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July 16, 2010
New ASTA chairmen take reigns and help guide seed industry thru complex issues
John Nelsen of Texas-based Rice Tec, Mike Gumina of Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, and Blake Curtis of New Mexico's Curtis and Curtis, Inc., took the reigns of the American Seed Trade Association and continue to drive seed industry initiatives forward. Nelson accepted the position as ASTA chairman for the 2010-11 Fiscal Year during the recent 127th Annual Convention. "Sharing know-how and creating a learning and achieving environment is, in my mind, one of the best possible uses of knowledge," he said. "As the amount of arable land continues to shrink globally, we need to look beyond the traditional mediums for more opportunities to reach out and better educate today's decision-makers at home and around the globe. Nelsen encouraged members and those involved in the seed industry to continue their work in the ag policy arena to help provide a better business environment and feed a growing population. Acknowledging the diversity of ASTA's membership, Nelson said he would continue to be an advocate for co-existence and market choice within the United States and around the world. "Our roots are anchored in the promotion of science-based decisions, education and the customers' right to choose," he said. "These roots are well placed and deserve our continued support." Serving as ASTA vice-chairman, Gumina echoed Nelsen's remarks about education. "We are working in an increasingly complex world," Gumina said. "It is critical to our future that we have an effective association that can make sure the needs of our industry are heard and understood by audiences around the world." The seed industry is an exceptional place to be and there are many changes and advancements happening within, from a technology standpoint, he said. Being able to educate others about and communicate these advancements is of utmost importance to the industry and its ability to continue moving forward, he explained. ASTA's second vice-chairman, Curtis, quoted Zig Zigler, "If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there." Curtis hopes to carry on the tradition of vision, insight and direction to help lead the seed industry through the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities. "The seed industry is an innovative, growing and strategic industry that develops better seed for better crops for a better quality of life," Curtis said. ASTA chairmen past and present have played an important role in the seed industry. Representing a variety of crops, practice methods and business sizes, ASTA officers drop their personal and business biases and come together to generate and guide policies at the state, federal and international levels to help provide a better business environment. "The chairmen serving this year and in the coming years are proven leaders who are dedicated to the seed industry," said Andy LaVigne, ASTA president and chief executive officer. "Their knowledge about and experience in the seed industry will be gleaned to deal with many issues including patent expiration, seed count, competition and the farm bill. They serve an important role and I am confident in their abilities to guide the Board and industry through the challenges and opportunities we face."
ASTA welcomes new officers to its Board, representing many facets of the industry
Seven new seedsmen entered into leadership position within the American Seed Trade Association at the recent ASTA convention in San Antonio, Texas. "ASTA represents nearly 700 seed-related businesses and is a member-driven organization," said Andy LaVigne, ASTA president and chief executive officer. "Nowhere is this reflected more than in the many volunteers who donate their time, unique skill sets and expertise for the betterment of the industry. Our members are the foundation of the Association and we rely heavily on them to direct our policies. " New ASTA officers include:
They join 23 other individuals and together make up the Association's Board of Directors. Officers and chairs may serve from one to three years, depending on the position. This group of volunteers is the genesis of leadership and policy, directing the future of the Association. They are charged with the identifying issues and priorities specific to the seed industry and facilitating discussion of industry-wide activities and concerns, new industry developments and market promotion, among many other tasks.
Proceedings from ASTA's 127th Annual Convention Did you miss a meeting, miss the convention or just want to refer back to a presentation? American Seed Trade Association members can now access agendas, minutes and presentations from the 127th Annual Convention at http://www.amseed.org/astamember_news_ac10.asp. (This link will only work if you are already signed in.) To navigate to the proceedings, go to the "Members Only" section, click on "What's New" in the side bar on the left and then look under "Current News." If something is missing, please contact the staff liaison for that committee and request it be added. If you have any questions or trouble accessing the information, please don't hesitate to contact Julie Douglas, ASTA communications director, at 703-837-8140 or jdouglas@amseed.org.
