Articles describe genomic selection’s potential to meet future challenges in agriculture

AMES Iowa (November 4, 2025) - Developing high-yielding, nutritious and climate-resilient crops is vital to safeguard the future of global food production. To meet the challenges ahead, Iowa State University scientists are working with crop breeders to look for approaches that can efficiently speed up crop improvement programs. 

“Genomic selection is an important part of the answer,” according to Professor Jianming Yu, the Pioneer Distinguished Chair in Maize Breeding and director of the Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding at Iowa State. 

Genomic selection (GS) is a set of related technologies quickly moving from theory to practice. In just a couple of decades, they are bringing seismic changes to crop and animal breeding programs.  

A recent paper, Genomic Selection: Essence, applications and prospects in the prestigious scientific journal, The Plant Genome, reviews GS as part of a special section on crop genetics, genomics and biotechnology. The lead author, Diana Escamilla, a former post-doctoral researcher in Yu’s lab, is now a crop breeding specialist in private industry. 

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Originally published by Iowa State University in November 2025