GermiNation
GermiNation
Podcast Description
Welcome to GermiNation—the podcast where seeds tell their stories. I’m your host, Cindy Hicks, coming to you from the Iowa State University Seed Science Center, a global leader in seed research, education, and outreach.
Each episode, we dig into the beauty, wonder, and science of seeds—those tiny powerhouses at the heart of agriculture, biodiversity, and global food security. Through conversations with scientists, farmers, industry leaders, and changemakers around the world, we explore how seeds connect us, sustain us, and shape our future.
This is GermiNation—where every great story starts with a seed.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast centers on themes of agricultural innovation, biodiversity, and food security, with episodes such as Dr. Scott Heuchelin’s journey in seed health and global regulatory policy, along with discussions on sustainable farming practices and the role of seeds in climate resilience.
Welcome to GermiNation—the podcast where seeds tell their stories. I’m your host, Cindy Hicks, coming to you from the Iowa State University Seed Science Center, a global leader in seed research, education, and outreach.
Each episode, we dig into the beauty, wonder, and science of seeds—those tiny powerhouses at the heart of agriculture, biodiversity, and global food security. Through conversations with scientists, farmers, industry leaders, and changemakers around the world, we explore how seeds connect us, sustain us, and shape our future.
This is GermiNation—where every great story starts with a seed.
As she prepares to retire, Susana Goggi reflects on a remarkable career shaping the science—and the people—behind seed technology.
In this episode of GermiNation, Dr. Goggi shares how she found her way into seed physiology, the evolution of the field, and why seed scientists are more critical than ever in the face of climate change and global food security challenges. From ensuring seed quality to understanding the full journey from breeder to farmer, she explains why seed science remains the foundation of agriculture—even in an era of AI and biotech.
The conversation also highlights a pressing concern: while more students are entering the industry, fewer are pursuing careers in academia—creating a growing gap in training the next generation of seed experts.
Plus, hear directly from Iowa State students as they share what excites them about the seed industry, what they’re looking for in their careers, and why mentorship and purpose matter more than salary.
This episode is a powerful reminder that behind every harvest is a seed—and behind every seed is a scientist.
Disclaimer
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