s04e02 – Walter Goldstein – The American Story of Corn
The American Story of Corn
Episode 2:
Walter Goldstein –
Mandaamin
Institute
A Partnership Between People and Plants
Corn breeder and researcher Walter Goldstein traces the long arc of corn’s evolution, from its Indigenous origins to modern breeding challenges. He explores corn’s deep history on the American continent, a story of the living relationship between people and plants. Walter describes his work at the Mandaamin Institute, where he breeds corn for organic farming with desirable qualities: high nutritional value, nitrogen-fixing capability through a relationship with bacteria, and resistance to GMO pollination. These excerpts are taken from Walter’s 2016 presentation at the American Dream Conference, hosted by the MaaViva Institute.
Part 1 Listen
Corn and Its Indigenous Origins | Length: 3:08
Wild corn didn’t have a cob. The corn cob was created by Indigenous people over thousands of years.
Part 2 Listen
Corn as an Ancestor | Length: 1:01
In many Native cultures across the Americas, corn is much more than food; it’s experienced as sacred, a living relative.
Part 3 Listen
The Anatomy of Corn | Length: 2:04
Corn’s unique reproductive system came about through Indigenous cultivation, observation and care.
Part 4 Listen
The Diversity of Corn | Length: 1:23
Corn comes in many colors, shapes, and sizes—each one formed by different cultures and environments.
Part 5 Listen
The Breeder’s Intuition | Length: 3:37
Good breeders rely on intuition and sensory experience to understand and guide the living, evolving nature of corn.
Part 6 Listen
Breeding for a Better Future | Length: 1:45
The aim is to improve nutritional value, enhance yield, strengthen resilience and reduce chemical inputs.
Part 7 Listen
Competing with Big Ag | Length: 1:02
Mandaamin’s goal is to produce higher quality alternatives to the seed from major agrochemical companies.
Part 8 Listen
Hybrids, Inbreds, and Open-Pollinated Varieties | Length: 2:04
Walter explains the difference between hybrids and open pollinateds and why most organic farmers want hybrids.
Part 9 Listen
Restoring Integrity to Corn | Length: 2:30
The focus is on breeding corn that remains true to its nature, emphasizing nutrition and cultural tastes and yields as well as conventional.
Part 10 Listen
Keeping Corn Clean: Cross Incompatibility | Length: 2:25
Cross incompatibility is a natural tool breeders use to stop unwanted pollen and protect the purity of their corn.
About Walter Goldstein
Walter Goldstein is a corn breeder and founder of the Mandaamin Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to developing nutrient-rich, nitrogen-efficient, GMO resistant corn for organic farmers. After earning his MSc and PhD in agronomy from Washington State University, Walter spent 25 years leading research at the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute before launching Mandaamin in 2011. more