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September 09 , 2009
ASTA Leads Way To Improved Agricultural Intellectual Property Protection Internationally
ASTA, in partnership with U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the USDA Plant Variety Protection Office, developed a short course on intellectual property rights (IPR) that was attended by three separate government delegations from India and China. The program was made possible through contributions of ASTA members as well as funding through USDA's Foreign Market Development and Emerging Markets Programs. The three-day short course provided in-depth information relevant to government officials on the design, implementation and enforcement of a legal framework addressing the intellectual property protection of plants. The course was developed to offer practical insight into the system in the U.S., supported by ASTA member visits coupled with the course, as well as other models recognized internationally. "This has been a unique opportunity for officials from both China and India to better understand the plant IPR system in the U.S. and to see it in action in the field," said ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne. India and China represent two very important emerging markets for the U.S. seed industry and rare two of ASTA's priorities for international programming. The Plant IPR Short Course and field site visits allowed for a great deal of interaction with the U.S. officials responsible for plant IPR protection and with our member companies. I would like to thank all of the participants in these programs for their work and enthusiasm for making them such as success."
The delegation from India, whose representatives were from the Ministry of Agriculture, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority, participated in the course from Aug. 31- Sept. 2. Prior to the workshop, the delegation visited various ASTA members to see Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) Testing and plant variety protection trials first hand. The two Chinese delegations included a USDA Cochran Team from the Ministry of Agriculture and officials from the Jilin Provincial Agriculture Commission. These delegations attended the short course in Alexandria, Va., from Aug. 26-28, and concluded their visit with additional U.S. stops to meet with ASTA members. AgRelient Genetics, Cappel Seeds, Delta & Pineland Co., Illinois Crop Improvement Association, Illinois Foundation Seeds, Inc., Monsanto Company, Pioneer-Hi-bred, a DuPont business, Seminis, Inc., Syngenta Seeds Inc., and University of California-Davis' Seed Biotechnology Center hosted the team visits. The Chinese delegations also participated in the Farm Progress Show held in Decatur, Ill. Several representatives from ASTA staff were involved with the success of the short course and visits, including LaVigne, Vice President of Science and International Affairs Bernice Slutsky, Vice President of Government Affairs Leslie Cahill and Director of International Programs Lisa Nichols. "This short course and supporting visits are a critical piece in moving forward the necessary legal frameworks to develop the seed industry within these countries, to encourage continued and further investment in innovation and to bring new seed varieties and technologies to farmers as a result," remarked Nichols. "These intense and focused courses go a long way not only in driving policies in the right direction, but also in developing key relationships for our member companies that go far beyond the week spent here in the U.S." ASTA's FuSE Program Looks at Lawn Seed
On Aug. 27, the Scotts MiracleGro Company hosted a Future Seed Executives (FuSE) Educational Unit at their production facility in Gervais, Ore. The event was attended by 20 participants, representing a broad cross-section of the seed industry which included researchers, exporters, separation and processing specialists, sales managers, bank representatives, engineers and students. The Educational Unit began with a welcome and introduction by Kris Mantey, Scotts Company senior regulatory specialist, followed by an overview of the history and brands of Scotts MiracleGro presented by Seed Production Manager Jay Burr, who later hosted a discussion on the details of grass seed production. Research Agronomist Jim Frelich provided a tour of the grounds and a lecture on grass seed research. The group was also treated to a fascinating presentation on grass seed breeding by Crystal Rose Fricker, president of Pure Seed Testing, Inc. The afternoon session included Sharon Davidson of Agri-Seed Testing Labs, Inc. who discussed the seed testing process, and ASTA Northwest Regional Vice President Risa DeMasi who provided attendees with helpful tips on getting involved with professional associations. Duane Klundt, Scotts ProSeed's regional sales manager, also gave an entertaining speech on what it takes to be a success in the world of seed sales. In addition to the day's activities, an informal social event was offered the evening before the session for networking opportunities. Mark Your Calendars for Opportunities with FuSE!
