Supporting Future #Seed Researchers

Cindy Zimmerman June 22, 2016

The future of the seed industry is in good hands if the students who are attending this year’s American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) annual meeting are any indication.

ASRF scholarship winner Matthew Rhine (center) with Glen Austin of Monsanto and Jim Tobin, retired from Monsanto

ASTA has a strong interest in encouraging young people pursuing careers in the industry in a number of ways, from programs that mentor students to supporting the efforts of the American Seed Research Foundation (ASRF) which has a scholarship program for graduate students.

This year’s Roger Krueger Memorial Scholarship was presented to Matthew Rhine, a graduate student at Texas A&M University who is working on improving soybeans across specific soil types. “I’m looking at trait identification based on nursery populations to see which traits are required for performance in each environment,” said Rhine, who added that being at ASTA and being able to interact with so many different people in the seed industry was a great experience.

The scholarship is named in honor of Dr. Roger Krueger, a seed researcher with Monsanto who passed away in 2007. “We’ve been giving a scholarship ever since to recognize him and to encourage students doing graduate work in the area of seed to follow in the footsteps of this terrific man who was a good friend of ours,” said Jim Tobin, who is retired from Monsanto but represented the company in awarding the scholarship this week.

Listen to my interview with Jim and Matthew here: Interview with ASRF Scholarship sponsor Monsanto and winner Matthew Rhine

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

ASTA, Audio, Research, Seed

#ASTAannual Selects New IEC Chair

Kelly Marshall June 21, 2016

Karen Withers will be taking the reins for American Seed Trade Association’s International Executive Committee for the coming year.

Withers works for Pennington Seed handling their international sales, so she’s well versed in trials and tribulations that come with work on the international level. She’s also had two years serving the committee as vice chair, joining the year before that as chair of the Phytosanitary committee- a group with an interest in the international sector.

According to Withers, IEC is very busy, covering a variety of topics and meeting several times each year. “It’s a very active group. They’re very proactive in trying to solve issues going on for all sectors of the seed industry,” she says, talking about the work they do with embassies in Washington D.C.

But if the work is varied it’s also unpredictable. Withers says it’s hard to pinpoint what might take place in the coming year. There will certainly be issues involving TTP, but the uncertainty of the agreement means the committees work is undecided as well. Regardless, we wish her well.

You can listen to my full interview with Karen here: Interview with ASTA IEC Chair, Karen Withers

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

Ag Groups, ASTA, International, Trade

#ASTAannual Honors Exemplary Members

Kelly Marshall June 21, 2016

When it comes to volunteering and service there are some people who just seem to stand out. Here at the American Seed Trade Association annual meeting the board took the opportunity to honor a few of those people and thank them for the contributions they’ve made to the industry.

Mike Gumina was recognized with the ASTA Lifetime Honorary Member Award. Gumina is the global CEO of RiceTech AG and volunteers, he says, for the Karma. Gumina has spent his career working in agriculture, figuring it to be the next best thing to farming. In the early 90s he first joined ASTA. When he got the chance to serve on the ISF board he found a fit. “That was a great opportunity for me to use my international business experience and be additive to the overall seed trade process,” he shares.

Serving in that capacity lead to a 14 year stretch of working in various positions, during which time he’s learned that the issues facing the seed industry haven’t changed as much as one might think.

“I think the challenges are the challenges they’ve always been. We have to communicate the value of seed, the value of research, the value of intellectual property rights. We need to advocate for our positions in the various government venues so we can have an environment where our companies can succeed and our customers can succeed. Those aren’t really different from 100 years ago when the Association was established.”

What is different, Gumina says, is that the industry is much more heavily regulated, and the intensity we’ll have to attack those issues is greater as well.

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Mike here: Interview with Mike Gumina, ASTA Award Winner

Larry Nees was also honored with the ASTA Distinguished Service Award. Nees is a chemist for the State of Indiana and was unfortunately not able to attend the event in person, but did send a video thank you for the honor of being selected.

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio

Seeds of Tomorrow at #ASTAannual

Kelly Marshall June 21, 2016

If NASA is looking for extraordinary out in space, CASIS is looking for extraordinary right here on earth. The Center for Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) manages the laboratory on the International Space Station (ISS), providing resources needed to launch research and innovation that comes from experiments in micro gravity. Breakthroughs in space often lead to breakthroughs on earth.

Here at the American Seed Trade Association annual meeting Debbie Wells shared a presentation about Tomatosphere; a mission to engage students with projects pertaining to growing plants in space.

“We have some goals over the next ten years. One of those is to reach over 2 million students as part of that education. And the tomatosphere cooperation is going to help up with that goal, as well as help ya’ll expand that program in the United States.”

