**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS THE NAPB CONFERENCE HOSTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN JULY 2024. THIS EVENT IS STRATEGICALLY ALIGNED WITH THE GOALS OF BOTH NAPB AND THE PLANT BREEDING COORDINATING COMMITTEE (PBCC), ADDRESSING THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS, CHALLENGES, GAPS, AND EMERGING AREAS IN PLANT BREEDING RESEARCH. THE NAPB 2024 CONFERENCE WILL INCLUDE PRESENTATIONS RELATED TO THE PLANT BREEDING INNOVATIONS DIRECTLY ADDRESSING THE PBCC OBJECTIVE 4, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AMONG PUBLIC PLANT BREEDERS AND FEDERAL-STATE-LOCAL AGENCIES ON PLANT BREEDING POLICY ISSUES, INCLUDING ALERTS TO EXISTING AND EMERGING THREATS TO AGRICULTURAL SECURITY THAT ARE RELEVANT TO PLANT BREEDING, AND GOAL 1 OF THE CURRENT USDA STRATEGIC PLAN: COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE TO SUPPORT AMERICA'S WORKING LANDS, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND COMMUNITIES. THE TARGET AUDIENCE FOR THE 2024 NAPB CONFERENCE INCLUDES GRADUATE STUDENTS IN PLANT SCIENCES AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS CONSIDERING CAREERS IN PLANT BREEDING AND RELATED AREAS, AS WELL AS PLANT BREEDERS FROM BOTH PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL SECTORS. THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BY ENSURING EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES, AND SUPPORTING EARLY CAREER SCIENTISTS. THE CONFERENCE PRESENTS A UNIQUE PLATFORM FOR THE NATION'S LEADING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PLANT BREEDERS TO EXCHANGE RESULTS AND IDEAS TO TACKLE AGRICULTURAL CHALLENGES COLLABORATIVELY. BY DEDICATING SESSIONS TO THEMES THAT RESONATE WITH THE OBJECTIVES SHARED BY PBCC, NAPB, AND USDA STRATEGIC PLANS, THE EVENT AIMS TO FOSTER BROADER PARTICIPATION, ENCOURAGE MEMBERSHIP INPUT, AND ACCELERATE PROGRESS TOWARD ACHIEVING COLLECTIVE GOALS IN PLANT BREEDING AND AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION.