Alexandria, Virginia
October 15, 2008
The first American Seed Research
Summit brought together leaders in public and private sector
seed research to outline a strategic plan to help address the
various hurdles facing seed research - training and education,
funding, research trend, prioritization and public-private
partnerships. Finding solutions and providing resourceful
partnerships is critical because seed innovation and technology
plays a vital role in meeting the growing demand for food, feed,
fiber and fuel.
The summit held on Sept. 25-26 in Chicago, brought together
research leaders from industry academia and government to
identify major seed research challenges and to develop a
national strategy and action plan to solve those challenges.
Over 40 representatives attended the two-day event sponsored by
the American Seed Trade
Association (ASTA), the American Seed Research Foundation
(ASRF) and the National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders
(NCCPB). ASRF President Rob Robinson remarked that the first
American Seed Research Summit was a resounding success. "Some of
the brightest research leaders in industry, government and
academia participated in creating an action plan that promises
to move American seed research forward dramatically in the years
to come."
The summit resulted in an outline of five strategic goals to
enhance seed research opportunities which focus on strengthening
public-private partnerships, strong advocacy and stable funding,
human technical capacity and interest in high quality plant
research, regulatory systems that support innovation and
efficiency of operation, and public awareness about the value of
seed research. The participants defined key results and
strategies to address each goal as well as near term actions to
jump start the plan. In addition, specific gaps in seed research
were reviewed and priorities were identified. "Positive progress
was made in identifying gaps in seed research, and starting the
process to address these needs unselfishly by industry,
government and universities," said NCCPB Past President Fritz
Behr.
A White Paper will be prepared by the American Seed Research
Summit Steering Committee. Once prepared, each sponsoring
organization will endorse the paper which will then guide future
activities among the groups as well as the other participants of
the summit. Robinson concluded, "It was surprising to see such
broad agreement among the group as to the issues American seed
research faces and the priorities we must address in the near
future to ensure our global leadership in seed and plant
biotechnology research. Now it is essential that we focus all of
the resources necessary to execute on this plan."
Founded in 1883, ASTA, located in Alexandria, Va., is one of
the oldest trade organizations in the United States. Its
membership consists of approximately 750 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.
ASRF is an extension of the activities of the former ASTA Seed
Laboratory Committee, which was active during the 1940s and
1950s. In 1959, the American Seed Trade Association established
ASRF as a tax exempt, scientific, benevolent, and educational
organization, to raise and distribute funds for seed research.
The mission of ASRF is to encourage research in plant and seed
biology and to facilitate the transfer of resulting technology
to benefit the seed industry, farmers and consumers on a global
basis.
The mission of the NCCPB is to promote, technically and
ethically, the interests of professional U.S. plant breeders'
worldwide. This includes fostering collaboration and cooperation
among plant breeding and improvement organizations, encouraging
public and private funding for plant breeding research and
development, recognizing scientific achievement of plant
breeders and supporting effective systems of intellectual
property protection. |
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