Back to Basics in Plant Breeding: Why the Old Ways Still Matter

In plant breeding, it is easy to get swept up in the excitement of new technology. Genomic tools, AI-powered selection models, and advanced phenotyping are all reshaping our industry, and they absolutely have their place. But if we lose sight of the basics, we risk running fast… in the wrong direction.

A lesson from the onions

A few years ago, I inherited a backcross project in onions. The aim was to create A and B lines for a CMS crop from an open-pollinated C line, using molecular fingerprinting. Anyone who has worked with onions knows the challenge:

1. They are a biennial crop.

2. They are bee-pollinated, which means seeds from a single plant are a mix of selfs and F1s.

   
   

Because of this, getting to BC4 can take six to eight years. The project I stepped into was already at BC2, so I decided to take a slightly different path. I pulled out A/B lines and began good, old-fashioned selection in the field. I still remember walking that trial row, seeing uniform, healthy plants standing out like beacons, proof that a sharp eye and a pair of boots in the dirt can sometimes still rival any lab result.

The result? While the molecular fingerprinting approach is still ongoing, the lines I selected “the old way” are already being tested in commercial environments. The lesson was not that one method is better than the other, but that combining traditional field selection with advanced molecular tools can get you where you want to go, faster and with more certainty.

The industry trend

Worldwide, the push is always toward new technology. It sells well, it generates excitement, and in many cases it genuinely moves us forward. But sometimes that rush means we miss the fundamentals, the agronomy, the season choice, the sowing, the location. Without those right, even the best tech will not save the project.

Three takeaways for breeders and agronomists

1. Be the brakes when needed: Sales teams and product managers have to move fast to stay ahead in the market. Breeders need to balance that speed with caution, making sure the product is truly ready before it is released. The same applies to adopting new technologies, get proof of concept before putting all your eggs in one basket.

2. Do not discard too quickly: When a new project or technology does not deliver, resist the urge to abandon it immediately. Fix the basics first. The lessons from failure are often more valuable than those from quick wins.

3. Get the agronomy right: Wrong planting, sowing, season, or location can turn your breeding program into a marathon in the wrong direction. Start with solid foundations.

   
   

Finding the balance

The best breeding programs I have seen are the ones that blend the timeless with the cutting-edge. Fieldwork, careful observation, and patience combined with the right technologies at the right stage, that is the sweet spot. In breeding, speed matters, but direction matters more, and the best path forward often starts with a slow, steady walk through the field.

Technology can help us run, but it is the basics that make sure we are running the right race.