Asked to pinpoint the top two skills young plant breeders need, the consensus is clear as far as Corteva’s Global Talent Development Lead Klaus Koehler is concerned. He sat down with Seed World at the recent meeting of the National Association for Plant Breeding (NAPB) in St. Louis, MO.
“Tenacity might not traditionally be considered a soft skill,” he says, “but it’s essential for today’s plant breeders.” The reason is twofold. Firstly, the science of plant breeding has become increasingly complex. With advancements in genetics and data analytics, breeders face a mountain of scientific knowledge to master. Secondly, plant breeding is a long-game profession where results can take years, even decades, to manifest. Staying motivated throughout that lengthy process demands resilience.
Equally important is the ability to work effectively within a team. “We’re much more interconnected as plant breeders now,” he notes. In the past 10 to 15 years, plant breeding has evolved into a collaborative discipline that often requires engaging with experts from multiple domains—whether that’s deploying novel phenotyping techniques or adapting new breeding approaches. Building effective relationships within these multidisciplinary teams has become essential, making teamwork an invaluable skill.
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