The successful Scotts MiracleGro Company Educational Unit (featured above) is the second Future Seed Executives (FuSE) Educational Unit of 2009-10 calendar. The next unit will be hosted by the Harris Moran Seed Company in Davis, Calif., on Oct. 23, 2009. A Round Table Discussion Group call on Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is scheduled for Sept. 22. The FuSE group is a sub-committee of ASTA's Management Skills Committee. FuSE seeks to provide education, support and networking opportunities for those with fewer than seven years of experience in the seed industry. A list of upcoming events, as well as information on how to become more involved with the FuSE organization, can be found at the FuSE Web site: www.futureseedexecutives.com. CSS 2009 & Seed Expo to Partner with the DTN Ag Summit During the week of ASTA's CSS 2009 & Seed Expo, the Ag Summit, presented by DTN and The Progressive Farmer, is also being held at the Chicago Marriott Downtown from Dec. 9-11. Ag Summit is an annual agricultural conference with a variety of seminars from agriculture professionals and leading industry experts which will focus on surviving and thriving in this erratic economy. DTN and ASTA have partnered together to offer extra value for your registration! All CSS 2009 & Seed Expo registrants are invited to attend the Ag Summit's keynote presentation by David Everitt, president of Deere and Company Worldwide Agriculture and Turf Division entitled, "Charting a Sustainable Future for Production Agriculture." The event will be featured at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 9. Simply present an ASTA CSS 2009 & Seed Expo badge upon entry to the event to receive complimentary admission. For questions or assistance regarding the event, contact Jennifer Lord at ASTA. Rescission of "Safe Harbor" Rule Proposed On Aug. 19, 2009, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the proposed rescission of the "Safe-Harbor" rule for employers who have received "no-match" letters from the Social Security Administration (SSA). When SSA receives a report from an employer in which the combination of employee name and social security number do not match SSA records, the agency informs the employer by sending an "Employer Correction Request," commonly known as a "no-match" letter. ASTA legal counsel has prepared a summary of the action. Click here to read the complete update.
ASTA's "No-fly Fly-in" Sees Returns in Illinois. The ASTA "No-fly Fly-in" wraps up this week as members of Congress plan to return to Washington, D.C. The purpose of the event was to encourage ASTA members to visit their elected officials while home during the August break. The visits were designed to carry the message of the seed industry and enhance the relationships created during the April Seed Industry Washington DC Fly-in, where 60 House and Senate members and/or staffers met with seed professionals. As a result of the interest generated from these visits, two staff members of Representative Tim Johnson (R-IL) visited Central Illinois Production to see first-hand a seed operation. All ASTA members are encouraged to invite their local Congressman to tour their operations so that they can have accurate information on the benefits of the seed industry.
ASTA Participates in the 7th China Agriculture Trade Fair (CATF) Organized by China's Ministry of Agriculture, the CATF was held at the Changchun International Exhibition Center in Jilin Province from Sept. 7-11. ASTA partnered with CropLife International to have a booth in the international pavilion focused on intellectual property rights. There were over 2,000 exhibitors at this year's trade fair and an anticipated 200,000 visitors over the course of the week. "This was an excellent platform for ASTA to build upon efforts focused on intellectual property rights in China," stated Bernice Slutsky, ASTA vice president of science and international affairs. "The insight gained from our discussions with growers and retailers in China who attended the fair, of their need and the importance placed on quality seed, were extremely valuable. This opportunity allowed us to continue to build the important relationships we have in the Jilin Province, as well as with other Provincial and National Government Representatives we met with at our booth." For more information on ASTA's presence at the 2009 CATF, please contact Lisa Nichols. ASTA Represented at 33rd Annual Meeting of NAPPO in October This year's meeting of the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) will be held at the Swissotel in Chicago from Oct. 19-23. ASTA's Senior Director of Seed Health and Trade Ric Dunkle will represent ASTA and present in the plenary session on "Needs for NAPPO and IPPC Standards in the Seed Industry." NAPPO recently formed the NAPPO Seeds Panel to begin developing regional phytosanitary standards to facilitate seed trade among the U.S., Canada and Mexico. This panel is currently working to develop a standard on seed re-export. NAPPO uses the annual meeting to obtain input from the various sectors of the agricultural industry needed for the development of relevant