Building Mutually Beneficial Relationships between Plant Breeders and Stakeholders.

Plant breeders are an important link between scientific research and the public.  The products of plant breeding, especially improved crop cultivars and hybrids, are useful outcomes of research in many areas of biology and plant science.  Thus, plant breeders have an important role as intermediaries between the public and scientists. The WheatCAP (Coordinated Agricultural Project) is a multi-state, multi-institution project funded by USDA-CSREES-NRI that integrates research, education and extension toward the goal of genetic improvement of the US wheat crop. The integrated nature of this project encouraged us to build mutually beneficial relationships with our stakeholders in the following manner.  1) Relationships are long term - established before the inception of the project, strengthened by stakeholder identification of research goals, and maintained through ongoing efforts in extension and outreach.  2) Flow of information occurs multi-directionally.  WheatCAP members’ newly developed lines provide a tangible basis for interaction between breeders, students, extension, growers, and end-users. WheatCAP members inform the public about these materials in a variety of ways, including personal interactions.   An educational web site (http://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/MASWheat) has been created to help disseminate information to stakeholders through fact sheets, educational documents, and animations. Stakeholders provide expert advice on research and extension direction as well as helping to inform our students through the ’Combine to Kitchen trips’. 3) Education of new plant breeders includes experience building stakeholder relationships.  Education efforts not only involve traditional student research opportunities, but also include opportunities for students to assist in extension.    Students have participated in ‘Combine to Kitchen’ field trips, where stakeholders serve as the experts to educate students regarding the production and end-use of wheat cultivars.   Participation in the WheatCAP has been educational for the members of the research team, allowing sustained integration of novel research, extension and education tools into the participating programs.