Colorado State University student recognized for drought resistance research
The American Seed Research Foundation awarded Anna Pranger, a master's student at Colorado State University, with the Roger Krueger Memorial Scholarship during the American Seed Trade Association's 127th Annual Convention. The Roger Krueger Scholarship Endowment was established in 2008 by the American Seed Research Foundation to honor and remember Roger Krueger who devoted his professional career to seeds and advocating the role of science in feeding the world. "Anna is very deserving of this scholarship," said Marsha Stanton, who served on the selection committee and represents corn industry affairs for Monsanto. "Her research uses genetics to address one of the serious global issues in production agriculture, which is the lack of adequate water." Pranger works in the laboratory and in the field to incorporate drought-resistant genes from a wild, drought resistant cultivar in the background of an adapted Colorado cultivar using an advanced backcross breeding strategy. She first became interested in soil and crop sciences during a semester abroad in Honduras, where she learned about their farming system. "Honduras is a very rugged country and farmland is very marginal," Pranger said. "Farmers there had difficulty because of the lack of water and poor land quality. They either could not afford or have access to quality seeds." After returning home, Pranger wanted to explore the development of drought tolerant crops that can survive water-limiting conditions. She also wanted to try breeding techniques that could increase plant productivity and provide for the needs of a growing world population. Prior to her trip to Honduras, Pranger had never stepped foot in a field. Now she spends most of her time in the field with research trials and has learned the importance of production agriculture. "Wheat is the third most produced crop in the world, behind rice and corn," said Pranger, who earned her bachelor's in biology and biochemistry from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. "It is necessary to breed for drought tolerance because wheat is so heavily depended on by those in dry regions of the world such as the Middle East, Australia, China, India and even Eastern Colorado and the Great Plains Region." Pranger believes drought tolerance will be an increasingly important trait to breed for in the future, especially as water supplies dwindle. "My research is designed to aid with the discovery of genes associated with drought tolerance," the Colorado native said. "Crops with the drought tolerance trait will increase productivity on dry and marginal lands and where soil quality is poor." The scholarship winner anticipates graduation in December 2011 and intends to work with a major seed company. "My main interest is plant breeding, but I'm also interested in researching the genetics of plants," she said. "I enjoy being outdoors and working in the field." The American Seed Research Foundation was established in 1959 to encourage research in plant and seed biology and to facilitate the transfer of resulting technology to benefit the seed industry, farmers and consumers on a global basis. The foundation supports public research in plant and seed biology, applied research projects with broad or crop-specific applications, public-private cooperation in seed-related research, and educational opportunities in seed-related sciences.
Fundamental Practices of Seed Production course offered in Spanish A distance education course, Fundamental Practices of Seed Production, will be offered in Spanish beginning July 26. The 10-week course is divided into three different modules. The first module is about the seed industry and the world-where it is today and how it functions. The second module is production fundamentals and the third module is production practices of specific crops. "I hope students learn why certain practices are done," said Sam Contreras Escobar of the Pontificia Catholic University of Chile and course developer. After completing the course, students will be better leaders and capable of better explaining the processes that take place in the seed industry, he said. The course costs $1,430 and the deadline for enrollment is July 21. For more information about the course, visit http://www.uc.cl/ucvirtual/agronomia/sem1/index.html.
Verdant partners welcomes fresh produce industry veteran as director Paul Bennett, a former chairman of the American Seed Trade Association, joined Verdant Partners LLC as director and will be charged with developing new business in the fresh produce industry. Bennett has spent most of his career in senior management positions in the global fresh produce industry. Bennett retired from Sakata Seed America in Morgan Hill, Calif., where he served as chief executive officer from 1997-2009. He also served on the Global Management Committee of the parent company in Japan. "We are fortunate to have Paul join Verdant Partners and look forward to utilizing his vast experience in further growing our agribusiness practice in the United States and abroad," said Dean Cavey, Verdant Partners LLC managing partner. "Paul's experience and skills will be quite valuable in a number of industry segments." Prior to joining Sakata Seed America, Bennett served as the vice president of technical services for Monterey Mushrooms. He has also served as either CEO or COO of Naturipe Berry Growers, California Ammonia Company, Hawaiian Holiday Macadamia Nut Company, Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation and various Dole Food Company overseas subsidiaries. A long-time resident of Lafayette, Calif., Bennett is fluent in English and Spanish. He earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University and an MBA from Stanford University. He served four years in the U.S. Navy and is a Vietnam War veteran. 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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ASTA Board of Directors for the 2010-11 Fiscal Year, San Antonio, Texas
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129th Annual Convention • 2011 Farm & Lawn Seed Conf. • CSS 2011 & Seed Expo • 51st Vegetable & Flower Seed Conf. |