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Inaugural Symposium

Edgar S. McFadden Symposium Hope wheat banner

Edgar S. McFadden Inaugural Symposium on Wheat Improvement

In 1916, Edgar S. McFadden envisioned and accomplished the first major breakthrough in conferring genetic resistance to stem rust. From a single seed, his work is still making a critical difference today, feeding billions of people globally. We held the Inaugural Edgar S. McFadden Symposium on Wheat Improvement September 23-24 to continue his legacy by honoring him and other global leaders in wheat research.

Key conference speakers included Dr. Catherine Woteki, Undersecretary for USDA Research; Dr. Elsa Murano, Interim Director of the Norman E. Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture; Noel Vietmeyer author of several books describing the legacy of Norman Borlaug; and Ray Huey, grandson of Edgar S. McFadden.

Edgar S. McFadden: Prelude to the Green Revolution

Speakers included Dr. Noel Vietmeyer, Author and biographer of Norman E. Borlaug; Mr. G. Mark Mickelson, Representative, South Dakota State Legislature, Sioux Falls, SD, Grandson of Governor George T. Mickelson; Mr. Ray Huey, Grandson of Edgar S. McFadden; and Dr. Kevin D. Kephart, Vice President for Research & Economic Development, South Dakota State University.

Sponsors

  • South Dakota Crop Improvement Association
  • South Dakota Foundation Seed Stock Division
  • South Dakota Wheat Commission
  • Edgar S. McFadden Endowment for Wheat Improvement
  • SDSU - College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences