**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PLANT BREEDING IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST TECHNOLOGIES, FROM FARMERS SELECTING PLANTS DURING DOMESTICATION TO LARGE SCALE MODERN COMMERCIAL BREEDING PROGRAMS USING GENOMICS AND PHENOMICS. GERMPLASM IS THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCK OF ANY SUCCESSFUL PLANT BREEDING PROGRAM. HOWEVER, AS PLANT BREEDING POSITIONS TURNOVER (E.G. RETIREMENT) THE PERIODS OF TRANSITION POSE SIGNIFICANT THREATS TO THE CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATION OF GERMPLASM THROUGH LACK OF PROGRAM CONTINUITY. GIVEN THE OFTEN SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC CULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT AND BREEDING, THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF A BREEDING PROGRAM'S GERMPLASM AND EMBODIED KNOWLEDGE IS ESSENTIAL.