Alexandria, Virginia, USA
October 7, 2009

Source: American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) Newsletter Vol 9 Issue 20

Over 250 delegates from the Americas and the global seed industry attended this year's congress, which took place Sept. 28 - 30, in Atibaia, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The program focused on three key topics important to seed trade in the Americas: phytosanitary issues, intellectual property rights and biotechnology, specifically low level presence in seed. There was lively discussion in all of the sessions with both public and private sector participants.

ASTA member companies along with U.S. government and key public sector representatives contributed to the Congress program.

• Alan S. Green, executive director of Plant Health Programs at USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS), presented a U.S. country report.
•  Bob Griffin, director of USDA/APHIS' Pest Risk Analysis Laboratory spoke on the concept and process of pest risk assessment (PRA) during the Congress's full day devoted to phytosanitary issues within the region.
• Todd Rands, legal advisor with Monsanto Company, delivered a "Country Experiences" report during the Intellectual Property Rights Session.
• Contributing to the Biotechnology Session were Jerry Flint, also with Monsanto Company, who set the stage for the discussion related to low level presence, followed by Adelaida Harries, Iowa State University (ISU), on the movement of seed in the Americas and Sally McCammon, USDA/APHIS science advisor, on the new project by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on low level presence in seed.

ASTA President and CEO Andy LaVigne, Vice President of Science and International Affairs Bernice Slutsky, Senior Director of Seed Health and Trade Ric Dunkle and Director of International Programs Lisa Nichols participated in the Congress.

"This congress was a great success, bringing together government and seed industry representatives from 10 different countries throughout the hemisphere to discuss issues that significantly impact the movement of seed throughout the region," said LaVigne. "ASTA was well represented throughout the meeting and played a key role in enhancing the interaction between the government officials and the seed industry."

In a post-congress session on Oct. 1, industry and public sector representatives discussed regional approaches to adventitious presence and low-level presence in seed.

Website: http://www.saaseed.org

Published: October 6, 2009