Institute of Plant Breeding*
Only Institute in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
19 Graduate Faculty from: Crop & Soil Sciences and Horticulture
Athens, Griffin, & Tifton Campuses
6 Adjunct members & Affiliate members
(including USDA-ARS) * *

8. Organizational Information
Director (Interim)
Joe Bouton
Steering Committee
David Knauft, Brian Schwartz, Paul Raymer
Graduate Coordinator
Dayton Wilde
Administrative Assistant
Sally McDonald

9. The UGA Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics
We define success as
Benefitting our clientele by providing improved plant cultivars for licensing
Enhancing the teaching mission of UGA by educating and training the next generation of plant breeders and plant geneticists
Accelerating the rate of genetic gain in plants
Establishing an “Area of Excellence” at UGA/CAES/CRSS/HORT for the future
Maintaining or increasing the capacity for plant breeding at UGA 9

10. IPBGG Supporters Strong support from many groups – especially
GA Crop Improvement Association
GA Seed Development Commission
GA Seedsmen Association
UGARF 10

11. Graduate Degree Programs
Institute is attracting very high quality applicants
Currently 10 M.S. students and 13 Ph.D. students
First 5 students graduated in spring 2009
9 graduated since then
Most students have jobs months before graduating
Starting salary ~$90K
More jobs than students

12. Undergraduate Programs
Lack of undergraduate program
Major gap/deficiency
2 Georgia Seed Development Internships
Undergraduate research training in individual programs
Would like to be involved with the undergraduate Applied Biotechnology major
Great feeder program for graduate school in PBGG

13. Future Challenges Retain faculty positions as breeders retire or move
Boerma, Brummer, Dirr & Johnson
Research farm availability
Greenhouse space
Maintain Cultivar Development Grant Program
Increase student numbers, particularly at Griffin and Tifton
Increase assistantships for students
Applicant number exceeds assistantship availability