b'Should State-Level Seed Agencies Invest Outside of State?IN JUNE 2023,MCIA was awarded AOSCAs firstseed certifying organizations risk running into financial annual Excellence in Innovation Award (thank youdifficulties. AOSCA. It is a great honor). In his presentation of the Our goal is to diversify without ever compromising award, AOSCAs president Andy Altishin highlightedthe high levels of service we offer in our core services. some of the work we do to help train and inform inter- Through the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), national colleagues.we launched an organic certification program more MCIA has hosted delegates from Croatia, Somalia,than 20 years ago. In addition, weve developed a non-India and Zimbabwe, and delivered on-site and on- GMO grain traceability scheme and various third-party line talks at the United Nations Food and Agriculturalaudit programs that are both product and process Organization (FAO) and several agricultural universitiesverified. Over time and in the grand scheme of things, FAWAD SHAH,in Pakistan. Most recently, MCIA hosted an 18-persondiversifying strengthens our bottom line.Minnesota Cropdelegation including faculty, researchers and adminis-The financial benefits of our efforts may not always Improvementtrators from various Zimbabwean universities learningbe clear right away. A component to long-term suc-Association Presidentto learn about germplasm licensing. MCIA also heldcess is getting on peoples radar screens by increasing and CEO an on-site OECD seed schemes training roundtableMCIAs visibility and making MCIA a relevant and reli-discussion at the UN FAO office in Islamabad, Pakistanable partner. By regularly attending industry meetings with officials from Pakistans Federal Seed Certificationand trade shows, we make every effort to work with and Registration Department and key stakeholderscompanies and partners very, very closely. We show from the Pakistan seed industry participating. our capacity through our outside-the-box projects.After the award ceremony, we were frequentlyAnd then, when there is an industry need, who do they asked why a state-specific crop improvement organi- think to call? We are right there, front and center, with zation would make an effort to promote the seedour reputation for integrity, service quality and creativ-sector so far from our states borders. Some peopleity preceding us.ask with great tact: How do you manage to keep up U.S. expertise is in demand. Over the last few with your regular work and add international workyears, weve been building a reputation for being an too? Others were more direct: Why are you wastingeducation, outreach and training resource for interna-time helping international farmers when your mandatetional seedsmen. It costs us little: the delegates comeright there in your agencys nameis to improveto us, we share our knowledge for a few hours, they Minnesotas crops?continue their trip. Though these efforts dont gener-These are great questions. Let me explain.ate direct revenue, its important to remember that In the U.S., seed certification has been in place forthe seed industry is increasingly global. A sizeable more than a century to guarantee genetic integritynumber of seed grown and certified in Minnesota is and varietal identity. The number of certified acres hasdestined for export markets. Our germplasm might be decreased over time, especially recently. This presentssuited to perform in another region. If we build interna-a dilemma for us since we not only support certifiedtional relationships one handshake at a time, that can seed acres but also because seed certifying agen- directly benefit Minnesota companies and Minnesota cies are fee-for-service organizations: we receive noagriculture. funding from the government, academic institutionsWe are frontrunners in diversification but by no or other sources. Our capacity to continue providingmeans the only state seed certifying agency pursuing it. essential services to Minnesotas agricultural sectorIf were open to new ideas, other points of view, and hinges on our ability to develop novel diversification yesdiversification, seed certifying agencies have a strategies.If creative revenue sources are not pursued,strong future.SW56/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2023'