𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗼 𝗜𝗻-𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲?

In the late 90s, during my PhD, I was struggling with just 30 SSR markers while developing a library of introgression lines in Arabidopsis thaliana. In 2000, the full genome of this model plant was published—after 10 years of work, involving over 300 researchers across six countries, and a budget of around $80 million.

Fast forward 25 years: the landscape of plant genomics has been revolutionized.

🚀 Today, we are witnessing the democratisation of molecular breeding—what once required massive public investment and elite research institutions is now accessible to small and medium-sized seed companies.

Here’s what’s changed:
1️⃣ Hundreds of plant genomes have been sequenced and are publicly available.
2️⃣ Molecular markers linked to major QTLs and causal mutations are known for many key traits.
3️⃣ Portable, modular, and low-cost genotyping instruments are commercially available.
4️⃣ Cloud-based computing and digital breeding tools are within reach for most users.
5️⃣ Many plant breeders now have training in molecular genetics or collaborate with those who do.

All of this means that small and mid-sized breeding programs can now build in-house molecular capacity—and do so with a realistic and fast return on investment.

𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁: 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻-𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴?
🔸Does the company handle hundreds or thousands of samples per season?
🔸Are molecular markers already being used for selection, purity testing, or backcrossing?
🔸Is there a need for faster  result turnaround than external labs can offer (e.g., 3–7 days instead of weeks)?
🔸Does the team include staff trained in DNA extraction and genotyping workflows?
🔸Is keeping proprietary markers and data confidential a priority?
🔸Is there access to validated markers for traits of interest—or the capacity to develop them?
🔸Is there a budget for setup (€30K–€200K) and ongoing operational costs?
🔸Is there a dedicated lab space with basic infrastructure (power, temperature control, storage)?
🔸Is the company looking to reduce long-term outsourcing costs and gain technical independence?

👉 If you checked most of the boxes above, it’s time to run the numbers. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗢𝗜 (𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁) calculator to assess whether building an in-house genotyping facility makes financial sense for your company. ROI is a tool that helps you evaluate the financial return on an investment compared to its cost. It can show you how quickly your investment could pay for itself and help you understand the long-term benefits.

The tools are no longer the barrier — it’s all about vision, planning, and strategic investment. 🚀