Breeding Insight (BI) is a research organization funded by the USDA-ARS and housed at Cornell University. BI is composed of scientists and software engineers who work as part of a national initiative to extend the application of genotypic methods to routine development and research of specialty crops and livestock. Breeding methods and tools of specialty plants and animals has long lagged behind major crops and livestock. Specialty species, when grouped together, have equal economic value to the major crops and provide valuable nutrition and flavor to consumer diets. One of Breeding Insight’s aims is to accelerate breeding efforts by integrating the use of phenomics (trait analysis) with genomics (genetic analysis) to increase the rate of genetic gain and support USDA-ARS breeding programs as they create healthy, nutritious, and sustainable specialty crops and animals. BI’s focus also includes creating tools and resources that are species agnostic to provide support to the wide variety of specialty species.  Breeding Insight currently supports 27 USDA-ARS specialty species across the United States.

Dr. Craig Beil has worked in plant breeding for the last 12 years. He joined Breeding Insight in June 2021 and is the Breeding Team Lead. He has a B.S. in Agronomy from Truman State University, a M.S. in Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management from Colorado State University, and a Ph.D. in Wheat Breeding from Colorado State University. Craig worked in industry breeding tropical papaya (Carica papaya) and semi-tropical castor (Ricinus communis) for southern and northern Mexico, respectively.