Plant breeder predictions for 2021, both bold and outlandish

"In the next 30 years, I hope to finally get that flying car we've all been promised for decades now. In flowers, who knows? Glow-in-the-dark landscapes that are equally as compelling in the evening as they are in the day? I hope we haven't even begun to consider yet what is possible 30 years from now." - Jason Jandrew, Director of Breeding, PanAmerican Seed

"Variegated Monstera will start to be tissue cultured, bringing the price down to a reasonable $150 per pot." - Keven Hurd, Director of New Products, Proven Winners

"Consumer purchases for horticultural items will double in 2021. 2051? I will be in my 90s, still pollinating plants. But, by that point, I will have moved on to squash, as their flowers are bigger and can be seen more easily." - Chuck Pavlich, Director of New Product Development, Terra Nova Nurseries

"Joe Biden plants Bidens at the White House." - Delilah Onofrey, Marketing Director, Suntory Flowers

"In 30 years, everyone on the planet will finally know the difference between an annual and a perennial." - Mike Murgiano, Head of Product Management, Syngenta Flowers

"Flying cars (maybe drones) will deliver food and flowers to your front door. If not in 2021, then definitely in 30 years." - Robb Bertels, Retail Category Manager/Vegetables, Sakata Ornamentals

"My, hopefully not too outlandish prediction, is that our beautiful and life-sustaining products are one day consistently priced at the value they deserve." - Jeannie Svob, Business Leader for Plants and Seed, Griffin

"In 30 years, traditional plastic will be gone, demand for skilled technical labor will be very high and demand for unskilled labor will be very low. Almost complete automation will be commonplace. Lawns will be greatly reduced; idealistically natural plantings will be common and food production will be close to home. It is our job to make sure we stay on the forefront of our ever-changing industry and climate to ensure we can continue to beautify the world." - Dr. Judson LeCompte, Product Development Assistant Manager, Spring Meadow Nursery/Proven Winners ColorChoice

"With as fast as our world is changing, I do not think anything is outlandish! Look where we were 30 years ago and at how much the rate of change is accelerating and I think anything is possible! Online will grow to levels we cannot imagine, the lines between categories in our live goods segments will continue to blur, edibles will be more ornamental, and more ornamentals will become more edible. Big growers will still be getting bigger, and big box retail will still thrive and be the major online retail suppliers. The distinction from being in the actual brick and mortar big box versus being in store virtually will continue to grow and blur until the experience almost becomes seamless." - Brad Smith, Retail Category Manager/Ornamentals, Sakata Ornamentals

Flowers of the Future?

The team at Ernst Benary of America wins the award for creativity with their outlandish predictions. They shared the results of a recent brainstorming session between Benary's Managing Director Matthias Redlefsen and Johannes Nebelmeir, the new Global Head of Breeding. if they can pull these products off, they might have some winners on their hands. We'll be watching to see if they can deliver the goods in the distant future.

Meet "Sparky"! 
This is Sparky. The perfect landscaping flower for the modern city. Sparky was developed with the city of Singapore in mind and is practically indestructible. It can cope with full sun and full shade and take high humidity as well as weeks of extreme drought. But what makes Sparky really exciting are two unique features:

1.    Sparky's flowers will glow in the dark! By implementing a naturally fluorescent pigment into the flower pedals, Sparky will absorb sunlight throughout the day and return it at night time in a warm and bright glow. As a result, cities that plant Sparky along their streets will no longer need electric street lighting.

2.    Sparky is the ultimate air purifier. Every day each plant absorbs around 150 kg of CO₂ and converts it into more than 100 kg of oxygen. This is ten times more effective than any tree in the tropical rain forest, providing our crowded cities with a fresh ocean-like breeze.

"Sparky": Woo the glow!

Source and Photo Courtesy of Greenhouse Grower

Source: Greenhouse Grower