As the Graduate Program in Seed Technology and Business (STB) looks ahead to its upcoming Seed Business Management webinars in April, participants are encouraged to revisit, or explore for the first time, the rich content and expert perspectives featured in the November Seed Science and Technology webinar series, now available on demand.
Throughout November, the STB program hosted weekly lunch-hour webinars that brought together industry and academic leaders to share timely insights on seed technology, crop protection, and plant breeding. One session explored how crop protection challenges extend well beyond state boundaries, highlighting the importance of collaboration to address them effectively. Daren Mueller of Iowa State University discussed the work of the Crop Protection Network (CPN), a multi-state initiative that connects universities, specialists, and stakeholders across North America to deliver research-based information for seed and crop production. His presentation underscored how coordinated, multi-state efforts strengthen extension capacity, accelerate knowledge sharing, and drive innovation in crop protection.
November’s second webinar featured Jesse Alt, Global Wheat Development Lead at Corteva Agriscience. Alt presented an in‑depth overview of Corteva’s approach to hybrid wheat development, detailing both the scientific challenges and the innovative solutions developed by the company.
She explained the complexity of wheat breeding—particularly the difficulty of hybridization due to wheat’s floral structure—and described Corteva’s proprietary hybridization and sterility system, which incorporates a unique color‑tagged seed technology to manage female parent production. Alt outlined Corteva’s breeding pipeline, from inbred development through hybrid testing, emphasizing the role of genetics, phenotyping, and on‑farm trials in advancing yield, disease resistance, and agronomic performance.
The presentation also addressed practical considerations, including parent seed production, disease resistance priorities (including Fusarium head blight, rusts, and wheat streak mosaic virus), the emerging role of gene editing in discovery research, and future commercialization timelines—highlighting Corteva’s target launch of hybrid wheat in 2027.
The November webinar series concluded with an in-depth look at biological seed treatments, presented by Dr. Chad Kimmelshue, Director and Product Manager at Pivot Bio. Kimmelshue’s session provided an overview of the background and evolution of biological seed treatments, including their categories, discovery and production processes, and the various modes of action that make them an increasingly important tool in modern seed systems.
All November webinars were free, open to anyone globally, and were recorded and archived on the STB website, making them a valuable resource for professionals who want to revisit key topics or catch up on sessions they may have missed.
Looking ahead, the STB program will continue the conversation this April with the Seed Business Management webinars, offering a deeper dive into the strategic, financial, and leadership considerations involved in managing a seed business. Delivered entirely online, the April webinars are designed to provide flexible, workforce-friendly learning opportunities that allow participants to build advanced skills without stepping away from their professional responsibilities.
Together, the on-demand November webinars and the upcoming April Seed Business Management series reflect the STB program’s commitment to accessible education that supports career growth and strengthens the global seed workforce.
Check out all our webinar learning opportunities at: https://www.seedgrad.iastate.edu/past-topics/