b'the report from the USDA and the changes to thethat the U.S. government enacts clear, risk-propor-seed sector that will accompany it. tionate and predictable policies that encourage a For the American Seed Trade Associationwide diversity of innovators to enter the market.(ASTA), keeping in mind the complex system thatWe will carefully study the report and provide makes up the seed sector is important. Secretary Vilsack feedback on our thoughts, con-ASTA is carefully reviewing the Executivecerns and potential solutions to the issues raised Order report released by USDA regarding theand the actions proposed, LaVigne says.seed industry and intellectual property. While weFor the Independent Professional Seed cant speak to the intricacies of the input receivedAssociation (IPSA), the associations excited to see and the recommendations made, we can say thatwhat the future may hold for competition in the from a seed innovation and competition level, theseed sector.American seed industry is second to none glob- I am happy to see the focus on critical issuesAndy LaVigne is the CEO of the American ally, says Andy LaVigne, CEO of ASTA. The seedfor Independent Seed Companies by the U.S.Seed Trade Association.sector spends an incredible amount on research,Department of Agriculture, says Todd Martin, development and distribution of seed to ensureCEO of IPSA. This is a trying time for independent that Americas farmers have the strongest, mostseed companies in the corn and soybean business. resilient seed to meet the numerous challengesBeyond the difficulty in seed production, that every the American farmer faces every crop season. Itsingle one of our members face, challenges in the is important to keep in mind that the U.S. seedcompetitive environment are at an all-time high.industry is highly specialized and diversified withIn addition, Martin says that the competitive hundreds of varieties per crop species, involv- aspects of intellectual property are due for a review.ing hundreds of regional and independent seedIPSA and independent companies support companies across the country, producing seed,protection for invention and innovation, but for including field crops, flowers, vegetables, forages,too long this process has been legally managed turf, and conservation seed.through multiple patent strategies to block innova- Todd Martin currently serves as CEO of the Seed production is a high-risk, research- tion and generic entries into the marketplace. ThisIndependent intense, capital-heavy investment, during whichis financially damaging to both seed companiesProfessional Seed seed companies are subject to the same unpre- and farmers alike, he adds. We must rememberAssociation.dictable environmental and economic pressuresthe dramatic role played by independent seed as all farmers. This investment is only enabled bycompanies when it comes to innovation. These are strong IP protections. When it comes to biotech- the very companies that changed the world with nology, in particular, the unfortunate reality is highhybrid cornan innovation from individual breed-regulatory burdens have impacted the diversityers and brought forward because of Independent and competitiveness of the U.S. seed sector. TheSeed Companies. These are the types of innova-resource intensiveness, in terms of time and cost,tions that propelled American agriculture to the of the biotechnology traits regulatory processplace it is today. We must find a way to protect in the U.S. and globally is a barrier to entrythese companies from anti-competitive practices for small or medium sized entities, public orin the marketplace in order to continue to enable private, to bring new biotechnology traits toinnovation beyond multinational companies.the marketplace, especially those entitiesI applaud Secretary Vilsack, Andy Green andSecretary Tom Vilsack working with lower acreage crops andthe USDA team for recognizing and taking actionslooks to better competition in the seed perennial plant species. This is why its soto help level the competitive field for seed compa- sector with a few new important, as we look to the potential ofnies, Martin says.SW helpful tools for the new breeding tools like gene editing,industry.JUNE 2023 SEEDWORLD.COM /13'