Plant Breeding Software or Spreadsheets?

So, you're still using spreadsheets...

There are still many seed companies that have their breeders use spreadsheet software (such as Microsoft Excel®, Apple iWork Numbers®, LibreOffice Calc®) to manage and analyze their plant breeding data. This is even true of fairly large companies that use expensive software like SAP to run their logistics. Meanwhile, the breeders must develop hybrids and varieties, the ‘lifeblood and future’ of the seed company with spreadsheets. When considering adopting software specially developed for plant breeders, with the effort and investment required, the management of some seed companies resist change. After all, the breeders have developed varieties and hybrids without such specialized software, so do the breeders really need such software? Few seed companies consider the ‘hidden costs’ of limiting their breeders to spreadsheets. This is like saying that we don’t need a computer since a slide rule would eventually get the job done. Breeders might ask “Why should management use accounting software? It could all be done in spreadsheets – costs, sales, payroll, and so forth can all be done on spreadsheets.” That is true! But, company management would immediately object for many reasons – and good reasons too. However, similar reasons apply to plant breeders who are forced to remain ‘confined’ to spreadsheets.

Read the article on the Plant Breeding Software Guru blog by Dieter Mulitze:

Pushing Spreadsheets with your PhD?

The Hidden Costs of Using Spreadsheets for Managing Plant Breeding Data

Click a heading (below) for more information.

Conclusion:

Using spreadsheets as the plant breeding data management tool comes with substantive, hidden costs.

Licensing Genovix® plant breeding software is really an investment to maintain and increase a seed company`s competitive edge and thus less costly than using spreadsheets.

Genovix is designed to help increase the probability of developing and releasing the best possible hybrid or variety. As competitor hybrids improve, a seed company`s hybrids have to be better still and stay in the market longer. Only the management in a seed company has an idea what that is worth. So what is more costly – using spreadsheets or licensing Genovix?

Surprisingly, spreadsheets are the more costly software when everything is carefully considered. That is reality.

Feel free to contact use for a demonstration of our software and how it can overcome the limitations and hidden costs of spreadsheets and truly strengthen your breeding program.