Alexandira, Virginia, USA
July 8, 2011

Source: ASTA Newsletter

The American Seed Trade Association recognized Harry Collins of Monsanto Company and Larry Svajgr of Indiana Crop Improvement Association (ICIA) with its Lifetime Honorary Member Award during the 128th Annual Convention in Huntington Beach, Calif.

"Both of these individuals have been longtime supporters of the seed industry and the association," says John Nelsen, ASTA chairman during the 2010/11 fiscal year. "Their efforts and participation have helped shape the industry and provided guidance on complex issues throughout the years.

"They have distinguished themselves in many ways - through leadership, vision, service and most importantly, results."

The award is one of the highest awards given out by ASTA and is in recognition of untiring service to the association, as well as the seed industry.

Harry Collins was vice president of technology transfer at Delta and Pine Land Company in Scott, Miss., prior to Monsanto's acquisition in 2007 where he became a special projects leader. Upon retirement from Monsanto in 2009, Collins serves as a consultant to Monsanto Company and represents Monsanto and ASTA at various meetings of the International Seed Federation's Intellectual Property Committee and Sustainable Agriculture Committee. Collins has experience breeding alfalfa, soybeans and annual flower species. He served as ASTA chairman during the 2006/07 fiscal year and has served on the Board of Director and numerous committees for several years. Collins was also appointed to the 11-member Soybean Research Advisory Institute by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in 1982 and in 2002 he was appointed to the Plant Variety Protection Advisory Board and served three terms.

Larry Svajgr has been the executive director of ICIA for 37 years. During his tenure ICIA has been a leader in the development of seed testing and field inspection programs, accreditation services to the industry and audited identity preservation programs. His leadership has placed ICIA at the forefront of innovations for Indiana seed companies, seed certification agencies and the U.S. seed industry.

In addition to his involvement with ASTA, Svajgr is also active in the Independent Professional Seed Association, Association of Seed Certifying Agencies and the Indiana Seed Trade Association. He served a program chair for ASTA's Corn & Sorghum Seed Research Conference and served on the USDA Plant Variety Protection Advisory Board. He has received IPSA's Professional Award and is an honorary member of AOSCA, ISTA and has received the Agronomic Achievement Award from Purdue University and is a recipient of the Indiana Crop Improvement Association's Crops and Soils Merit Award.
 

Website: http://www.amseed.org

Published: July 8, 2011