A message to the new and future breeders out there

Enid Pérez-Lara

By Enid Pérez-Lara

Stepping into the world of plant breeding is both exciting and humbling. 

Whether you’ve just finished your degree, are deep into your first field season, or simply feel the pull of a career that blends science, art, patience, and purpose, welcome.

I still remember the early days: the curiosity, the questions, and the thrill of possibility. If you’re reading this, you might be standing where I once stood. 

So, here are a few thoughts I’d like to share with you, from one breeder to another.

1. You’re Not Just Breeding Plants, You’re Shaping the Future

A breeder is more than a scientist. You are an architect of tomorrow’s food, ornamental, or other production systems, a quiet innovator behind every resilient seed. Your work will influence how we feed growing populations, adapt to climate change, and reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint.

Never underestimate the power of your work.

2. Learn the Science, But Never Stop Observing

Genetics, statistics, and data management are essential, absolutely. But don’t let spreadsheets keep you out of the field. Some of your most valuable insights will come when you kneel beside your plants, get your hands dirty, and watch how they grow.

Your eyes and instincts are tools, just like your genotyping platform.

3. Embrace Failure Early, It’s Part of the Job

Every breeder has lost a trial to frost, seen a promising cross fail, or questioned their choices. Failure doesn’t mean you’re not good at this; it means you’re doing something real.

What matters is how you respond, adapt, and move forward.   

4. Find Your Circle

Seek out mentors. Support your colleagues. Build connections across crops, countries, and career stages. A global community of breeders exists, and we all benefit when we share knowledge and lift each other up.

Your network will become one of your greatest assets.

5. Stay Curious, and Humble

No matter how much you know, plants will always find a way to surprise you. That’s the beauty of this profession. Stay curious. Stay open. Keep learning. Even after 10, 20, or 30 years, there’s always something new to discover.

Final Thoughts

Being a plant breeder isn’t just about developing varieties. It’s about resilience, collaboration, and meaningful impact. You’ll work in the quiet corners of research stations, yet your efforts will reach far beyond them.

Our work is often just a grain, or even a pinch of sand, in the vast dune of plant genetics. But without that spark of creativity, the future can take one path or another.

Plant architecture, for example, doesn’t change in a single breeding cycle. It has often taken generations to develop the genotypes we know today.

So, stay humble. Your creativity matters.

If you’re just starting out, or dreaming of it, keep going. The world needs you.

Enid Perez-Lara is Industry Engagement Manager at Agronomix, Winnipeg, MB.

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