Thomas Brutnell has a long career in biotechnology and has been the chief scientific officer at McClintock, LLC, an agricultural biotech startup, since 2022. In his role, Thomas Brutnell oversees innovations that advance breeding technologies, including using artificial intelligence in plant breeding.

1. Exploring
the Use of AI
in Plant
Breeding

2. Thomas Brutnell has a long
career in biotechnology and has
been the chief scientific
officer at McClintock, LLC, an
agricultural biotech startup,
since 2022. In his role, Thomas
Brutnell oversees innovations
that advance breeding
technologies, including using
artificial intelligence in
plant breeding.

3. There are a number of ways to utilize AI in plant breeding. For example, AI can
identify the most efficient path to crop improvement by integrating with genomic
selection. In genomic selection, breeders use molecular markers to define small
segments of the genome. They then compare the phenotypes (e.g. trait values such as
protein content or oil content) of individuals with their unique set of molecular
markers to identify associations between phenotype and genotype.

4. The models used to make these
associations can be optimized using AI
to accurately predict the phenotype of
future lines based on genotype alone.
Thus, instead of having to rely on
multiple rounds of genotyping and
phenotyping, plant breeders can simply
focus on creating the optimal
genotypes that drive the desired
phenotypes. This eliminates a very
costly and time consuming field-based
phenotyping component to the process
and helps plant breeders accelerate
crop development.

5. It's also possible to leverage AI to incorporate environmental
information into the breeding process. Accounting for
environmental effects on crop performance (e.g. drought or
excessive heat), is always very challenging in breeding
because of the inherent variability associated with extreme
environments. However, AI can now be used to begin
interrogating genotype x phenotype x environment interactions
with the aim of developing crops that are more resilient in
the face of climate change.