Our Vision:
By conducting and providing research in soybean genomics and biotechnology, we contribute to the genetic improvement of soybeans for food, human health, and industrial uses, while increasing the profitability of the U.S. soybean industry.
Our Mission:
- Provide genomic resources and bioengineering technologies to support the U.S. soybean industry.
- Improve the profitability of soybean production for U.S. producers by enhancing yield, pest and pathogen resistance, abiotic stress tolerance and
value-added traits.
- Provide educational opportunities in soybean biotechnology at the primary, undergraduate and graduate student level.
- Conduct outreach and extension activities to inform the producers and the general public about the latest scientific discoveries and developments
in soybean biotechnology and products.
About the National Center for Soybean Biotechnology (NCSB):
The U.S. Congress selected the University of Missouri to host the National Center for Soybean Biotechnology (NCSB) based on our record of interdisciplinary
research on soybean genetics, genomic, and related sciences. The ultimate goal of the NCSB is to provide innovative molecular approaches that can be applied
toward soybean improvement.
The NCSB is a collaborative program among scientists at the University of Missouri, the USDA-ARS Plant Genetics Unit in Columbia, and the Donald Danforth
Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO.
There are currently more than 40 researchers working together that have expertise in diverse fields including agronomy,
microbiology and plant pathology,
chemistry, biochemistry, animal science, food science, molecular biology, engineering, computer science, and agricultural economics.
The University of Missouri is supported through a statewide Life Sciences program. Interdisciplinary research in the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center
employs cutting-edge technology in both basic and applied research to address society's concerns in food, health, and the environment.
In addition to NCSB support, scientists working in the Center continue to be highly competitive for funding from a variety of other sources including the Missouri
Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC), federal agencies, and private industry.
Strategically located in the heart of the nation, the NCSB aims to foster research partnerships with institutions in the mid-western and southern states.
Soybean is a major crop in these regions. Research within the NCSB focuses on major problems that affect soybean production and use, and the Center also
provides educational opportunities to students
and outreach services to producers, public agencies, and consumers.