San Diego, California
December 2, 2008
This year, the California Alfalfa
Symposium, a comprehensive alfalfa-forage informational meeting
will be held in conjunction with the Western Alfalfa Seed
Conference, which focuses on the special needs of seed
production. The conference includes an agricultural tour of the
Imperial Valley and a Trade Show with over 50 exhibitors. Key
issues pertaining to production and marketing of alfalfa seed
and hay, and forage crops, including biotechnology, pollination,
irrigation, and pest management will be covered. The meeting is
expected to have 500 forage and seed growers attend.
A new Special Publication—Gene Flow in Alfalfa: Biology,
Mitigation, and Potential Impact on Production—will be presented
at the meeting. The publication provides an overview of
agronomic practices and biology to be considered in developing
strategies that allow producers of conventional, organic, and
biotechnology-derived alfalfa to coexist in the marketplace.
 “This
paper was written and reviewed by a 12-member task force of
scientific experts,” says Dr. John M. Bonner, Executive Vice
President of the Council for Agricultural Science and
Technology. “CAST is pleased to present this Special Publication
as a timely overview of current developments and a preview of
future applications in the study of gene flow in production
crops.”
“Understanding potential gene flow in alfalfa hay and seed
production is an important first step in developing management
strategies designed to mitigate gene flow,” says Task Force
Chair Dr. Allen Van Deynze (photo),
Seed Biotechnology Center,
University of California–Davis.
“Sufficient scientific data are available to design these
strategies and, as outlined in this document, those strategies
can be successful in managing gene flow from GE to conventional
alfalfa hay and seed production.”
This 30-page report—Special Publication #28—is available
electronically for $10 or as a paper copy for $18 plus shipping
expenses.
It can be purchased by contacting the Council for Agricultural
Science and Technology at (515) 292-2125 or online at
http://www.cast-science.org/. |
|
