Harnessing Information Technologies for More Efficient Crop Development

New crops face formidable competition from established crops. Management practices for established crops are well understood, and their productivity gains over time are often spectacular, such as the nearly linear increase in maize yields from 1955 to the present (Troyer 2004). Their long success reflects well-organized research, extension and marketing efforts. For new crops to prosper against such competition, researchers and promoters must ensure that they maximize the efficiency with which they capture and manage information relating to crop improvement, agronomy, and utilization. The need for reliable information is especially critical when moving to commercial-scale production where especially positive or negative experiences may establish the reputation of a crop for years to come. Information technologies (IT) can benefit crop development by integrating data management and utilization across disciplines and software systems. Efforts to develop new crops must progress from individual, isolated data sets and software tools to a realm where information flows smoothly from field and laboratory studies to diverse types of software capable of linking crop-specific data to information on climate, soils, production regions, markets, or other topics relevant to the interests of stakeholders. This paper argues that an integrated approach to managing and using information is essential for attaining the efficiencies required for new crop development. The foundation of efficient new crop development is research in agronomy, plant breeding, and related fields. However, efficiency includes reducing risks of disputes over intellectual property rights, satisfying regulatory concerns related to adverse environmental or health impacts, and providing producers, processors, and buyers with accurate, current information. We start by examining needs for efficient data management and defining integrated information management. Experiences developing integrated systems for lesquerella (Lesquerella spp., Brassicaceae) and vernonia (Vernonia galamensis Less., Asteraceae) are then discussed. Ecophysiological models and geographic information systems (GIS) are considered briefly to show how integrated information is used by more complex tools. Finally, we examine strategies for moving toward greater integration and use of information on new crops.