more, more, more: historical improvements to maize yields in the united states dr. david l. benson...
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More, More, More: Historical Improvements to Maize Yields in
the United States
Dr. David L. BensonAgriPreneur Summit, Kampala, Uganda
April 21-22, 2015
Cornhusker Hybrids, LLC
Consultation and contract services for maize breeding and seed production
Our mission is to help to feed the 9.6 billion people on this planet in 2050 by
implementing breeding and hybrid creation strategies that increase the rate of genetic
gain in maize.
THREE BASIC GENETIC PHENOMENA IN COMMERCIAL MAIZE BREEDING
• Inbreeding Depression = and opposite in its effect on the population mean
• Heterosis – Progeny outperform the average (midpoint) of the parents
• Additive Genetic Variance – Breeding Value= degree of resemblance between relatives
COMMERCIAL MAIZE BREEDING
“The reduction of a complex breeding population to its pure line components permits the identification and reproduction of specific elite hybrids. This is the primary objective of inbreeding in Maize” Hallauer & Miranda 1981
Long Term Maize Yield Improvement in the United States
1880 – 1936 Era of the Open Pollinated Variety
1937 – 1956Era of the Double Cross Hybrid
1956 – 1995Era of the Single Cross Hybrid
1996 – 2014Era of the Genetically Modified Hybrid
2015- 2050Era of Abundance
United States Average Maize Yields1970 -2014- Year Effects
African Maize Yields vs. The United States
Uganda Maize Area and Production Trends 1990-2010
The Cornhusker Hybrids vision of the year 2050 is one of maize abundance
Ag Robotics:Blazing the Trail to Abundance
Where do we go from here?If maize yields in Africa increased 0.12 metric
tons/Hectare each year for the next 36 years, the average yield would increase 4.32 metric tons/Hectare
BUT CONSIDER….If yields increased 0.18 metric tons/Hectare, the
average yield would increase 6.48 metric tons/Hectare
If yields increased 0.24 metric tons/Hectare, the average yield would increase 8.64 metric tons/Hectare
What will this require?
• Dramatic increases in investment • Continued enhancement and innovation in plant
genetics, plant breeding and agricultural sciences and robotics
• Leveraging of innovation by emerging entrepreneurial Ugandan seed companies
