b'A look at seed industry developments around the globe.Austria works to supportSTATUS AUSTRIA to companies of all sizes activestrong and well-resourced agriculture producers inThe European Commissionin the primary agriculturalbiosecurity system is vital for has approved a 110 millionproduction sector, which haveAustralias agriculture indus-Ukraine, while West AfricaAustrian scheme to supportbeen affected by the pricetry and important for the looks to better cowpea forprimary agricultural produc- increase of energy, fertiliz- health and safety of every ers in the context of Russiasers and other raw materials,Australian, said Coote.protein use. invasion of Ukraine. Thecaused by the current geo- While we have natural scheme was approved underpolitical crisis and the relatedadvantages due to our geo-the State aid Temporary Crisissanctions. graphical location, we cannot Framework, adopted by theUnder this scheme, theafford to be complacent. Commission on March 23,eligible beneficiaries will beRecent biosecurity outbreaks 2022 and amended on Julyentitled to receive limitedin this country, including 20, 2022, based on Articleamounts of aid in the form ofFall armyworm, Serpentine 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on thedirect grants. The aid amountleafminer and Varroa Mite, as Functioning of the Europeanper beneficiary will be cal- well as the ominous threat of Union, recognising that theculated on the basis of theFoot and Mouth Disease just EU economy is experiencing anumber of hectares of agricul- over our border, have shown serious disturbance. tural land. the tremendous economic The agricultural sector hasSource: European Commission and emotional toll that incur-been hit particularly hard bysions and the threat of incur-the price increase of energysions have on an industry and and other input costs causedSTATUS AUSTRALIA its members.by Russias invasion of UkraineAUSVEG, Australias peakSource: AUSVEGand the related sanctions,industry body for vegeta-Executive Vice-Presidentble and potato growers, has Margrethe Vestager, in chargewelcomed the announcementSTATUS CANADAof competition policy, said.from Federal AgricultureThe amalgamation of the This 110 million schemeMinister Senator Murray WattAlberta Seed Growers and approved today will enableof Australias first Nationalthe British Columbia Seed Austria to support farmersBiosecurity Strategy. Growers is now official, a June affected by the current geo- The strategy, which comes22 news release said. The political crisis. We continueafter a National Biosecuritynew organizations title is the to stand with Ukraine and itsStatement was agreed to inAlberta-British Columbia Seed people. At the same time, we2018, has been agreed to byGrowers (ABCSG).continue working closely withfederal, state and territoryWe are excited to be Member States to ensure thatministers and will help ensureunder one umbrella with national support measuresthat governments and indus- the British Columbia Seed can be put in place in a timely,try work together to protectGrowers, Tracy Niemela, coordinated and effectiveAustralia from the threat ofABCSG president said in the way, while protecting theharmful pests and diseases. release. We want to ensure level playing field in the SingleAUSVEG CEO Michaelthat seed growers in British Market. Coote says that industry hasColumbia have the same level Austria notified to thebeen calling for a long-term,of recognition and promotion Commission under theongoing support for thefor their pedigreed seed as Temporary Crisis Frameworknations biosecurity system,growers across the country.a 110 million scheme to sup- with recent biosecurity threatsThe release noted both port the primary agriculturaland incursions proof that bios- Alberta and B.C. are criti-production sector in theecurity is too important to becal players in Canadas seed context of Russias invasion ofleft to chance. industry, and as a united asso-Ukraine. As we have seen recently,ciation ABCSG will continue to The measure will be openensuring Australia has aprovide marketing opportuni-32/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEED ASSOCIATION OF THE AMERICAS 2022'