1. Organized by MGEC

2. It is the mission of the Maize Genetics Executive Committee to identify both the needs and the opportunities for maize genetics, and to communicate this information to the broadest possible life science community. This community includes scientists, funding sources for scientists, and the end users for the accomplishments of maize genetics, from farmers to consumers. - Jeff Bennetzen, MNL 75

3.  2015 New members: Kathy Newton Jianming Yu  2015 New chair: Nathan Springer

4.  Summarized and reported 2014 survey results to stakeholders http://maizemeeting.maizegdb.org/mgec-survey14/  Refreshed and filled appointed membership  Created and populated internal documentation system  Monthly communication (mostly telecon)  McClintock Prize medal competition nominations, selection announcement  Nominated individuals to the board of the FFAR (Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research)

5.  Open session NCGA– Rick Vierling Iowa Corn – David Ertl & Bob Bowman NSF – Diane Okamuro & Anne Sylvester USDA-ARS – Jose Costa & Jack Okamuro  Closed discussions MU Endowment Maize Transformation

6.  Seed funding for development for Maize Phenotype Information Platform Development (iPlant, Breeding Management System, MaizeGDB)  National Ag Genotyping Center Fargo, ND fee for service http://www.genotypingcenter.com/  Current focus: increasing infrastructure for phenotyping: Strategically investing in updated equipment at Experiment Stations

7.  Shrinking representation for agriculture  In 2011 15% of the population lived in rural areas  Spending reductions anticipated, with biggest cuts expected to be from the Discretionary Budget “You can do anything you want in DC as long as you have the votes.” -LBJ

8.  http://findourcommonground.com

9.  Genomes to Fields (G2F) – basis for a nascent request for funding from Congress analogous to request to sequence maize genome  Farmer perspective: GMOs Sustainability Precision agriculture

10.  Loves that maize community is a leader in mentoring and teaching students enthusiastically – maize community is the model for how to best use such funds for conferences. MM is only major conference continuously supported by NSF’s PGRP  Appreciation for acknowledgment of funding sources at MM in ABSTRACTS  They are asked more than ever to justify their spending choices   Two major review criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts Q: What is BI? A: You tell us. Examples: “Perspectives on Broader Impacts”

11.  PGRP May 27 target date Foci:  Genomics-empowered plant research to tackle fundamental questions in plant sciences on a genome-wide scale (RESEARCH-PGR)  Development of tools and resources for plant genome research including novel technologies and analysis tools to enable discovery (TOOLS-PGR)  Mid-Career Investigator Awards in Plant Genome Research (MCA-PGR) transitions from fields other than plant genomics, post-tenure and not retired  Early Career Investigator Awards in Plant Genome Research (ECA-PGR)  allows coPI’s  broadening their capabilities in plant genomics  esp. encouraged: no prev. exp with PGRP funding  Assistant Prof, <24 months Continue to encourage data sharing, international collaboration, industrial collaboration Addition of Early Career creates a full pipeline from postdocs to early career to mid-career

12.  BREAD Joint NSF + Bill & Melinda Gates 5 years, $48M 5 th year April 27 deadline This year’s foci:  Developing High Throughput, Low Cost Phenotyping Tools and Devices to facilitate assessment of field-based phenotypes, especially for root and tuber crops (PHENO)  Advancing Basic Research in Crop Plants Relevant to Smallholder Agriculture in Developing Countries (ABRDC) to develop critically needed sequence and functional genomics resources to enable basic and applied research in crop plants important for smallholder agriculture.

13.  Seeking input on initiatives and addressing grand challenges  Excited about the Genomes to Fields Initiative  Big Data Initiative New Associate Administrator for Operations: Simon Liu is executing on the ARS Big Data initiative. For more information contact Doreen Ware, CSIO. Major areas of focus:  getting Internet2 to locations  creating bioinformatics training opportunities for scientists in collaboration with iPlant  FY14 saw funding increases As a component of the Big Data initiative there were increases for a number of projects including MaizeGDB and other crop databases. Increases to the National Plant Germplasm System  FY15 same  FY16 President’s Budget Includes increases to targeted projects in Missouri (maize) and Tifton, Georgia (maize & sorghum)  Seeking input on databases, genetics, and genomics  MaizeGDB leadership position is in the process of being filled  FFAR: Still not fully developed. Matching funds for research are 1:1 and companies contributing matching funds will help to select those projects to be funded.

14.  Guidelines and plan not fully developed  Matching funds from industry  Industry partners involved in project selection  http://ffar.info (coming soon)  http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/us damediafb?contentid=2014/07/0156.xml& printable=true&contentidonly=true

15.  MNL online only next year (Mary Schaeffer and Jim Birchler, editors)  Current value: $161,507, earns $6,488 in a good year  Desire: to continue to support the community as a whole, foster cooperation and communication  Anticipated use: global undergraduate support at Maize Meeting for registration and accomodations (complements existing programs like MaGNET - Maize Genetics Network Enhancement via Travel)

16.  Need Increase capacity  Bottlenecks greenhouse space recruit/retain staff balancing service with research to improve capacity and efficiency  MGEC encourages: Coordination among groups rather than independent threads via, e.g., activities that could be supported by NSF’s RCN Cooperation among these groups in concert with industry partners (Paul Chomet is a good initial contact) Development of novel ideas to improve facilities (via, e.g., NSF MRI, partnerships with other groups, strategic use of existing facilities from facilities that might become available as entities reorganize) New thinking on how to increase capacity is needed