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Update on Accord

Maggie Seiler

The 130th ASTA annual meeting gave attendees an opportunity to receive an update on the progress of the Accord initiative that is a joint effort of ASTA with the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). “The Accord is an industry-led framework that is meant to address situations when biotech events go off patent and how we maintain the regulatory approvals worldwide for …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Biotech, Seed

Seed Advocate Program Launched at ASTA Meeting

Maggie Seiler

The American Seed Trade Association introduced their new seed advocate program at the 130th ASTA annual meeting. The intention of the program is to help grow grassroots leadership to communicate with policy makers about the seed industry. “We will provide them with the information and tools they need so they can continue that interaction with their government employees for positive …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Seed

FuSE program grows future ASTA members

Maggie Seiler

The Future Seed Executives (FuSE) program was initiated as a branch of the ASTA Management Skills Committee in 2004. According to Liz Pestow, immediate past chairman of the FuSE initiative, “The focus of FuSE is to provide educational and networking opportunities to those in the industry with seven years or less experience,” Pestow said. Members involved in FuSE range from …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Seed

ASTA State of Agribusiness Panel Discussion

Maggie Seiler

Challenges facing the seed industry were the topic of discussion at Tuesday morning’s general session at the 130th ASTA annual meeting. The state of agribusiness panel was composed of Ross Harvey from AdFarm, Blake Sieker managing partner at The Context Network and Kevin Ferguson farm management extension area specialist with the University of Tennessee. The panel was moderated by Lowell …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Seed

ASTA President and CEO Welcomes Attendees

Maggie Seiler

Andy LaVigne, ASTA President and CEO, opened the ASTA 130th annual meeting by welcoming everyone to Nashville and taking a look at what attendees would hear about and discuss over the next two days. His opening remarks surrounded the evolution of the seed industry. LaVigne said the seed industry has a great opportunity to bring its message to the world, …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Seed

ASTA Honorary Lifetime Member

Maggie Seiler

Kelly Keithly was awarded the Honorary Lifetime Member award at the ASTA 130th annual meeting. Keithly is the president of Keithly-Williams Seeds (KWS). He has been involved in the seed business since he graduated from college. Keithly began the company in 1981 with his partner, Walt Williams, and two employees, and it has since expanded to 150 employees and in …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Seed

Lowell Catlett talks future at ASTA annual meeting

Maggie Seiler

The 130th American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) annual meeting opened today with a look into the future of the seed industry provided by Dr. Lowell Catlett, the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Home Economics at New Mexico State University. Catlett is a self-professed “weirdo” who provided his perspective on what it takes to look to the future with …

Agribusiness, ASTA, Audio, Seed

Don’t get it right

Maggie Seiler

Awestruck might be a good description for me following the opening evening activities at my first outing as the new ZimmComm intern. After arriving in Lexington, Kentucky for the Alltech International Symposium, I got dressed up and headed to the dinner that featured salmon, table company from Africa, and fabulous singers. It was a far cry from dinner at the …

Agribusiness, Alltech

Alltech Young Scientists Award

Maggie Seiler

Alltech awarded its annual Young Scientist Awards at the closing ceremony of the Alltech International Symposium on May 22. The first award was for undergraduate research. Amanda Pesqueira was the recipient of this honor. Pesqueria attended the University of Maringa in Brazil before transferring to the University of Kentucky for her final year of undergraduate studies in animal science. Her …

Agribusiness, Alltech, Audio