Description: Mathematical modeling has been used extensively to describe real-life processes and contribute to their understanding and forecasting. Applied to plant breeding, mathematical modeling has the potential to tremendously increase its efficiency through improved decisions from exhaustive evaluations. Recent improvements in genotyping and sequencing technologies, and the resulting ability to generate very large amounts of genotypic data at very reasonable costs, make it all the more relevant to apply mathematical modeling to optimize breeding processes. Clear benefits have been demonstrated in the case of marker-assisted trait introgression and are expected for other breeding processes.

Why it Matters to the Seed Industry: Plant breeding is the engine that feeds the seed industry. Without the continuous development of new and improved varieties, the seed industry would not be what it is today. Decision-making is key to plant breeding. Better decisions lead to better products, higher product development efficiency, and a healthier seed industry.