Dr. Brett Carver reflected on the long-standing legacy of Oklahoma’s wheat research program during the 75th Anniversary Seed Stocks celebration. Farm Director KC Sheperd caught up with Dr. Carver at the Celebration, “It’s been a wonderful history to be part of,” he said. “One of the first people I met when I came here in 1985 was Oklahoma Foundation Seed Stock personnel.” Carver noted the evolution of the seed industry over time and added, “I’d like to think it’s in pretty good shape today. Yeah, we could all think we’re better, but I think we’re pretty healthy in the foundation seed business.”
Looking to the future, Carver expressed strong hopes for the new Wheat Improvement Center and a modernized greenhouse facility. “I want glass or plastic now, and I want water that’s reliable, all those things come together in making a greenhouse facility.” He emphasized that it’s not about expanding work for the sake of it but maximizing impact: “I think we can do more with the money we have. Instead of just spending and spending… let’s spend it moving forward and investing in the future of wheat.”
Dr. Carver referenced other standout facilities in the U.S. as inspiration. “I have seen really nice facilities in Washington… North Dakota… Kansas.” One of the key goals, he said, is to extend the breeding season. “We are so compressed right now in a very dilapidated facility… When we can do that, we can squeeze more breeding cycles. Breeding cycles means more progress.” He said the vision is straightforward: “We would take some features of all these places we’ve seen and put them into what’s going to be a really dynamite facility moving forward.”
Discussing future tools and technologies, Carver emphasized both physical infrastructure and high-tech tools as essential. “We got to have infrastructure… but then we also have these soft components,” he explained. “We need to invest in technologies like gene editing. I really think that’s where our home is.” He added, “We’re going to start addressing some real-world problems. Number one, weeds.” Other exciting tools on the horizon include genome-wide sequencing and high-throughput phenotyping: “Whether it’s in the sky or on the ground, we’re going to be able to characterize our material so much better.”
Finally, Dr. Carver emphasized the importance of collaboration with other institutions. “We end up with a lot of [K-State’s] wheat. They end up with a lot of our wheat,” he said. “I don’t know that that’s going to change very much. I’d like to think that we’re going to be in that business, and K-State will be too.” That spirit of shared progress, he suggested, will help elevate wheat research and production not just for Oklahoma, but for the region and beyond.
