Alexandria, Virginia, USA
July 21, 2011

The American Seed Trade Association’s priority list of issues to tackle for the new fiscal year includes patent expiration, coexistence, adventitious presence and phytosanitary regulations.

Mike Gumina, the 2011/12 ASTA chairman, says things are very positive for the seed industry right now, but there are a number of things that need work. Gumina who is also vice president of production and safety, health, environment/risk management for Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, shares his goals for the course of the next year.

“As patents on traits or events expire, our goal is to create a smooth streamlined transition into a generic seed market without violating property rights or interrupting international trade,” Gumina says.

ASTA has been working in partnership with the Biotechnology Industry Organization on this front, as well as on coexistence.

“The whole concept of coexistence is not new to the seed industry; it’s allowed us to create high quality seed for America’s growers for decades,” Gumina says. “It’s important to have a process in place where all agricultural sectors can be successful in producing their products and benefit from the added value of their efforts. This is a really important topic and one where ASTA is going to be a leader.”

Gumina also touches upon adventitious presence and phytosanitary regulations, which are both about the ability to move and trade seed.

“There are numerous asynchronous tests done on seed for import to different countries and many times these tests result in undue and burdensome regulations,” Gumina explains. “Our goal in both of these areas is to create policies or standards that are parallel from country to country, basically an international standard, while respecting the different global perspectives at the table.

“Having an international standard creates a level playing field for all trading partners that is more predictable and consistent. We (the United States) are the largest exporter of seed in the world and it’s important for players in the global seed industry to have common ground where we can base and justify our decisions.”

Around the world, education is a big part of the picture and hopefully the solution.

There is a lot of tension, notes Gumina.

“The growing global population requires more food to be produced on fewer acres using fewer resources, which means we need to use technology to our advantage and continue making improvements,” Gumina says. “The tension lies with technology and people’s resistance of it.”

This tension, Gumina says, is the industry’s biggest hurdle to jump.

“The industry needs to continue driving technology and increasing productivity, while reaching out and helping others to understand the needs and benefits as well as the consequences – not just for today, but for the future,” Gumina says.

“Technology is not like a tap that you can just turn on and off with the twist of a handle; it’s a stream and you have to keep it coming continually or you’ll lose it.

“Education has to play a pivotal role in easing the tension of technology. We are working on education and outreach at many different levels and need to continue enhancing these efforts.”

Website: http://www.amseed.org

Published: July 21, 2011