b'the seed industry within the Americas. Thats why SAA has four important working groups: biotechnology, phytosanitary, seed treatments and intellectual property. For biotechnology and plant breeding innovation, we areWe need a unified voice in the whole continent currently working for a better understanding and acceptance of gene editing in all countries. We need to tackle phytosanitarythat can speak for all its members to promote issues, such as seed testing at the borders, amount of researchand facilitate seed trade in the Americas and seed to be sampled, time to get permits, you name them, we need agility in this area to give growers the seeds they needglobally. This voice is the reference for key without delays. Seed treatments, with the understanding that protecting our seeds is the most critical aspect in the initial phasetopics and important aspects we are discussing of production. We need to follow clear stewardship programs.worldwide, such as intellectual property, new And last, intellectual property. If we understand and respect the rights of an innovator, all seed stakeholders will benefit frombreeding techniques and phytosanitary issues. R&D discovery. Out of those critical goals, in my opinion, the most important would be the phytosanitary issue because of the direct implication of moving seeds for R&D.SW: How has this goal shifted in light of current issues such as supply chain interruptions?AS: In order to solve all phytosanitary issues, what we need most is agility. Of course, other aspects need to be solved asWhen we move to vegetables, there is a great competitive-well in order to have faster responses and agility, such as solvingness between Chile and Mexico as the main producers and bureaucratic requirements with companies and agencies andexporters in the Americas. We must take in consideration that clear and communicated plans in research and development.inflation is affecting several of these countries and reducing their Two other aspects that I consider important to have in mindpotential to grow. Argentina and Brazil in particular, but even are science and trust among companies and official authorities.further developed countries do not escape this situation, and this By combining science and trust, countries could share experi- could, in some way, affect their ability to produce and export. ence, data and solutions to facilitate seed movement around theCounter season production is key to accelerate processes and world, without affecting the integrity of the seed business andguarantee access to better varieties. Argentina, Chile, Peru and compromising the sanitary aspects of the seeds and crops.Uruguay are great partner countries to those in the northern Supply chain is reducing the pace of all movements world- hemisphere.wide. We must act quickly when the issue ariseswe need crea-tive ideas to enable the delivery of seeds and I am confident thatSW: Whats the biggest concern you see on the minds of any company can work on adjusting their processes in differentSAA members right now?ways and weSAA and national seed associationshave to beAS: A big concern from an association perspective I have is close to support them. the need to strengthen member participation at SAA to better represent the industry. We need a unified voice in the whole SW: What country in the Americas do you believe showscontinent that can speak for all its members to promote and the most promise to step up in the agricultural world? facilitate seed trade in the Americas and globally. This voice AS: Awesome question that probably needs a crystal ball tois the reference for key topics and important aspects we are answer. There are various great countries producing seedsdiscussing worldwide, such as intellectual property, new breed-and moving ahead with high yields and huge production in theing techniques and phytosanitary issues. Another major concern Americas, all of them with great facilities and innovation tech- is the war against Ukraine. The human toll is unimaginable. It is niques. Talking about grains, Brazil and the U.S. are two of theaffecting prices of raw materials and increasing cost of produc-largest producers in the world, not only for the Americas, but fortion, creating an unpredictable situation in the supply chain of the rest of the world, followed very closely by Argentina.seeds.SWSEED ASSOCIATION OF THE AMERICAS 2022SEEDWORLD.COM /5'