 |
 |
|
May 27 , 2010
ASTA representatives attend Seed Association of the Americas The Southern Seed Association of the Americas held a workshop on Seed Adventitious Presence (AP) and Low Level Presence (LLP), May 4-6 in Buenos Aires and two American Seed Trade Association representatives were in attendance. Andy LaVigne, ASTA president and CEO, and Bernice Slutsky, ASTA vice president of science and international affairs and one of the organizers of the workshop, were among seed industry participants from eight different countries. This meeting included government officials, seed association representatives and company representatives. "This was the first time that government and industry leaders in the region have come together and discussed how to work together to address a biotech issue," LaVigne said. Representatives from Canada, United States, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Venezuela, Colombia and Paraguay were present. The workshop was designed to bring industry and government representatives together to discuss and develop action items for the issues of seed AP and LLP. The goal is to ultimately develop a regional approach to both of these topics. The countries of the Americas represent 90 percent of the biotechnology crops planted in the world, Slutsky noted. "These countries also represent some of the largest seed producers and seed exporters, meaning that the impacts of seed AP and LLP in this region are considerable," she said. Through this meeting, representatives collectively agreed to:
Meeting participants discussed the distinction between AP and LLP; current policies in different countries; the impact of AP and LLP on field, vegetable, and forage seed industries; current seed quality standards and how they relate to AP and LLP and more. "This is a big step forward," Slutsky said. "Now we just have to keep the momentum going."
ASTA assists New York State Seed Association with invasive species comments The newly formed New York Invasive Species Council, a result of a legislative mandate, prepared regulations, which will create the state's first invasive species program, to submit to the Governor and Legislature. The American Seed Trade Association assisted the New York State Seed Association in preparing comments to submit regarding the proposal and the seed industry's perspective. Key points presented in the document include:
NYSSA and ASTA recognize the potential impact of invasive species listing procedures and practices and support a detailed and thoughtful process due to the potential for environmental and economic impact.
National Plant Germplasm Coordinating Committee welcomes Tim Cupka Tim Cupka of AgReliant Genetics joins the National Plant Germplasm Coordinating Committee (NPGCC) to promote a stronger, more efficient, more widely-recognized and better utilized National Plant Germplasm System. "We are very pleased to have someone with Tim's experience and perspective on the committee," said Leslie Cahill, American Seed Trade Association vice president for government affairs. "Tim's leadership on the National Council for Commercial Plant Breeders and his company's participation in the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize program make him an ideal member." NPGCC, established in 2007, is designed to review and set national scientific priorities for the nation's plant germplasm network relative to preservation, characterization, evaluation, documentation and distribution of germplasm in the collections. As a committee member, Cupka will help:
The
group will meet June 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture George Washington Carver Center in Beltsville, Md.
Out & About ASTA's Miller helps present scholarships to Arizona students The American Seed Trade Association co-sponsored one of two $2,000 scholarships awarded by the Seed Trade Association of Arizona, which were presented at STAA's annual convention in Tubac, Ariz. Scholarship recipients are Ashley West of Phoenix and Laura Montes Sujo of Flagstaff. During the annual convention, ASTA Director of State Affairs Pat Miller gave a seed industry issues update and Al Simons, STAA executive director, profiled the recent research findings on Desert Duram® wheat. State Representative Lucy Mason presented "Immigration Issues that Affect Arizona," which featured the background on SB1070 - the high profile law recently enacted in the state. Tom Bodderij, of Seeds West, Inc., was elected president of the association for the ensuing term.
FuSE still sparking interest in the seed industry Nurturing, networking and education are all part of growing today's young professional into tomorrow's seed industry leaders. One may spot Michael Fosdick relaxing on one of the sofas at the Future Seed Executives lounge in June at the American Seed Trade Association's 127th Annual Convention. Make no mistake, this senior agronomy student has big plans and is anything but laid back about his future: Fosdick dreams about feeding the world. That dream and Fosdick's lifelong enthusiasm for agriculture keeps him interested in seed. "Trying to reach the point where we can feed the world - it's all really exciting for me, watching it evolve in my lifetime has been so amazing," Fosdick said. "I can't imagine what the future holds. That's what keeps me interested." FuSE recently awarded Fosdick and five other bright sparks in agriculture grants to attend the convention in San Antonio, Texas, through a FuSE initiative called Campus Connections. This initiative was created to increase awareness and excitement about the seed industry with young people. Fosdick, whose family has farmed the same land in south east Iowa for more than 150 years, is honored to be selected from the many applicants to attend the event. "It's a great opportunity to learn what's going on in agriculture and the seed industry today, and to network with some of the leaders in seed companies," he says. Fosdick will participate in ASTA and FuSE meetings, including a cross panel and question and answer session on key issues for young professionals in the seed industry. Also, he will be paired up with a mentor during the course of the conference. This Iowa State University student is thrilled, if not a little nervous, about hobnobbing with the bigwigs. He knows the importance of networking in the small world of seed to grow long-lasting relationships and opportunities. "I enjoy getting my name out there and meeting with [seed executives] that are leading companies," he says. "I'm not so much nervous as excited to get to meet with them and discuss what is going on in their careers, how they got to where they are today and getting a feel for what they're doing."
