Alexandria, Virginia, USA
June 26, 2012

The American Seed Trade Association’s International Executive Committee met June 19 in National Harbor, Md., to review ASTA international activities, priority markets and issues and plan for the year ahead.

With the World Seed Congress being held this week (June 26-28) in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, the International Executive Committee reviewed the issues and position papers being presented at the Congress, including intellectual property rights position paper that’s up for a vote by the International Seed Federation (ISF) General Assembly.

ASTA’s Lisa Nichols, director of international programs, reported the current status of In-Kind contributions from the industry for FY 2011/12. She also presented the proposed funding through the Foreign Market Development and Market Access programs for 2013.

Afterwards, Jerry Flint of Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, who has been chairing the International Executive Committee, spotlighted science and international communications relevant to the group.

The meeting was Flint’s last serving as International Executive Committee chair.

“Jerry was able to keep this diverse group focused and on track to more efficiently accomplish the goals set forth during each meeting and conference calls the past two years,” said Tom Moore of HM. Clause who will serve as the International Executive Committee chairman for the next two years. “He has been instrumental in increasing participation in the ASTA Country Working Groups, especially the participation from member company representatives in the priority countries.”

During Flint’s time as chair, the Committee met with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Agricultural Marketing Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service several times, as well as the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office – Intellectual Property and Enforcement.

ASTA’s International Executive Committee works to set global country priorities, provide guidance for ASTA representatives to ISF, and helps to develop ASTA’s strategy for USDA Cooperator Programs. ASTA’s International Executive Committee provides leadership for the five Priority Country Working Groups and advocates ASTA’s message to the U.S. government and stakeholders on the value of international programs in addressing these global seed issues. replica louis vuitton handbags replica hadnabgs sale.

The International Executive Committee is a standing committee comprised of the chairs of the Intellectual Property Rights, Biotechnology, Phytosanitary and Seed Industry Relations committees; ASTA’s representatives to the International Seed Federation; the chairs of the five Priority Country Working Groups; the chair of the Adventitious Presence Working Group. ASTA’s officers are ex officio members of the International Executive Committee. The committee plays a key role in ASTA’s global agricultural policy development and international programs.
 

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Published: June 26, 2012