Shahid Siddiqui

Accomplished Plant Breeder & Products Development manager with over 23 years of experience specializing in Wheat, Mustard and Pearl millet. Expertise includes Traits introgression in Wheat and Pearl millet, Hybrid mustard synthesis.

Products

Development/Evaluation and Products lifecycle management. Conventional and molecular breeding, cytoplasmic male sterility hybrid development, genomic selection, accelerated genetic gains, disease resistance and functional genomics for wheat and mustard. Large-scale seed production, and multi-location trials.

Testing

Adaptability, agronomy, & market fit. Worked as critical bridge between research & development (breeding) and commercial sales. Roles were to evaluate, position, and advance new experimental seed (hybrids or varieties) in real-world farming conditions to ensure they meet farmer needs, market trends, and performance expectations.

Proven leadership in managing research teams, product pipelines, and strategic collaborations with international agricultural organizations such as ICAR, CIMMYT, and BISA. Skilled in bridging research innovations and commercial seed production to deliver high-yielding, quality, and climate-resilient hybrids and varieties tailored to diverse agro-climatic zones.

MANAGER: RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT - BHATIA ADVANCE AGROPRODUCTS - UDHANSINGH NAGAR UTTRAKHAND

(2026-02 - 2026-05)

Field Crops: Paddy, Wheat Mustard, Maize and Pearl millet. Team Size: Breeder-02, Technical Staff: 04 and Field manager/Trials manager-02

• Responsible for developing "Mustard Breeding" strategy for the crop in coordination with R&D Head. Provide required inputs for planning of Mustard breeding program.
• Enrichment of Germplasms: Collect, maintain and ensure strict security of germplasm and data.
• Climate Smart Hybrid Mustard and Wheat varieties Development.
• High tolerance to environmental stressors Wheat Varieties.
• Initiatives to develop resilient, high-yielding, and climate-adapted wheat varieties. Work focuses on accelerating breeding cycles, integrating genetic diversity.
• Combining multiple adult plant resistance (APR) and stress-tolerance loci into elite germplasm to fight shifting disease profiles and terminal drought.
• Deploying molecular markers, AI tools, and high-throughput phenotyping via drones to predict performance before extensive field testing.
• Pre-Breeding Integration: Crossing commercial cultivars with landraces and wilds.
• Developing climate-resilient cultivars /Hybrids Pearl Millet capable of thriving in semi-arid environments. Forage usability, and resistance to diseases and pest.
• Market analysis and product profiling for product and customer support.
• The foremost goal is to increase and stabilize grain yield under both irrigated and rainfed conditions. Breeding programs continually seek to enhance its dietary value.
• Leads the strategic direction, breeding programs, and product pipeline from ideation to commercialization.
• Regulatory Intelligence: Monitor shifting local and global laws (such as residue limits or environmental restrictions) and advise internal research teams.
• Post market work focuses on maintaining the compliance of the authorized license to ensure the product can remain in market.
• Supports the development of product in market, variations labelling, design changes, field actions, renewal license, safety reports submitting amendments etc.
• Act as the vital bridge between scientific research and government authorities.
• Ensuring products meet safety, legal, and environmental laws by handling product registration, regulatory intelligence, and agency liaison.

PLANT BREEDER (MUSTARD AND WHEAT) - NATH BIO-GENES (I) LTD. - ALWAR, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

(2013-10 - 2026-01)

