The History and Success of the public–private project on germplasm enhancement of maize (GEM)

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces the Latin American Maize Project (LAMP) that was the first coordinated international project for evaluating a major world crop. A coordinated and cooperative effort, the germplasm enhancement of maize (GEM) project was organized among public and private sectors. The project provides the corn industry, early breeding lines by using germplasm enhancement to improve and adapt useful exotic germplasm. Throughout the world, approximately 50,000 accessions of corn exist in germplasm banks and, until recently, many had never been evaluated for useful traits. Evaluation is important in identifying potentially valuable traits in accessions, but most countries cite the lack of useful evaluation information as a major bottleneck to increasing germplasm utilization. US agricultural research includes three sectors: Federal programs, state programs in land-grant and other universities, and private industry. Both the state and federal programs are considered as the public sector. The private sector in 1994 employed 509.8 SYs, while the public sector employed 35.3 SYs. This represents a serious constraint in human resources and expertise preventing the public sector from carrying out a major maize enhancement effort without private involvement. The objective of GEM is to provide, to the maize industry, materials developed using germplasm enhancement of useful exotic germplasm, with the ultimate aim of improving and broadening the germplasm base of maize hybrids grown by American farmers. GEM provides the social returns to justify its public support, and the potential for private returns to justify private participation. One factor in its success seems to be its federal leadership that provides the funding certainty that would be difficult to achieve with university leadership and grant funding. Another factor in GEM's success is its collaboration between the public and private corn breeding sectors. Finally, GEM is careful to make sure that only the best germplasm is used.