Nurturing tomorrow's talent This is exactly what Bob Yaklich wants. Yaklich is chairman of the FuSE program, a subcommittee of the ASTA Management Skills Committee, which focuses on initiating and supporting educational events to introduce young professionals to key topics and individuals in the industry. FuSE formed in 2004 to encourage mingling between young professionals (usually with fewer than seven years of seed industry experience) and veterans in industry via meetings, reception, and general participation. "Networking is crucial this day and age...it's a rather small industry," Yacklich said. "I think it's so important to get to know as many people as you can because that will do nothing but open doors in the future. The people in the industry are so willing to give their knowledge, to help people understand what they do and why it's important." In addition to its function as a launch pad for networking, FuSE gets young professionals, like Fosdick, learning about, and involved with, the industry early on in their careers - and for good reason. "The industry has issues with succession planning with respect to getting young professionals in this business up to speed and involved at an early stage," Yacklich said. "It helps them prepare not just for the role they start today, but for future roles and the potential out there for them." He pointed out there is nothing more urgent than nurturing budding industry leaders. "It's very important in the coming 10-15 years for us to have a good based of young professionals who can step into those roles as they open up within seed companies and the seed industry," he said. Nurturing tomorrow's talent may be a tall order but through the years FuSE's initiatives have taken root. In addition to Campus Connections, FuSE sponsors two to three round-table discussion groups per year. These conference calls focus on a specific topic in the industry; the last one attracted 20 participants. Another program to bear fruit is the FuSE educational units. Participants spend a full day onsite at an ASTA member company learning from university professors, industry leaders and hands-on case studies. The educational units try to cover a wide spectrum of topics in the ag industry all across the United States. This year Yaklich wants to promote the concept of mentoring to companies by offering a general guideline of the benefits and processes involved in a mentoring program. This new direction should open up even more opportunities for young professionals already feeling a bright future awaits them. "There are so many opportunities and so much you can do with agriculture," Fosdick said. "There's always feeding the world."
Ambassador Richard Crowder receives 2010
Graduate Alumni Achievement Award Richard T. Crowder, former United States chief agricultural trade negotiator and professor of agricultural and applied economics at Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, received the Graduate Alumni Achievement Award at this year's Graduate Commencement. The Graduate Alumni Achievement Award was established by the Graduate School and the Virginia Tech Alumni Association in 2003 and is awarded annually to recognize the outstanding national and/or international achievement and exemplary contribution to profession, discipline, community or society of a graduate alumnus. "It's a unique honor to confer this award on Dr. Crowder who is not only an outstanding professional and scholar, but a current member of our faculty," said Karen DePauw, vice president and dean of graduate education. "We are privileged to have his expertise on campus." More (http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2010&itemno=382)
INCOTEC welcomes Paul DeCarli as account
manager Paul DeCarli, of Salinas, Calif., joined Integrated Coating and Seed Technology as account manager and will assume sales responsibilities for the western region in the United States. "Paul will bring valuable experience as INCOTEC expands further in the area of applying pesticides and other actives to seed," said David Pickenpaugh, president and general manager. DeCarli comes to INCOTEC from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he has worked for eight years managing the university farm. An experienced field investigator, DeCarli has conducted residue and efficacy trials for a private research company and specializes in pest control. A graduate of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo with a bachelor's degree in Crop Science, DeCarli holds Qualified Applicators and Pest Control Advisors licenses. INCOTEC, headquartered in The Netherlands, specializes in coating and seed technology serving the agronomic, vegetable and flower seed industries.
iCenter to help agricultural job and internship seekers The National Agricultural Alumni and Development Association (NAADA) recently launched an online job and internship database called the iCenter (www.naada.org/icenter). The iCenter features job and internship opportunities nationwide specific to agriculture, natural resources, environmental and life sciences fields. "It provides students and alumni from our institutions a unique opportunity to connect with employers within our target industries," said Scott Cooksey, NAADA president. "This searchable tool is positioned to become the resource for job seekers to find industry positions and for employers to find qualified candidates." Job openings can be posted free of charge by current members and sponsors of NAADA. Non-members are eligible to post jobs after paying a subscription fee. Internships may be posted by anyone interested. Students can access the iCenter free of charge. NAADA, a network of nearly 50 institutions from across the United States, is dedicated to the professional advancement of the members and in turn the institutions they serve. The organization provides education and support for professionals, volunteers and student leaders who are dedicated to serving land-grant colleges of agricultural sciences and related programs. ASTA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact ASTA at (703) 837-8140.
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
129th Annual Convention • 2011 Farm & Lawn Seed Conf. • CSS 2011 & Seed Expo • 51st Vegetable & Flower Seed Conf. |