• Direction and management of all components of a successful commercial breeding program. Creation and evaluation of breeding populations; utilization of molecular markers to incorporate genes for the target traits; coordinate, place and evaluate trials in major production areas in India.
• Creation of Hybrid and Verities of Mustard, Wheat and Pearl Millet.
• Organize trials in different locations to speed up development of hybrids & inbreeds.
• Lead a breeding program that delivers inbred lines and other germplasm. To maintain pathotypes of stem and leaf rusts of wheat
• Trials Planning and Execution, Products positioning and Evaluation.
• Field data Management, Market intelligence and Launch.
• Utilization of all relevant breeding technologies with appropriate allocation of resources directed at the successful development of products for key markets.
• Stakeholder collaboration and Liaisons with national and internation organizations.
• Interact with public sector researchers and government agencies as per needed.
• Actively involves in understanding the customer needs and aligning with business requirements. Travel to key market locations for trial and product evaluations.
• Management of pre-commercial products for the targeted market segments.
• Exploitation of CMS and Restorer and enrichment of germplasm.
• Field days organizations and technical supports.
• Spear headed Mustard and Wheat breeding programs from hybridization to product advancement. Delivered high-yielding, quality, and disease-tolerant hybrids aligned with market needs.
• Hybrid development by managing CMS lines, restorers, and inbred pipelines. Executed large-scale hybrid synthesis using conventional and advanced breeding approaches.
• Planned and supervised multilocation trials across diverse Agro-climatic zones. Generated performance data to support product positioning and commercialization decisions.
• Led genomic selection, trait introgression, and phenotyping programs to accelerate genetic gains. Integrated digital data platforms for efficient selection and evaluation.
• Managing R&D station operations, seed production programs, and off-season nurseries. Coordinated national collaborations and represented the organization at scientific forums.

Senior Research Associate (Wheat and Mustard) - JK Agrigenetics Ltd. (JK Seeds) - Jaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA

(2011-10 - 2013-09)

• Creation and Evaluation of Hybrids Mustard/Pearl Millet and Wheat.
• Products management and Development through Evaluation.
• Supported hybrid seed production and coordinated evaluation of promising hybrids. Facilitated advancement of selected hybrids through systematic screening and trial feedback.
• Conducted disease screening and stress evaluation in breeding material. Identified resistant inbreds and high-performing genotypes for further product development.
• Benchmarking: Comparing new products against competitors and existing "check" varieties.
• Stewardship & Registration: Managing seed registration with government authorities and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Delineated and executed field experiments and multilocation trials for Wheat, Mustard, and Pearl Millet. Ensured accurate data collection and evaluation across diverse Agro-climatic regions.

Research Associate (Biotechnology) - ICAR – Indian Institute of Rapeseed and Mustard Research - Bharatpur, Rajasthan

(2008-09 - 2011-09)

• Evaluated cultivated and wild Brassica germplasm for resistance to major diseases. Conducted screening for Alternaria blight, white rust, and Sclerotinia under natural and artificial conditions.
• Hybrid Mustard Development & Developed RILs, NILs, interspecific, and intergeneric Brassica crosses. Applied cytogenetic and molecular tools for genetic characterization and validation.
• Isolated, characterized, and maintained Alternaria brassicae cultures from Brassica hosts. Performed pathogenicity, germination, and variability studies under controlled conditions.
• Set research aims and objectives, and set costs. Manage, support and train technical staff. Research new methods of plant breeding. Identify the best varieties/species with desirable traits.
• Undertake laboratory, glasshouse and field trials. Analyse, interpreting and present data.

Senior Research Fellow - ICAR – Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI) - Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh

(2005-12 - 2008-05)

• Developed and evaluated breeding material in Pearl Millet, maize, and fodder crops. Applied conventional breeding methods for line development and stabilization.
• Screened large germplasm sets under national disease screening programs. Assessed resistance against downy mildew and other major diseases in Pearl Millet.
• Ensured genetic purity and field standards during seed multiplication. Contributed to AICRP trials, DUS characterization, and national research activities. Prepared experimental data and technical inputs for ICAR project reporting.
• Designing breeding programs to enhance crop yields and nutritional values.
• Multi-Location testing & Data collection computation and analysis.
• Regulatory: Liaisoning, Registrations and seeds increase support.

M.Sc. - Agriculture (Plant Breeding & Genetics) - University of Kanpur (2003)

M.Sc. - Biotechnology - Allahabad Agricultural Institute (2002)

B.Sc. Ag - Plant Sciences - University of Kanpur (1999)