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April 2, 2008
Bjorn Lomborg to Address ASTA's 125th Anniversary Annual Convention
Noted author and environmentalist Bjorn Lomborg will provide the Keynote Address at ASTA's 125th Anniversary Annual Convention, being held June 21-25, at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Lomborg's presentation, taking place at the Opening General Session on Monday, June 23, will offer a look ahead at the environment of our future and the seed industry's role in it. A world renowned environmental economist, Lomborg provides a comprehensive perspective on the issues of global warming and the environment in relation to its current state and what steps may be taken in order to prepare for the changes to come. As the seed industry prepares for future business challenges, Lomborg will focus on what he views as a balanced and realistic approach to understanding what is really needed to support and sustain the world's fragile environment. Bjorn Lomborg is an adjunct professor at the Copenhagen Business School and director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, which analyzes the world's greatest challenges and identifies cost efficient solutions to meeting them. The Center works with multilateral organizations, governments and other entities concerned with mitigating the consequences of those challenges. In 2004, he was named one of Time's 100 most influential people, and in 2007, he presented his views on global warming before the United States Congress in the joint hearing "Perspective on Climate Change" of the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and on Science and Technology. Lomborg has authored several books on the topic, most recently, "Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist's Guide to Global Warming." Copies of the book will be made available at the Annual Convention, as well as a book signing opportunity with Lomborg.
ASTA Continues to Monitor Puerto Rico Field Inspection Issue Several weeks ago, ASTA learned that seed companies could no longer rely on obtaining growing season field inspections from the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture that are needed for the issuance of federal phytosanitary certificates. Several company programs, including research, seed increases and winter nurseries, became immediately impacted by this change. ASTA recently hosted a conference call with USDA officials to explore alternatives. Only USDA and state government officials and companies or organizations certified through the National Seed Health System (NSHS) are authorized to conduct these inspections. Fortunately, the Illinois Crop Improvement Association has NSHS certification and was able to provide emergency assistance to many companies in need. ASTA continues to work with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to stabilize this situation. As a longer-term solution, companies that have major programs in Puerto Rico are encouraged to explore NSHS certification so that they can officially conduct their own inspections. Other activities for which NSHS certification is available include seed sampling, visual inspection and laboratory seed health testing. ASTA is in close communication with the NSHS to assist interested member companies to obtain certification. For more information on the NSHS, visit their website (www.seedhealth.org), or contact Ric Dunkle, ASTA's senior director for seed health and trade.
Enter Your Predictions for the Seed Industry of 2133! Only three short months away, ASTA's 125th Anniversary Annual Convention will feature a blockbuster Opening General Session on Monday, June 23. Among many exciting features and twists never seen before at an ASTA event, this theatrical presentation will include a look into the future of the seed industry, 125 years ahead. What are your predictions for the issues and concerns ASTA will have in the year 2133? Send your wildest notions and ideas to Jennifer Lord, director of meetings and services, to enter the contest. Members whose submissions are selected for inclusion in the Opening General Session will receive a complimentary copy of the new book, "125 Years of the American Seed Trade Association," which will debut at the convention. The 125th Annual Convention will be held at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., June 21-25. It is anticipated to be the largest ASTA Annual Convention in the last six years, featuring a variety of cutting edge educational topics, special historical displays, re-worked and larger special events and enhanced spouse and youth programming. Click here for more information on this exciting quasquicentennial event!
ASTA Provides Comment on Proposed Changes Impacting Interstate Transportation ASTA submitted an official response to the Dec. 26, 2007, Federal Register Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) proposed changes. The changes would revise the standards for mandatory training, a requirement for entry-level operators of commercial motor vehicles in interstate operations who are required to possess a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). FMCSA is proposing to require interstate drivers of commercial motor vehicles (vehicles or truck/trailer combinations greater than 26,001 pounds) applying for CDLs to obtain 76 hours of classroom and 44 hours of behind-the-wheel training. Currently, these drivers must have some prior training in certain substantive areas, but there are no number-of-hours or behind-the-wheel requirements. The new requirements would become effective in three years. ASTA provided FMCSA with details of the operational and economic impacts these proposed changes would have on ASTA members. The comments also outlined the unique utilization of CDLs among the seed industry, in particular those who do not operate commercial motor vehicles on a full time basis. ASTA explained the current approaches member companies take to provide ongoing training to drivers to ensure compliance and safety. ASTA proposed that FMCSA adopt an exception that would exempt entities like seed companies that have this uniquely limited commercial motor vehicle operations from the new training requirements. FMSCA has already included several exemptions into the program; however, none clearly cover seed companies. To read the official comments submitted by ASTA, please click here. For further information, please contact Vice President of Government Affairs Leslie Cahill.