That program she’s referring to is First the Seed, a response by ASTA to Canada’s success getting STEM and space into the classroom. The opportunity to experiment in space offers so many possibilities. Already they’ve had great success creating crystals in the micro gravity environment which enabled researchers to produce a more effective drug treatment for patients with muscular dystrophia. Scientists hope for similar opportunities with seeds.

“We’re beginning to see some really interesting research results about gene expression and how, when microgravity is affecting the plants it is a stressor, just like pH or temperature or any of those other things. And we can study that,” explains Wells. They can study that and so can students. School children will be sending 1.2 million tomato seeds to ISS next month. Once they’ve germinated, results can be compared to plants grown in the classroom. Within the next year and a half or so astronauts hope to be eating fresh tomatoes grown right on the space station.

Wells invites members of ASTA to be part of the program in several ways. She’s looking to work together with companies that already have STEM programs to connect science to students. They also need experts in the areas of research to help with projects. Another option is to bring Tomatosphere into your local school or donate to help keep the project free to kids.

You can listen to the complete message here: Remarks by Debbie Wells, CASIS

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio

The Novus Commitment to Science + Sustainability

Jamie Johansen June 21, 2016

Novus International strives to help feed the world affordable, wholesome food each and everyday. The center of that vision is sustainability. Definitions for the word throughout the agricultural community vary, but the results are the same. Novus defines sustainable as the endurance of systems and processes and along with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines for sustainability reporting, they have conducted an in-depth sustainability report to outline their strategy for the future.

The report is centered on their Sustainability Priorities Compass which reflects the most important impacts on Novus’s business and stakeholders in driving sustainable decisions and innovation. The drivers include customer productivity and profitability, engaged and empowered employees, sustainable animal agriculture, human health and nutrition, and supply chain efficiency.

As the team celebrates 25 years of innovation in animal nutrition, the topic of science vs. sustainability has been discussed. Dr. Mercedes Vazuez-Anon, senior director of animal nutrition research and facilities, and Jake Piel, sustainability manager, sat on a panel during the media event to answer the question as to who is driving the bus? – science or sustainability.

The duo agreed. Science and sustainability have to work together, they have to live together. Dr. Vazuez-Anon said sustainability will challenge science and take it to the next level where emotion was once only measured. She believes science has improved to help the agricultural industry make decisions that before simply weren’t possible.

Listen to the complete panel discussion on science vs. sustainability here: Novus Sustainability Panel

I also sat down with Jake following the panel to pick his brain further. He likes to picture three legs of a sustainability stool with social, economic and environmental each representing a leg. The economic side of things used to be the driving force and now Jake says social is gaining steam. However, no longer are they at the mercy of the other. Jake firmly believe all legs needs each other.

Listen to my complete interview with Jake to hear his prospective when it comes to determining ROI in sustainability and his advice to others in the B2B market. Interview with Jake Piel, Novus

View and download photos from the event here:Novus International 25th Anniversary Celebration Photo Album

Agribusiness, Animal Health, Audio, Livestock, Novus International, Nutrition, Sustainability

#ASTAannual Honors #Seed Industry Legend

Cindy Zimmerman June 20, 2016

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) instituted a new award at the 133rd annual meeting in Portland, Oregon this year, the Lifetime Industry Achievement Award, and the first honoree is Dr. Owen Newlin, retired from DuPont Pioneer.

Presenting the award, ASTA Chair Risa DeMasi called Newlin a legend in the industry. “When someone spends a lifetime, more than 50 years, tirelessly giving of themselves to contribute to our industry, beyond what most would consider humanly possible, there should be a special award that sets this individual apart,” said DeMasi. “Owen is the longest running ASTA president who remains an active participant on the ASTA board of directors to this day.” Newlin served as president of ASTA in 1985-86, and his career in the industry started in 1955. He was Senior Vice President of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, a company his father helped to create.

As an additional honor, DeMasi says the new award will be known as the Owen J. Newlin Lifetime Achievement Award.

listen to an interview with Dr. Newlin here: Interview with ASTA award winner Dr. Owen Newlin

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

ASTA, Audio, Seed

Krysta Harden Keynotes #ASTAannual

Kelly Marshall June 20, 2016

ASTA Chair, Risa DeMasi (left) and Vice President of Public Policy and Chief Sustainability Officer at DuPont, Krysta Harden (right).

Attendees of the American Seed Trade Association were privileged to hear, not just a great speaker, but someone who has a lot of experience in the agriculture industry. Krysta Harden recently made the move to chief sustainability officer at DuPont from her previous position as deputy secretary of the USDA. Her experience has taught her a thing or two about what it will take to move agriculture forward.

