For this reason, seed producers must take extra care when cultivating hybrid seed production. Most of the popcorn produced today is from F1 hybrid varieties, Mitch Tuinstra, agronomy professor of plant breeding and genetics, Wickersham Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Research and scientific director of the Institute of Plant Sciences, said.Īlmost all popcorn is GM-free, Tuinstra added, which means it contains no genetically modified materials. “Taste and mouthfeel are also important but difficult to breed for,” Hulbert said. Like any crop, the yield is essential, but characteristics like expansion (the ratio between the weight of kernels and the volume popped), shape, color and grain size are also prioritized. Popcorn genetics are different from other types of corn used for animal feed or human consumption, Hulbert added. The original Purdue genetics have been diluted and re-crossed, but they are still important.” “We started with Purdue genetics and brought in other popcorn genetics from throughout the Americas. “The way plant breeding works is you begin with a broad base,” Hulbert explained.

It’s a global snack that continues to grow in popularity.” “Popcorn isn’t just an American snack anymore. After Ashman retired from Purdue in the mid-’90s, he spent several years consulting with Ag Alumni Seed. Ashman built and advanced a world-class popcorn genetics program that produced seeds optimal for popping. The genetics used by Ag Alumni Seed, and most other popcorn seed producers, can be traced back to Bruce Ashman, a former professor of botany and plant pathology within the college. Founded initially in the 1930s to market a variety of hybrid seeds, including watermelon, tomato and grain, developed by College of Agriculture researchers, the company now primarily specializes in popcorn. He would certainly know.Īg Alumni Seed, a Purdue affiliate and commercial seed breeder and distributor, is one of the leading vendors of hybrid popcorn seeds in the world.

“Maybe one day, if I’m the modern-day Orville Redenbacher, maybe this will turn into a multi-billion-dollar popcorn enterprise,” Bryan joked.“ If you’re eating popcorn, there’s a little bit of Purdue in there, guaranteed,” Jay Hulbert, president and CEO of Ag Alumni Seed, said. With the way things went with the first batch, he might actually achieve the “multi-billion-dollar popcorn enterprise” that he previously teased. “I think just being a part of a social get together with the kids that all have the same interest of doing agricultural related stuff, anytime I can promote kids wanting to grow up in the ag industry, it’s pretty amazing stuff,” he told Country Now.

With this donation, the kids in this organization will have that extra bit of help to achieve that. Thank y’all for supporting #boldlygrown,” Bryan wrote on Twitter.īryan grew up living and working with his agricultural family in Georgia, so he understands the importance of guiding the next generation to success. “Wow, y’all really like some popcorn huh? You officially sold it out! And because of you, is donating $25,000 to to help grow the next generation of agricultural leaders. Thank y’all for supporting #boldlygrown /gnLBUSxVgu- Luke Bryan August 26, 2022 Wow, y’all really like some popcorn huh? You officially sold it out! And because of you, is donating $25,000 to to help grow the next generation of agricultural leaders.

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