standards. Industry representatives from the three NAPPO countries will be participating in the meeting. The first day of the meeting is devoted to industry and government meetings by country followed by combined government and industry meetings. Various NAPPO panels, including the Seeds Panel, will also be convening. "This meeting provides a great opportunity to network with industry and government officials from the three NAPPO countries," notes Dunkle. "Now that there is a commitment to address the needs of the seed industry, I encourage as many attendees from the seed industry as possible to participate in this meeting. Having the meeting centrally located in the U.S. should make it much easier for our members to take advantage of this great opportunity." For more information about the NAPPO annual meeting including registration, visit the NAPPO Web site, www.NAPPO.org. ASTA Committees: Involvement = Greater Value Legislative & Legal Concerns Committee Description: Current Activities: Next Scheduled Meeting: Key Contacts:
New Executive Director Named for Wisconsin Crop Production Association Wisconsin Crop Production Association's (WCPA) Board of Directors announced Robert J. Poehnelt (Paynelt) as the new executive director of the association effective Sept. 23, 2009. Rob comes to WCPA after seven years of experience with the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA) where he served most recently as the communications director. Recently, Rob has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) status from the American Society of Association Executives. Prior to his work with the WVMA, Rob worked for a leading animal agriculture products distributor. Atlantic Seed Association (ASA) Extends Early Bird Registration! ASA's 57th Convention will be held Oct. 10-13, at the Loews Royal Pacific Hotel, Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. In addition to many opportunities to network and conduct business, the program includes a three-hour workshop by Michelle Dunn, author, speaker and owner of a collection agency, who will provide tips, strategies and information on collections. Don't miss out on this year's convention - visit ASA's Web site today! Plant Breeding Coordinated Committee Concludes Successful 3rd Annual Meeting On Aug. 5, 150 plant breeders, government representatives and graduate students from across the U. S. met in Madison, Wis. at the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee (PBCC). The PBCC represents 700 U.S. plant breeders dedicated to developing plant varieties to supply food, feed, fiber and now fuel for the U.S. and the world. In the past 20 years, the number of trained plant breeders has declined due to a decrease in the number of students entering the field combined with reduced funding for public plant breeding programs. This is at a time when the demand for talented individuals has never been so high in this rewarding field. The PBCC discussed current research in plant breeding. Of particular importance, the group addressed ways to sustain the education of future plant breeders and maintenance of public plant breeding programs. Look for an email survey to help prioritize education and research topics in plant breeding. Your input is important. For further information, please contact Allen Van Deynze at 530-754-6444 or visit the Web site. Cyber Networking Can Further Factual Information about Biotechnology The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) is a not-for-profit international organization that shares the benefits of crop biotechnology to various stakeholders, particularly resource-poor farmers in developing countries, through knowledge sharing initiatives and the transfer and delivery of proprietary biotechnology applications. ISAAA's global knowledge sharing network and public and private sector partnerships in the research and development continuum provide a powerful combination of science-based information and appropriate technology to those who need to make informed decisions about their acceptance and use. In addition, an array of support services completes the holistic approach to agricultural development and ensures effective implementation and timely delivery of crop biotechnologies. These services include capacity building for policy makers and scientists, regulatory oversight on such issues as biosafety and food safety and impact assessment. In an effort to further the reach of the ISAAA Web site and sharing information on biotech crops more widely, ASTA members are invited to feature a link to the ISAAA Web site on their respective sites. Additionally, ISAAA offers a regular newsletter which gathers information around the world on research and development in agricultural biotechnology and other innovations. To subscribe for ISAAA's Crop Biotech Update, please click here.
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Click here for a schedule of additional industry events 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.
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129th Annual Convention • 2011 Farm & Lawn Seed Conf. • CSS 2011 & Seed Expo • 51st Vegetable & Flower Seed Conf. |