V4 Benson AgriPrenuer Summit April 10, 2015 dlb

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, LLCConsultation 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

David L. Benson, Ph.D

(402) 366-1938cornhuskerhybrids@gmail.com

www.cornhuskerhybrids.com