“Nothing matters more than your time in D.C. or with your members of Congress when they’re at home. And I tell folks all the time; it does not matter that you know who they are. Here’s the key. Do they know you?” Harden challenges her audience.

Being the person your member of Congress can reach out to when they have a question about an issue is paramount, Harden emphasizes, because the decisions they make surrounding agriculture are difficult ones. “We see [our issues] as very black and white. We’re right. But they have somebody else, or many somebody elses, in their ear saying, well, here’s my side. And I’m right. There are a lot of different voices.”

And the issues coming aren’t small ones. Intellectual property rights, germplasm, diversity of seed are some of the ideas that are misunderstood by consumers but are critical to agriculture. That disconnect results in part because we don’t brag on ourselves enough, Harden believes. The consumer is sophisticated in some ways, but they’re getting information from the wrong sources. People in agriculture have many great attributes, but unfortunately modesty is one of them.

“We need a voice,” Harden says. “We need a loud voice. We need an informed voice, based on science, based on research, based on hard work. Based on what we know for a fact.”

You can hear Harden’s full message here: ASTA Annual remarks from Krysta Harden, DuPont

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

Ag Groups, ASTA, Audio, Seed

NCGA Elects Kevin Skunes

Kelly Marshall June 20, 2016

Kevin Skunes will step up as the National Corn Growers Association first vice president on Oct. 1. Skunes currently serves as board liaison to the Grower Service Action Team and representative to the National Pork Producers Council, and has previously been on the Corn Board, the Association Relations Committee and the Finance Committee.

“I am deeply honored that my colleagues on the board chose to place their trust in my capability and commitment to leading our association forward as we work to create greater opportunities for corn growers across the country,” said Skunes. “We understand our farmers face a growing number of challenges. Working together as an industry and with regulators and legislators in Washington, we must grow markets through trade agreements, a return to statutory RVO levels outlined in the RFS while combatting the proliferation of regulations impacting U.S. farmers. I look forward to working with our grower leadership over the coming years to find innovative, impactful ways to grow the demand for our growing crop.”

Skunes is a corn and soybean grower in Cass County, North Dakota. He and his wife and two sons work 4,900 acres.

On Oct. 1, Chip Bowling, of Maryland, becomes chairman and the current first vice president, Wesley Spurlock of Texas, becomes NCGA president. In October 2017, Spurlock becomes chairman and Skunes becomes president.

“NCGA’s success can be attributed, in large part, to the quality of farmers who have stepped forward to lead the organization, and we strongly believe that Kevin will continue this fine tradition,” said NCGA President Chip Bowling. “Our Corn Board appreciates the energy he brings to our work and the thoughtful insights he contributes to our discussions. Skunes continually demonstrates his dedication to farmers and his willingness to work tirelessly on their behalf.”

Ag Groups, NCGA

Novus International – Helping Feed Tomorrow for 25 Years

Jamie Johansen June 20, 2016

A mission to “make a clear difference in sustainably meeting the growing global needs for nutrition and health” has lead Novus International to pledge commitment to customers and global stakeholders through a Triple-S Bottomline: solutions, service and sustainability. That commitment began 25 years ago and we helped their team celebrate last week at their headquarters in St. Charles, MO.

Novus brought in media from around the globe for a short-course on their innovation from key leadership and honored employees for their dedication and service. We have audio from the event to share throughout the week, but first learn more about their commitment to delivering on the 25 year vision of helping feed tomorrow.

View and download photos from the event here:Novus International 25th Anniversary Celebration Photo Album

Agribusiness, Livestock, Novus International, Nutrition, Video

#ASTAannual Opening Reception Jam

Cindy Zimmerman June 20, 2016

The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) got the ASTA-OSA Jam Band together for the opening reception, sponsored by Syngenta, at the 133rd annual convention in Portland, Oregon.

The venue was historic Edgefield, built in 1911 as the county poor farm, now transformed into a neighborhood gathering spot with pubs, historic hotels, local artisans, and more. The band was put together by ASTA chair Risa DeMasi’s musician husband Michael and showcased the musical talents of several members of both ASTA and the Oregon Seed Association.

Risa, pictured here with Michael and ASTA meeting and events director Jennifer Crouse, is very pleased with the turnout for this year’s convention held in her home state. Risa, who is with Grassland Oregon in Salem, is loving being able to showcase the diversity of Oregon’s seed and agriculture industry to the diverse membership of ASTA.

In this interview, Risa talks about the meeting goals and about the importance of communications in the seed industry: Interview with ASTA chair Risa DeMasi, Grassland Oregon

2016 ASTA-OSA Annual Meeting photo album

ASTA, Audio, Seed

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