By Blake Jackson
Julie Dawson, a plant breeding expert at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been named the Clif Bar and Organic Valley Chair in Plant Breeding for Organic Agriculture. Dawson's research focuses on developing new crop varieties that are adapted to organic farming systems and local food markets in the Upper Midwest. She also works to train the next generation of organic plant breeders.
Dawson's work is supported by Clif Bar and Organic Valley, two companies that are committed to sustainable agriculture. Dawson's research is helping to make organic farming more viable and accessible to farmers and is also helping to improve the quality and diversity of food available to consumers.
Dawson's work is particularly important in the Upper Midwest, where organic farming is growing rapidly. Organic farming can help to improve soil health, reduce water pollution, and increase biodiversity. Dawson's research is helping to make organic farming more successful in the Upper Midwest, which will benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment.
In addition to her research and teaching, Dawson is also involved in public service at the national level. She is the lead author on a 2023 USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service report about intellectual property rights and competition in the seed industry. She is also working with the USDA to implement some of the report's recommendations.
Dawson is a highly respected plant breeder and an asset to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her work is helping to make organic farming more successful and to improve the quality and diversity of food available to consumers.
Photo Credit: istock-elenathewise
Categories: Wisconsin, Crops