On January 19, 2025, William 'Bill' D. Branch, a professor at the University of Georgia (UGA) and renowned peanut breeder, was elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. This prestigious recognition marks him as the 17th faculty member from UGA to receive this honor, underscoring the university's commitment to innovation and research excellence [d8162724].
Dr. Branch has developed over 30 novel peanut varieties, which have had a significant economic impact, contributing approximately $1.8 billion annually to Georgia's economy. His cultivars account for an impressive 85% of the peanut acreage in the state. Among his notable achievements are the disease-resistant varieties Georgia Green and Georgia-O6G, which have been credited with revitalizing the Southeastern U.S. peanut industry [d8162724].
In addition to his contributions to agriculture, Dr. Branch has generated over $72 million in royalties for UGA through his innovations and has published more than 350 research papers, further establishing his influence in the field [d8162724]. He will be formally inducted as a Fellow on June 23 at the 14th Annual Conference of the National Academy of Inventors in Atlanta, celebrating his impactful work in agricultural innovation [d8162724].