b'MCIA wins AOSCAs First Annual Excellence in Innovation AwardThe Minnesota Crop Improvement Associations international education and other diversification efforts recognized with first annual Excellence in Innovation Award from the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA).Madeleine BaergAT ITS 2023 ANNUALMeeting held June 5, the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) presented its first annual Excellence in Innovation award. The award is intended to encourage and recognize an agency that has meaningfully advanced the work of seed certification or related programs. To win the Excellence in Innovation award, a recipient agency not only contributes to the day-to-day work within agriculture, but also leads the industry forward via con-tinual improvements and advancement.The winner of AOSCAs inaugural Excellence in Innovation award is the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association (MCIA).MCIA has a long history of industry service and leader-ship and is always ready and willing to lend an ear and provide forward-thinking advice and counsel, said AOSCAs president, Andy Altishin, when presenting the award.Alongside the typical tasks any seed certifying agency under- The MCIA team celebrates winning AOSCAs Excellence in takes, MCIA also invests in numerous other efforts. In MCIAsInnovation award.PHOTO: FAWAD SHAH.name, Fawad Shah, MCIAs president and CEO, developed and continues to teach a class called Seed Science, Technology, and Society at the University of Minnesota. The MCIA team has devel- Today, MCIA represents and serves more than 750 members. oped multiple third-party audit-based, product and/or processThe organization includes 21 full-time employees, with four field verified programs. One of these includes a non-GMO grain trace- supervisors distributed across Minnesota. A dozen (and some-ability program that served as the concept and precursor to thetimes more) part-time, contract, and seasonal staff help with U.S. Identity Preserved program. MCIA also regularly hosts andinspections and related work. The MCIA Board is made up of 11 trains international seed professionals on topics relating to seeddirectors elected from its general membership. quality and testing, germplasm licensing and seed certification. MCIA was chosen for the Excellence in Innovation Award It is a great honor to be chosen for this very prestigiousbased on four criteria: using a novel approach to meet a chal-award, Shah says. Certification is basically the sole purpose of alenge in the seed industry, developing a unique way to enhance seed certification agency. But there are many organizations that,an AOSCA program, implementing a new technique with an like ours, are involved in other things for a variety of reasons, heAOSCA Program and fostering growth of seed certification or a adds. Seed certification in the U.S. is not mandatory. So, whilerelated program. there are millions of acres of crop production in any given state,Why is this kind of award important? asks AOSCA CEO there are much fewer acres going into certification. In order forSarah Willbanks. Celebrating excellence in innovation is criti-us to become more service oriented and relevant, our team andcally important to the seed industry. The seed sector is evolv-board of directors have looked into ways to become more valu- ing rapidly with innovation being crucial to the wellbeing of able to the industry. AOSCA agencies. AOSCA agencies like MCIA are utilizing their MCIA has served the Upper Midwests seed industry forlong-standing expertise to diversify their markets as well as to more than a century. It was founded in 1903 with the goal toeducate audiences that have yet to be reached. These types of promote the breeding, growing, and distribution of improvedprojects further the importance of utilizing third-party systems field crop varieties. Its first directory of members was publishedto create a top-quality crop.in 1906, followed in 1912 by a listing of those offering inspectedWhich innovative agency would you like to celebrate? and approved seed. Minnesota amended its Seed Law in 1955 toAOSCA will seek nominations for the 2024 award in March 2024. recognize MCIA as its official seed certifying agency. Stay tuned to seedworld.com for more information.SW40/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2023'