In a ceremony on January 10, 2025, the Cornell University Breeding Insight Platform Team was awarded the 2024 USDA Secretary Honor Award, recognized for their outstanding contribution to providing all Americans with safe, nutritious food. Tim Rinehart, the National Program Leader who oversees the initiative, proudly accepted the award on their behalf in front of a gathering in Washington, D.C.
The USDA Honor Awards program, which celebrates extraordinary achievements in support of the Department's mission, is a hallmark of excellence within the agriculture sector. This prestigious accolade is the highest non-monetary recognition presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, underscoring the Breeding Insight team's role in advancing sustainable food production and agricultural innovation.
Breeding Insight (BI) was established in 2018 by the USDA-ARS with the goal to assist USDA-ARS breeders with the implementation of genomic insight and selection as part of specialty crop and livestock breeding. Breeding Insight assists breeders by developing genomic, phenomic, and data management tools for higher genetic gains and programmatic outputs based on each breeding program's goals.
Each year, the Secretary's Honor Awards shine a spotlight on the most groundbreaking accomplishments that propel USDA's strategic goals. The 2024 theme is Honoring the Extraordinary: Celebrating Historical Milestones and Transformational Achievements at USDA.
This prestigious recognition reflects the team's unwavering commitment to transforming agricultural breeding practices and ensuring that future generations have access to the highest quality food.
