Technical Abstract: This presentation was part of a larger panel discussion with a largely non-scientific audience that included commodity marketers and farmers of sunflower. About 200 people were in attendance. Marker-assisted technologies were explained in lay terms to the audience. Their weaknesses and strengths were discussed. A few of the projects that the sunflower genetics group is working on were explained with a report on progress. Some of these integrate measurement of field performance with marker-assisted approaches. Dr. Hulke clarified the point that marker-assisted approaches will only be useful if the related field data is sound and collected in a scientific manner. Thus, there is a need for both for good field work and good laboratory work in order to make sunflower genetics research more valuable to our customers and stakeholders.