Illinois Legislation Benefiting Seed Industry Could Stall As the Illinois General Assembly approaches the halfway point of the 2008 legislative session, the Illinois Seed Trade Association (ISTA) finds that two bills they support, which are on track to become law soon, have reached an impasse due to political posturing within the state on other proposals. The two bills, one in the Senate and one in the House, were introduced with the intention of both bills meeting in the middle to facilitate adoption of a "sell-by" designation for cool season grass seeds. The Senate bill has passed their chamber, and the House version is poised for adoption by their body. However, the Governor, the Speaker of the House and the Senate President are in conflict over legislative authority and protocol, which has resulted in a rule created by the Speaker that causes any bill introduced with an amendment to stall. With the cool season grass bill going before the House with amendments, there is the potential for the bill to be delayed. A few options exist which could still enable the bill to become law. The Senate version is free of amendments and has time to progress through the House. Also, the Governor may recapitulate and allow the House version through, followed by concurrence with the Senate version. Alternatively, the three leaders could find a resolution to the debate on legislative authority within the state which would allow the 2008 session to regain momentum. For more information, please contact ASTA Director for State Affairs, Pat Miller.
ASTA Kicks Off Meetings with Key Representatives in India
On Monday, March 31, a delegation of six ASTA members and staff began a week-long fact finding mission to New Delhi and Hyderabad, India. Gordon Zielinski of The Scotts Company, LLC, Curt Clausen of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., and Eric Johnson of Seminis, Inc., are participating in the delegation, rounded out by ASTA staff, President & CEO Andy LaVigne, Vice President of Science and International Affairs Bernice Slutsky and Director of International Programs Lisa Nichols. The first day of the mission brought the delegation together with key officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Protection of Plant Variety and Farmer's Right Authority and concluded with a discussion with representatives from the National Seed Association of India. The focus of this mission is for the delegation to meet Indian government officials and other stakeholders to promote collaboration, explore possible investment and propose potential training and outreach opportunities on Intellectual Property Rights and Plant Variety Protection. "India has been identified by ASTA membership as one of the key international marketplaces for ASTA to focus resources from our international program," said LaVigne. "We see a great number of opportunities as well as challenges in this country. The meetings this week will lay the groundwork for future activities that will benefit U.S. and Indian seed and agriculture producers alike." Look for more information on the delegations' findings in the next issue of Seed E-News. For more information on ASTA's International Programs, please contact Lisa Nichols.
Progress Made on Liability and Redress under Protocol Negotiations Countries from around the world gathered from March 12-19 in Cartagena, Colombia, to negotiate implementation of the liability and redress provisions in the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, specifically addressing possible damage caused by living modified organisms to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. Industry, through the Global Industry Coalition, had a strong and influential presence, with the current draft text containing elements that include industry-supported options. For nearly all elements of the text, references remain which convey the applicability of domestic laws and flexibility. Parties to the Protocol agreed that further work on the text was needed before the May 2008 Biosafety Protocol Meeting of the Parties in Bonn, Germany, and agreed to reconvene a "Friends of the Co-Chair's meeting" in early May. For additional information, please contact ASTA Vice President for Science and International Affairs Bernice Slutsky.
Public-Private Partnership Aims to Reduce Crop Failure to Alleviate Hunger and Poverty The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) announced a public-private partnership, known as Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA), to develop drought-tolerant maize varieties for Africa. Partners from participating countries, including Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda will use marker-assisted breeding and biotechnology to develop African maize varieties with the long-term goal to make drought-tolerant maize available royalty-free to African small-scale farmers. The initiative is in response to a growing call by African farmers, leaders and scientists to address the devastating effects of drought on small-scale farmers and their families, which often leads to crop failure. "This partnership fits well with the AATF mandate of facilitating innovative public-private partnerships that bring to smallholder farmers in Africa the tools needed to increase productivity for better food and income security," said AATF Executive Director Mpoko Bokanga. AATF will work with the non-profit International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT); private agricultural companies, Monsanto and BASF; and the national agricultural research systems in the participating countries. The project will involve local institutions, both public and private, who will be able to expand their capacity and experience in crop breeding, biotechnology, and biosafety. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation have contributed a total of $47 million to this effort. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has funded an independent program at the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health (University of Toronto) to assess and monitor social, cultural, ethical and commercial issues related to the WEMA Project. The independent organization will conduct annual audits of WEMA and serve as an additional communication channel for stakeholders. Please visit the AATF website for more information.
Passing of Recognized Seedsman Dr. John Cross, 72, of Mason, Ohio, died on March 2. Active in ASTA, Cross worked for Asgrow Seed Company for 27 years and later served as a consultant for STA Laboratories, which continued after his retirement. Born in Manchester, England, he was a graduate of The University of North Wales and a recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship. He attended the University of Minnesota for a Masters Degree in Plant Pathology, where he later returned for his doctorate after working in Tanzania for Empire Cotton Corporation. During his career, Cross was particularly active with phytosanitary and seed health issues, as well as the American Seed Research Foundation. He was instrumental in the early establishment of the National Seed Health System and received the President's Distinguished Service Award for his contributions. He was a member of Rotary International for 25 years and became a Paul Harris Fellow. Cross was also a member in the Westwood and Mason Kiwanis Clubs. Cross is survived by his wife of 41 years, Barbara Holmes Cross, his children, Katherine Ressler (Andrew), Rebecca Weller (Richard) and David J. Cross, and grandchildren, Caroline and Jack Ressler, Nicole and Claire Weller, Benjamin and Charles Mallernee and Matthew and Lindsay Cross. ASTA and its members extend our condolences to his family.
Click here for a schedule of additional industry events
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