Seed E-News

November 14, 2003

Minnesota Soybean Farmers frustrated with Brazil
This year, for the first time, Brazil will export more soybeans than the United States. Although Brazil has maintained a longstanding ban on GM soybeans, industry experts believe that as much as a 25% of Brazil's crop is produced from illegal GMO seed and the situation has caused frustration among American producers. The majority of the farmers sow their fields with Round Up Ready seed and pay a technology fee to Monsanto, the company which developed the herbicide. What frustrates the Minnesota farmers is that their biggest competitor does not. The illegality of GM soybeans has made it almost impossible for Monsanto to collect the fee.Ê Farmers believe that not paying the technology fee gives Brazil an unfair edge. For more on this, go to Minnesota Public Radio by following this link, MPR.

Media focuses on Biotechnology Risks rather than Benefits
Recent research has confirmed what those in the industry have long believed: media coverage of agricultural biotechnology has focused on the negative rather than the positive. A study by the University of Missouri-Columbia used two opinion-leading newspapers from the UK and three from the US as the basis of a 12-year analysis of coverage of biotechnology. The study concluded that, on both sides of the Atlantic, risks rather than benefits have been the focus of reporting and that the UK has been more negative. To read more, follow this link, Media Coverage.

What is the EU Regulatory Framework for GMO Authorization?
With the advent of new European legislation on GMOs, FoodNavigator.com has published an outline of the legislation as presented by the European Commission. Please follow this link, Food Navigator.

EU postpones Biotech Test Case
On Monday, November 10, European Union officials postponed a contentious decision on approving a new type of genetically modified sweetcorn that would end a five-year ban on biotech products, but will vote on it in December. A European Commission spokesman referred to a "fierce discussion", adding that "the commission will ask for a vote at the meeting of the committee in December". Consumer resistance to GM produce in Europe is estimated at over 70% and this deters many supermarkets from stocking it. However, the EU has been moving slowly towards ending a moratorium on GMOs. Monday's discussion concerned Bt-11 maize, marketed by Swiss giant Syngenta. If eventually approved, the maize would be imported into the EU as a product to be eaten from the can, and not for planting. A 'yes' vote on the maize and an end to the moratorium would please key EU trade partners like the US, which has pressured the bloc by launching a case against the ban at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Follow this link for more information, Biotech Case.

UC Davis opens Plant Sciences Facilities
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS - More than 300 visitors from on and off campus attended the October 15 Plant Science Facilities Open House. The event celebrated the completion of a complex of new buildings, including state-of-the-art greenhouses, a plant-science teaching facility, the High Throughput Genomics Facility and Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Plant Transformation Facility, new laboratories that contain state-of-the-art equipment for DNA sequencing and genetically modifying plants, and the Plant Reproduction Biology building that houses the Seed Biotechnology Center. Several speakers, including Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef and Dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Neal Van Alfen, welcomed the group and recognized the partners involved with the projects. Dr. Kent Bradford, director of the Seed Biotechnology Center, acknowledged seed industry leaders who supported the early vision of completing such a facility. Bill Van Skike, chairman of the California Seed Advisory Board, told the audience that "in these walls, new discoveries await, problems will be solved and the education of many students will be achieved." The Chancellor also told the audience that "Over the years, the plant sciences have really thrived on campus. The new plant sciences facilities will help further that success. For more information, including photographs, contact Sue Webster, Seed Biotechnology Center, (530) 754-7333, or at scwebster@ucdavis.edu.

University of Illinois Faculty to run National Soy Research Lab (NSRL)
This week, Illinois soybean farmers announced a 3-year continuation of an endowment at the University of Illinois designed to help with strategic planning for the soybean industry. The agreement was signed at the National Soybean Research Center (NSRC). Farmers, via the Illinois Soybean Checkoff, created an endowment in 1996 to form the Soybean Industry Chair for Agricultural Strategy at the University of Illinois. For more on this story, follow this link Endowment. For more on the laboratory, follow this link NSRL.

ASTA Membership Database
To ensure that our membership database is up to date and accurate, please let us know of any changes to your company name, address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses, company ASTA representatives, etc. Details of changes can be mailed to the ASTA offices at 225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 650, Alexandria, VA 22314-2875, faxed to 703-837-9365, or e-mailed to Peter Patterson, Director, Membership Services, at ppatterson@amseed.org.

Industry People
If you have any personnel changes, or other developments in your company, that you would like included in E-News, please send details to ppatterson@amseed.org.

Upcoming Events

December 10-12, 2003
ASTA 33rd Soybean Seed & 58th Corn & Sorghum Seed Conferences & Seed Expo 2003
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Chicago, IL
Tel: 1-888.890.7333
Pre-registration closed on November 7 but anyone wishing to attend can register on-site.Ê For more about the events, please follow these links: Chicago and Seed Expo 2003.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the registration brochure for the Corn & Sorghum and Soybean Seed Research Conference incorrectly lists the phone number for the Sheraton Chicago as (312) 464-8000. It should read (312) 464-1000. The Sheraton Chicago is our only overflow hotel for the conference where group rates for ASTA attendees have been established. The headquarter hotel is the Hyatt Regency Chicago and it is already filling up fast!

January 24-27, 2004
43rd Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference
Savannah, GA.
Tel: 1-888.890.7333
To register, please follow this link: Savannah

May 24-26, 2004
International Seed Federation Congress
Berlin, Germany
www.worldseed2004.com

June 27-30, 2004
121st ASTA Annual Convention
Wyndham Franklin Plaza
Philadelphia, PA.
Tel: 1-888.890.7333
Annual Convention

June 19-22, 2005
122nd ASTA Annual Convention
Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Tower
Seattle, WA

July 7-14, 2006
Joint ASTA-CSTA Annual Convention
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Chicago, IL