b"Diversity and inclusivity are two of the values Senior keeps at the top of her list.NAPB takes the importance and the value of diversity very seriously. Perhaps, as plant breeders, we should do that, because we really understand the importance of genetic diversity. But it's like putting that human diversity into our organization and into our profession, Senior adds.The current leaders of the industry are excited by the passion they see in the young men and women who are early in their careers to find solutions for issues not only on a national scale, but a global one. According to the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO), the percentage of people who work in agri-culture has dropped from 44% in 1991 to an all-time low of 26% in 2020. The percentage of the North American workforce in agriculture has dropped drastically over the years, from 70% in the year 1840 to around three percent by 2000 in the U.S. alone, according to USDA statistics.Thats why meetingssuch as NAPBs 2022 Annual Meeting this past August in Ames, Iowaare so essential to promote growth and collaboration, bringing young scholars and seed industry veterans together to work towards a common goal.These face-to-face events also offer the next generation ofJeff Skemp serves as client services operation industry professionals the opportunity to network with membersmanager for Gro Alliance.who are eager to share their wisdom and advice. By providing learning and networking opportunities to college students, the likelihood increases that those students might pursue a career in the seed industry, according to Jeff Skemp, client opera-tions manager for Gro Alliance and chair of the Independent Professional Seed Association's (IPSA) education committee.IPSAs education committee focuses mainly on scholarships, awarding 10 $2,000 scholarships per year. In addition to the scholarship money, the students awarded are given the opportu-nity to attend the NAPB conference with their meals and trans-portation free of charge. Each student is paired with a mentor to directly connect them with members and act as a resource throughout the conference.They are young, and hopefully this conference, their men-tors and getting introduced to the IPSA membership opens a lot of doors for them, says Skemp. I would encourage them to use this experience and the networking that they're doing here to keep pushing those doors open for several yearsand for the rest of their careerto see what opportunities lie behind the door and use that networking to the best of their abilities to further themselves in their careers.The Push for Innovation While advocating for change and implementing new initiatives can greatly benefit the industry, it is not always easy. AmongOne key issue Andy LaVigne sees in the industry? the ongoing issues in the industry, whether they are regulatoryThe hinderance of innovation. issues, state issues or international issues, the hindrance of inno-vation is one of the greatest, according to Andy LaVigne, presi-dent and CEO of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA).DECEMBER 2022SEEDWORLD.COM /33"