Unearthing Treasures of Agriculture: Jonathan Kressin's Journey as Pre-breeder at East-West Seed

Fellow colleagues of East-West Seed,

Today, we take a moment to celebrate the journey of Jonathan Kressin, our pre-breeder for tomatoes and legumes. With a strong academic background and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of smallholder farmers, Jonathan joined East-West Seed (EWS) in 2018 and has since carved out a path for himself, which we are excited to share with you below.

In the world of research and development, pre-breeding marks the beginning of the R&D pipeline. Jonathan's role as a pre-breeder is a quest to unearth traits that add value to the lives of smallholder farmers. Whether it is enhancing disease resistance or improving crop tolerance to adverse weather conditions, Jonathan's work enhances the bedrock of the variety breeder's germplasm.

His day-to-day activities range from analyzing data and observing plants in the field to collaborating with various departments within EWS, such as biotechnology and plant pathology. Jonathan also focuses on designing and managing trait-focused breeding projects and developing molecular markers for precise trait selection.

Journey of patience

One of the remarkable aspects of Jonathan's work is the long-term investment it demands. Breeding is a patient and intricate process that can span more than a decade, but Jonathan understands that every step he takes today paves the way for a brighter future. A recent accomplishment for him and his team was the completion of a set of multi-location phenotyping trials intended to identify tropical adaptation genes in tomatoes. This success, however, represents an important milestone and several years of hard work and collaboration with variety breeders across the tropics.


Jonathan plays a vital role in the research and development of crops. With a Master's and Ph.D. in plant breeding and pathology from North Carolina State University, he joined EWS in 2018, driven by a passion for agriculture. His main focus is creating top-quality tomato and yardlong bean elite parental lines with new and improved traits that cater to the different needs of the variety breeders in EWS.

Although being a pre-breeder comes with challenges, Jonathan remains determined to make a positive impact, even if it takes five to ten years to see results.

Innovation

For Jonathan, innovation embodies creativity, problem-solving, and the effective implementation of ideas. As a pre-breeder, he consistently questions the status quo, asking, "What if you had this new trait?" and "Can we do this better?" His ongoing curiosity and openness to new ideas makes him a source of innovation.

“...just about every bit of plant food that we eat has come from the creativity of a plant breeder and the hard work of a farmer. That is a pretty special legacy to be a part of.”


Thrill of discovery: What keeps Jonathan going

Jonathan's motivation comes from the joy of discovery. Like an explorer of old, he delves into the depths of biological complexity, unearthing hidden treasures that hold the potential to transform agriculture. The prospect of making farmers' lives better is what fuels his passion and determination.

Inspiring the Next Generation

To aspiring pre-breeders and breeders, Jonathan offers invaluable advice. He emphasizes the importance of education and experience, urging them to stay curious and open to learning. Listening, he believes, is the key to gaining wisdom and honing the art of breeding, a skill that comes with time and mentorship.

Collaboration is a key aspect for a breeder, and Jonathan values teamwork. He collaborates with other breeders, universities, and organizations globally to create a sustainable future with improved crops. His advice to aspiring breeders is simple but powerful: "Continuous learning is key! Aspiring breeders can thrive with dedication and diverse experiences in the complex field of modern plant breeding."

For more insight into Jonathan's passion for discovery and innovation, along with his commitment to farmers' well-being, watch the video below. With him and other skilled breeders, we are moving towards a future with more sustainable and plentiful vegetables that benefit everyone.


7kg bag of seed picture

“A 7kg bag of seed would feed more than 300,000 people their average consumption of tomatoes for a WHOLE YEAR! And, at the same time, over 900 tropical farmers would earn a living from growing those seeds. As a seed company working in the tropics, EWS is trying to help develop 15,000 of those bags each year. I find that astonishing! It is pretty cool to think that I breed tomatoes for more than 2 billion people…”