13th Annual Raymond F. Baker Plant Breeding Symposium Celebrates a Century of Impact in Plant Breeding
AMES, Iowa — March 26, 2026 — The 13th Annual Raymond F. Baker Plant Breeding Symposium, held Wednesday, March 25, at the Iowa State University Alumni Center, welcomed 125 in-person attendees and 15 virtual participants for a day of scientific exchange, celebration, and reflection on a century of leadership in plant breeding.
This year’s symposium was particularly meaningful as it marked the celebration of 100 years of Pioneer Hi-Bred and the lasting legacy of Raymond F.
Baker, whose foundational contributions helped shape modern seed production and agricultural science. The event was made possible through collaboration among graduate students in the Plant Breeding and Genetics Student Group, Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding, the Department of Agronomy, the Baker family, and Corteva Agriscience.
True to its tradition, the symposium was entirely organized by graduate students in the general area of plant breeding and genetics. The symposium explored the theme “Traditional and Technological Trends: Pioneering the Future of Plant Breeding,” highlighting how innovation continues to build upon a rich scientific foundation. The 2026 planning committee, co-chaired by Venkata Naresh Boddepalli and Joscif Raigne, was praised for organizing an event that provided a vital platform for professional development and global networking.
The symposium opened with a keynote presentation by Dean Podlich, who offered a detailed and engaging history of Raymond F. Baker and Pioneer’s early work in plant breeding. Podlich, who recently completed a book chronicling this history, shared rare photographs and stories illustrating the ingenuity and impact of Baker and his contemporaries. His presentation provided attendees with a unique perspective on how early scientific advances continue to influence plant breeding today.
Distinguished Speakers and Scientific Insights
The agenda featured a diverse lineup of experts who discussed the convergence of classical breeding and modern technologies like AI, robotics, and predictive analytics:
• Dr. Dean Podlich (Corteva Agriscience) shared insights on 100 years of Pioneer and the future of digital enablement in R&D pipelines.
• Dr. Michelle Graham (USDA-ARS/ISU) discussed genomic approaches for disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance.
• Dr. Kelly R. Robbins (Cornell) explored remote sensing and modeling to increase breeding efficiency.
• Dr. William F. Tracy (UW-Madison) reflected on the creative force of selection in evolution and plant breeding.
• Dr. William Rooney (Texas A&M) highlighted recent advances in sorghum breeding.
• Dr. Lirong Xiang (Cornell) demonstrated the transformative power of robotics and AI in plant phenotyping.
Featured Student Speakers:
- Karlene Negus- Iowa State University Designing Interpretable AI Models to Identify Drivers of Maize Phenotypic Plasticity
- Subash Thapa- South Dakota State University Smart Phenomics for Smarter Resistance Breeding: AI-Based FHB Assessment in Wheat
A special highlight of the event was the presentation of the Extraordinary Service to Plant Breeding Community Award to Dr. David Bubeck, Research Director at Corteva Agriscience. The award recognized Bubeck’s lifelong dedication to plant breeding, his leadership within the profession, and his commitment to mentoring students and early-career scientists.
The celebration continued with a commemorative cake cutting ceremony honoring the 100-year milestone, featuring members of the Baker family, Kendall Lamkey, and David Bubeck, reflecting the deep connections between Iowa State University, industry, and family legacy.
Student engagement remained a central focus of the symposium. Around 40 graduate and undergraduate students participated in a poster competition, with first, second, third place and people’s choice awards presented. In celebration of the centennial milestone, award amounts were increased, further recognizing the quality and importance of student research contributions.
Named after Raymond F. Baker, the first employee hired by Henry A. Wallace at Pioneer Hi-Bred and whose donation to ISU founded the Center, the annual symposium reflects Iowa State University’s historic and ongoing leadership in plant breeding research and education.
More information about the symposium and the Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding is available at https://www.plantbreeding.iastate.edu/symposium.