News Releases

DATE:	April 3, 2006
CONTACT:	Leslie Cahill
	(703) 837-8140

American Seed Trade Association Announces New Vice President for Scientific and International Affairs

WASHINGTON, March 30, 2006-- Andrew W. LaVigne, President and CEO
of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) today announced the addition of
Dr. Bernice Slutsky as Vice President for Scientific and International
Affairs.

“ASTA continues to play a vital role in the regulatory and policy
development that impacts seed research, production and distribution at the
state, national and international levels,” said LaVigne. “The addition of Dr.
Slutsky to our team brings strong expertise in the biotechnology and
international arenas. This will prove to be a great benefit for ASTA's member
companies.”

Dr. Slutsky will join ASTA on April 3, 2006. She joins the association
from the U.S. Department of Agriculture where she has served as Senior Advisor
to the Secretary of Agriculture for Biotechnology since April 2004. In that
capacity, she was responsible for coordinating USDA's policies and activities
relating to agricultural biotechnology.

Prior to USDA, Slutsky was Assistant Vice President for International and
Regulatory Affairs at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
(PhRMA), where she was responsible for promoting science-based approaches to
regulatory affairs in the Asia Pacific and Latin America regions. Before
PhRMA, Dr. Slutsky was Senior Policy Advisor for the Foreign Agricultural
Service at USDA and prior to that, she was a member of the Assistant
Administrator's Biotechnology Staff at the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). In both of these positions, Dr. Slutsky played an active role
in a number of international forum addressing biotechnology, including US/EU
bilateral initiatives, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the
Biosafety Protocol negotiations, and the Codex Alimentarius.

“I am very excited about joining the team at ASTA. The seed industry is
facing many important international and emerging scientific issues. I look
forward to working with the ASTA membership in taking advantage of the
opportunities in these areas and ensuring that the interests of the seed
industry are actively promoted,” stated Slutsky.

“We are pleased to have Bernice as part of the ASTA organization,” said
Jim Tobin, ASTA Chairman and Director of Biotech Business Development with
Monsanto. “Dr. Slutsky brings a wealth of experience and understanding of the
scientific, regulatory and political issues facing the seed industry today and
that experience will contribute to the leadership role ASTA continues to play
on behalf of its member companies. We are very happy to have her on board.”

Dr. Slutsky received her Ph.D. in biology from the University of Iowa and
was a research assistant at the Plant Research Laboratories at Michigan State
University and at Plant Genetic Systems, Gent, Belgium.

Founded in 1883, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), located in
Alexandria, Va., is one of the oldest trade organizations in the United
States. Its membership consists of about 800 companies involved in seed
production and distribution, plant breeding, and related industries in North
America. As an authority on plant germplasm, ASTA advocates science and
policy issues of industry importance. Its mission is to enhance the
development and free movement of quality seed worldwide.

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Founded in 1883, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), located in Washington, DC, is one of the oldest trade organizations in the United States. Its membership consists of about 900 companies involved in seed production and distribution, plant breeding, and related industries in North America. As an authority on plant germplasm, ASTA advocates science and policy issues of industry importance. Its mission is to enhance the development and free movement of quality seed worldwide.