By Andi Anderson
David Douches, a distinguished professor at Michigan State University, has been honored with the 2026 Technology Transfer Achievement Award for his long-standing contributions to potato breeding and agricultural innovation. His career reflects a strong connection between scientific research and real-world farming benefits.
Douches describes his professional mission simply: "We are the scientists behind the scenes, creating potatoes that are better for the farmers, better for the industry, and ultimately better for the consumer." His work focuses on improving crop resilience, storage, and sustainability in a changing climate.
Potatoes are the third most consumed staple food globally, yet advances in breeding often occur quietly. “Plant breeding is a long-term game of incremental gains,” says Douches. “Those small changes in germplasm drive the industry forward. My goal is to translate research into improved varieties that offer real economic resilience for growers.”
One major achievement is the widely used Manistee potato variety. “When I first arrived at MSU, potatoes were typically stored until March,” Douches reflects. “Today, thanks to traits bred for resilience and storage quality, Michigan growers can store crops until July.” He added, “This extension of the processing window ensures a steady supply of Michigan-grown potatoes until the fresh crop arrives and has transformed the economic landscape for local producers.”
Manistee showed strength under stress. “Manistee stood out because of its sheer resilience,” Douches noted. “Seeing it thrive where others struggled confirmed its potential for a major industry release.”
His breeding program also supports sustainability by reducing chemical use. “One of the primary benefits of Dave’s work is sustainability,” said Sydney Everheart. “Breeding potatoes with natural resistance reduces the need for complex management and lowers chemical use, benefiting both the environment and farmers’ bottom line.”
Everheart also highlighted global collaboration and innovation. Douches is now advancing diploid breeding to support true potato seeds. “Traditionally, potatoes are grown from vegetative tubers, which are bulky and risk disease transfer,” Douches explains. “Our diploid program aims to enable 'true potato seed' production.”
Technology transfer partnerships helped commercialize unique varieties like the Blackberry potato. “The work we did a decade ago with MSU Technologies and Business Connect to establish partnerships with companies like Simplot is only now coming to full fruition,” Douches says. “The Blackberry is a great example of how we can breed for the consumer's plate.”
Reflecting on his award, Douches said, “I realized early in graduate school that potatoes were a fascinating challenge,” and added, “the real reward isn’t the award itself, it’s seeing a field of healthy plants you helped create.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-npantos-1
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables