This award honors unique individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to engage the plant breeding community, advance the discipline and support NAPB activities. Awardees can be plant breeders or persons whose career has not been involved in an active plant breeding program. The award is determined by the NAPB Executive Committee and is not necessarily offered annually.
In 2023 the Award was renamed to the “Ann Marie Thro Friends of Plant Breeding Award” in honor and recognition of Ann Marie's contribution to the plant breeding community and NAPB specifically.
Past Winners
2024: Dr. Rita Mumm, University of Illinois - Get to know Rita
2022: Dr. Peter Bretting, USDA-ARS National Program Leader for Plant Germplasm and Genomes
2021: Andy LaVigne, American Seed Trade Association
2020: Dr. Donn Cummings, Monsanto Company
2017: Dr. Ann Marie Thro, USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture, National Program Leader for Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources