This project sought to enhance organic corn production and availability of high-quality, regionally adapted corn seed through:
(1) Farmer-participatory cultivar evaluation for yield, nitrogen (N) use efficiency, weed competitiveness, and feed grain quality (protein, methionine, lysine)
(2) Analysis of genetic and on-farm environmental and management factors in crop fitness and grain quality
(3) Study of soil health and soil-plant-microbiome factors in corn yield and quality
(4) Development of business models to address germplasm sharing and intellectual property (IP) issues and promote publicly supported cultivar development for organic systems.

A network of researchers and farmers tested corn cultivars from four breeding programs at 12 sites representing a range of environments and management practices (cash crop intensity, cropping system diversity, N fertility sources) to identify factors driving organic corn yields. Participants were interviewed to document management practices and farmer perceptions of agronomic, social, and legal (IP) challenges in organic corn breeding and seed production.

Hybrids developed under conventional management had higher yield and higher starch while organically bred hybrids were lower yielding with higher protein. Breeding efforts by project partner Mandaamin Institute focused on enhancing beneficial plant-microbe partnerships that enhance N fixation, N efficiency, and grain methionine content while maintaining yield.

Crop genetics and management (e.g., N rates) modulate corn root architecture. Steeper root angle (deeper rooting), and higher fine root biomass related to higher yield, while higher complexity (branching) of coarse roots was inversely related to yield and fine roots.