1. Identification of the key components and operating structure for a soybean production research virtual center of excellence.
2. Identification of key soybean production research targets, including key disease and insect pests to address.
3. Development of a structure for coordinating research activities among USB, QSSBs, regional research programs, and commercial seed and technology companies, including an approach for coordinated strategic planning and division of effort among these entities.
4. A master plan for checkoff funded research is developed that outlines the mix of basic vs. applied research, division of efforts among the participant entities, and the amount of replication required.
5. A plan for technology transfer that ensures that checkoff funded research results are available to U.S. soybean farmers and presented in a manner that encourages adoption of newly developed products and practices.
6. Development of a framework for establishing and coordinating state soybean quality contests to promote the production of quality value soybeans.