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Plant breeder

Plant breeders undertake scientific research into plant/crop-based agriculture with the aim of making improvements to plant breeding techniques and developing new strains of crops.

Prior to 1964 when the Plant Varieties & Seeds Act was passed, almost all plant breeding was the result of publicly funded research; now most breeding takes place in the 60+ commercial UK companies.

Plant breeder job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Plant breeders use various techniques to improve existing plant varieties or create new ones, aiming to improve appearance, resistance to disease, yield and other characteristics.

Key tasks include:

setting research aims and objectives
producing project plans and budgets
undertaking laboratory, glasshouse and field trials
analysing and interpreting data; identifying the best varieties/species
selecting parent plants for cross-breeding
making presentations
writing technical publications and reports
keeping up-to-date with current developments
liaising with other plant breeders
managing technical staff.

Private sector jobs often come with a range of benefits such as a company car, medical insurance and performance-linked pay. Opportunities for overseas work occur occasionally, although previous international experience may be required, and vacancies are often temporary.

Typical employers plant breeders

commercial plant breeding companies
specialist seed producers
biotechnology and genetic engineering firms
international research institutes
Government research agencies
the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
the Department for International Development.

There is moderate competition for vacancies. Jobs are advertised by careers services and specialist recruitment agencies, in local/national newspapers and publications including New Scientist, Nature, Farmers' Weekly, Scottish Farmer, The Grower and other trade journals. Speculative applications are advisable, for which information produced by the British Society of Plant Breeders Ltd may be useful.

Qualifications and training required

A degree in biological sciences, biotechnology, botany, genetics, agriculture, horticulture or crop or plant science is required. A relevant postgraduate qualification may also be necessary. Applications should be made as early in the year prior to study as possible. Relevant agricultural/field trials/plant breeding work experience is particularly beneficial.