Objective areas

A transdisciplinary lens

Our seven objective areas take a holistic approach to crop improvement research. By integrating experts from multiple disciplines, we are able to tackle grand challenges such as drought tolerance and resilience in innovative ways. Our experts based at U.S. universities work hand in hand with our network of global partners across East Africa, West Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean to develop tools, technologies and methods that confront today’s greatest food security challenges.

Breeding informatics

Deploying cloud computing hubs and web application for data-based simulations to optimize breeding efficiency and genetic gains in staple crops

Cross-cutting themes

Supporting plant breeding programs’ attention to gender equality, youth engagement, nutrition security, resilience and inclusion in the development of tools, technologies, and methods

Genomics

Leveraging advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics to introduce advanced trait predictions in breeding populations

Institutional Capacity

Assessing the institutional capacity of national agricultural research centers to innovate and sustain crop improvement activities

Phenomics

Advancing data collection and management through cutting-edge technology to introduce nutritional and resilience traits in crops

Priority setting

Delivering scalable and robust market analysis with critical attention to issues of gender, age, social difference and more

Trait discovery

Empowering the rapid discovery and deployment of novel plant traits by leveraging rigorous hypothesis-testing and advanced genomic resources

From our experts

From our researchers

January 20, 2022

Democratizing data through Communities of Practice

In the international development sector, performance data is too often seen simply as a tool that donors use to keep projects accountable to the donor’s interests—not to prioritize the needs…

Innovation Lab

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Breeding informatics From our researchers

July 9, 2021

Brappid Apps: An idea that could revolutionize breeding informatics

As plant breeding – and agriculture in general – becomes digital and data-driven, a common problem emerges: How can breeders and biologists access and, more importantly, use this data with…

Innovation Lab

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From our researchers

March 10, 2021

Gender Is A Hot Topic In Agriculture. It’s Missing The Point

Written by: Hale Ann Tufan, associate director of the Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement and research professor at Cornell Global Development Tell people the biggest goals for global food security,…

Innovation Lab

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