The USDA is considering allowing the release of 2, 4-D tolerant corn, while biotech giants battle for control of the seed industry in a panic over intellectual property rights.
Crop & Soil Research
Maize has been cultivated by humans for millennia. Unfortunately, the concentration of the seed industry have left farmers with few choices, and as a result there is little diversity in our corn crop: both in where the seeds are purchased and in the traits of the corn itself. Our research seeks to help change that.
Our program does not use transgenic technology. We go beyond viewing plants simply as being ‘materials.’ Rather, we attempt to make best use of the unique plant gifts associated with the diversity in maize plants, including their ability to adapt to multiple stresses. Our main objective is to breed plants that combine high agronomic performance under organic conditions with enhanced nutritional products. Our methods couple classical breeding and modern screening methods.
Find out more on the background and activities of our corn project including the social and environmental context, what we are doing, and highlights of our work and results. You can also read more about our focus on combining nutritional value and yield, the global implications and potential of our work, what is unique about our breeding/selection program, as well as some of the methods we use.
Insects are building resistance to genetically-modified crops, and bio-pesticides are found in the human bloodstream. What’s Next? …
The corn breeding program is in full swing. Our research team includes Research Director Walter Goldstein, Technician RJ Ottaviano, Researcher Allison Pratt-Szeliga, and Intern Marco Heredia, along with many seasonal workers. We are out in the fields now, diligently hand-pollinating corn. The weather has been a challenge with winds, drought, heavy rains, and hot and muggy conditions. However, [...]
Do you realize the importance of organic seed and the support it gives? Support for a healthy community, farm and the future of agriculture are just a few…
Uncertainty surrounds the effects of genetically-modified crops and glyphosate on the health of soils, plants, livestock, and people.
[...]
Institute Promotes Sustainable Agriculture People are taking notice of our research programs here at MFAI, and liking what they see. From plants with higher nutrition to diverse crop rotations, research here at MFAI could change the way we farm. Read what the Janesville Gazette had to say.
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute enters a new growing season with new staff and hybrid seed that was grown under organic conditions in Puerto Rico. Research continues to breed corn combining high nutrional value and yield [...]
Funding by USDA-ARS and by USDA-NIFA-OREI is accelerating our work in the development of high methionine and nitrogen efficient corn.
Neither Good for Farmers nor Consumers
Corn is the highest yielding, best-adapted cereal crop, and the most lucrative seed business in the country. There used to be many small companies that bred corn. However, in the last two decades there have been major consolidations as a few large companies struggle to dominate the supply of elite corn seed.
In 1988 Michael Fields Agricultural Institute began to breed, test, and produce new kinds of corn to provide an alternative to mega-business corn. We did this in response to a request from farmers for better quality corn. Farmers knew that gains in yield and other agronomic characteristics had come at the expense of nutritional value. [...]
Results in 2010 suggested that corn that has been selected under organic conditions appears to obtain more nitrogen than when conventionally bred corn is grown under organic conditions. We are currently researching this surprising phenomenon. [...]
The corn we are breeding has enhanced taste, protein quality and vitamin content. This may increase feed efficiency and animal health. The carotenoids found in corn not only are natural antioxidants and precursors of Vitamin A, they also are essential for preventing eye disease (macular degeneration). They turn the egg yolk yellow-orange and they are [...]
