Participants from 25 countries to discuss latest issues in biotechnology, soybean rust, bioenergy

Leading researchers in soybean, corn and sorghum crops, as well as seed company executives, will meet in Chicago December 5-8 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago for the 61st Corn & Sorghum Seed Research Conference and the 36th Soybean Seed Research Conference (CSS). The CSS, along with Seed Expo 2006, is the largest seed industry meeting in the world and is hosted by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA).

Programming for this year’s conference examines hot topics such as soybean rust, bioenergy, the next wave of biotech traits, breeding and genetic issues, and economics. More than 2,500 attendees are expected to participate in the research sessions and visit the Seed Expo which will feature more than 115 exhibitors. Seed Expo 2006 draws prospective customers from more than 35 states, including plant breeders, farmers, sales representatives, buyers and CEOs.

“Anyone with an interest in soybeans, corn or sorghum should attend this meeting,” stated Andy LaVigne, CEO and president of ASTA. “This is one-stop shopping to learn where the seed industry is headed and to hear it directly from the scientists and business leaders who will drive the future growth of the $6 billion U.S. seed industry.”

The conference opens December 5 with a General Session that includes reports from ASTA’s Soybean Division, Corn & Sorghum Division, Intellectual Property Rights Committee and Biotechnology Committee.

On Wednesday, Dec. 6, the Soybean Seed Conference offers four educational sessions. Also on Wednesday, U.S. government officials and industry will hold a workshop to discuss the implications of recently concluded negotiations by the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, regarding a Standard Material Transfer Agreement governing access of public germplasm.

On Thursday, Dec. 7, there will be a Joint Corn & Sorghum and Soybean Seed Session, followed by Concurrent Corn Seed Sessions which continue on Friday. A dedicated sorghum only session will also be held on Thursday afternoon. Selections of program highlights are listed below. The complete agenda and online registration can be found at www.amseed.org.

Tuesday, Dec. 5

• 2:30- 5:00 p.m. Opening General Session offers an in-depth look and discussion of contemporary issues in the seed industry including intellectual property rights, adventitious presence, stewardship and a strategic review of the International Seed Federation.

Wednesday, Dec. 6 - 36th Annual Soybean Seed Research Conference

• 8:40 a.m. Session I: U.S. Soybean Export Council Report, Dan Duran, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council
• 10:00 a.m. Session II: Evolution of the Soybean Market
  • A Supplier Perspective, Doug Christie, Cargill, Inc.
  • Consumer Acceptance of Soy Products, James Painter, Eastern Illinois University
  • Development and Availability of Output Traits-Where do we go from here?, Kim Nill, U.S. Soybean Export Council
• 1:00 p.m. Session III: Soybean 101
  • Aphids and Other Insect Control, Dr. Bob O’Neil, Purdue University
  • SCN Field Resistance, Hunt Wiley, Dairyland Seed Company
  • Soy Pathology Report, Dr. David Wright, North Central Soybean Research Program
• 2:20 p.m. Session IV: Soybean Rust
  • Screening for Rust Resistant Germplasm-U.S. Based Data, Tri Vuong
  • Managing Soybean Rust with Chemicals, Dr. Bob Kamerait, University of Georgia
  • Monitoring and Modeling Soybean Rust in the U.S., Dr. Don Hershman, University of Kentucky
• 3:30 5:00 p.m. Standard Material Transfer Agreement Workshop
• The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently concluded negotiations for a Standard Material Transfer Agreement (sMTA) governing germplasm. In this workshop U.S. government negotiators, along with officials from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and industry representatives will provide perspective on how the sMTA may affect U.S. plant breeders. Moderator: John Gerard, JGL Inc.
  Panelists:
  • David Hegwood, U.S. Minister-Counselor, U.S. Mission to the FAO
  • June Blalock, Coordinator, Technology Licensing Program, USDA ARS
  • Peter Bretting, National Program Staff, USDA ARS
  • John Grace, Manager, Germplasm Licensing, Pioneer Hi-Bred

Thursday, Dec. 7

• 8:55 a.m. Joint Soybean Seed and Corn & Sorghum Seed Session
  Bioenergy, Biofactories and Beyond, Moderator, Otto Doering, Purdue University
  Panelists:
  • Bioenergy Research in Corn, Sorghum and Soybeans, Dr. Joe Outlaw of the Texas A&M Ag Policy Center
  • Energy vs. Food in 2025, The View from Industry, Bob Dineen, CEO, Renewable Fuels Association (invited)
  • Grains of Gold: Industrial Uses for Domestic Plant Seeds, Dr. Bernie Tao, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University
  • The View from Washington, The Honorable Thomas Dorr, Under Secretary for Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• 1:30 4:10 p.m. Corn Seed Concurrent Sessions
  
  Session I: The Next Wave of Traits
  • New Multi-Trait Stacking Methods, Dr. Daphne Preuss, Chromatin, Inc.
  • Yield Traits, Dr. Jay DeRocher, Targeted Growth, Inc.
  • New Industrial Traits Beyond Ethanol and Biodiesel, Dr. Victoria Haritos, Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization
  • Crop Plants that Resist Drought and Use Water More Efficiently, Dr. David Dennis, Performance Plants
  • Non-GMO Salinity Tolerance, Dr. Maris Apse, Arcadia Biosciences
  • New Insect and Herbicide Resistant Traits, Dr. Nick Duck, Athenix Corp.
• Session II (offered concurrently) Economics/Utilization
  • What is Ahead for the 2007 Farm Bill?, Allan Gray, Purdue University
  • Capital Investment Perspective on the Development of New Uses for Corn and Sorghum, Jason Monaco, First Canadian Capital
  • What do we do with DDGs from Ethanol Plants, Dr. Brian Richert,  Purdue University
  • Nutritional Pros and Cons of DDGs for Dairy, Dr. Jim Aldridge, Akey Company
• 1:30 4:10 p.m. Sorghum Session
  • The Potential of Sorghum as a Dedicated Energy Crop, Dr. Bill Rooney, Texas A&M University
  • Breeding for Ergot Resistance in Sorghum, Dr. Ken Kofoid, Kansas State University
  • Progress in Food Product Development from High Quality Sorghum Grains, Dr. Lloyd Rooney, Texas A&M University

Friday, Dec. 8

• 8:00 11:00 a.m. Corn Seed Concurrent Sessions
  
  Session III: Breeding and Genetics
  • The Trait Future: Conventional vs. Forward Breeding, Guenter Seitz, AgReliant Genetics
  • Who Cares About Germplasm: Whither Ahead or Wither Away?, Dr. Stephen Smith, Pioneer Hi-Bred International
  • Can We Improve Starch Utilization in Corn Silage? QTLs and Other Evidence, Dr. James Coors, Univ. of Wisconsin
  • From Means to QTL: Why Selection for Oil and Proteins is Still Effective after over 100 Generations, Dr. John Dudley, Univ. of Illinois 
• Session IV (offered concurrently) Contemporary Issues of the Seed Industry
  • Nanotechnology and its Applications to Agriculture, Dr. George Adams, Purdue University
  • Future Grain Crop Production Systems What to Expect/Equipment Design and Manufacturer Perspectives, Dr. Andrew Seibert, John Deere
  • Panel: Breeding and/or Licensing the Best Hybrid Combinations vs. the Best Inbred Lines
    • Tim Johnson, Seed Genetics, Inc.
    • Joe Raab, Holden’s Foundation Seeds
    • Bob Thurston, Thurston Genetics
    • Ron Wulfkuhle, Greenleaf Genetics
    • Gary Smelser, MBS Genetics

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 850 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.