Industry News – October 2013
Industry News is geared to seed professionals and delivers the people, industry, business and product news you need to know. Submissions are welcome. Email us at·news@issuesink.com. People News AgReliant Genetics […]
Importance of Seed Associations Cannot be Overstated
Why do we need so many seed associations? We have local, regional, national and international associations, all requiring resources: time, money, ideas, skills and tons of initiative. But why? I […]
Everybody’s Friend
Everybody’s Friend Former Southern Seed Association Man of the Year Kurt Austermann passed away earlier this year. Colleagues recall the man and his impact on the seed sector. Kurt Austermann […]
Opportunities in Afghanistan
Opportunities and Challenges in Afghanistan War, drought and social collapse have greatly impaired land management and agricultural production systems in much of Afghanistan. Reconstruction or development is needed to create […]
Protecting Pollinators: Crop Protectants and Honey Bee Health
Commercial beekeepers across North America have been witnessing losses of honey bee colonies for several years now. While neonicotinoid-based pesticides have taken much of the blame publicly, honey bee experts […]
Farm Bill Frustration
Delays over the proposed farm bill could cause even more federal funding cuts in the agricultural sector. After a summer break, members of the U.S. Congress returned to Washington, D.C., […]
Advancing Alfalfa
Following the successful introduction of Roundup Ready alfalfa, a new genetically engineered trait is in the works that promises to deliver a higher quality forage crop. Since 2011, after more […]
Feast or Famine
Low supply and high demand are fueling price increases in forage and turf grass markets. Like all markets, forage and turf grass markets are subject to the laws of supply […]
Europe: After the Restriction
The decision by the European Commission to restrict the use of neonicotinoid-treated seed will have many short- and long-term effects—and not just in agriculture. Some industry experts claim the cost […]
Growing More With Less
Growing More with Less: Already a Reality in Our Backyard Declining water availability in the United States and less productive land for agriculture across the country are driving an increased […]
Breeding for Climate Change
Breeding for Climate Change Global climate change means the seed industry can no longer conduct business the way it once did. Plant breeding leads efforts to help producers overcome the […]
What’s in a Word
For every industry, corporation, organization or individual considering the concept, there are as many interpretations of what it means to be sustainable—and therein lies the challenge. In terms of ag […]
Giant Views of the Industry | September 2013
_x000D_ Are you Licensed to Sell Seed? _x000D_ When I started selling seed more than 35 years ago, no one ever questioned my qualifications. Not one grower questioned my ability […]
Industry News | September 2013
People News Makhteshim Agan of North America, Canada has hired Donald Surgeoner as its eastern business manager and Canadian Quali-Pro manager, handling customer relations and sales for the expanding crop […]
Regulatory Roundup | September 2013
NATIONAL CFIA Receives Submission of Novel GM Soybean Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. has made a submission to the Plant Biosafety Office and Animal Feed Division of the Canadian Food Inspection […]
Cross Pollination | September 2013
Monsanto Invests in Europe“People have said we are exiting the GMO business in Europe, but we don’t really have a business,” Monsanto’s president and managing director for Europe, Jose Manuel […]
World Status | September 2013
An in-depth overview of the global seed industry. From logistics challenges in Brazil to a new Australian database for pasture seed products. STATUS BRAZILThis year is likely to be a […]
Burden of Proof | September 2013
In today’s increasingly litigious seed industry, the onus is on seed companies to ensure they have their bases covered. It was to a full house at the Canadian Seed Trade Association/Canadian […]
Product Positioning | September 2013
In the Driver’s Seat: Successful Product Positioning Depends on Seed Sellers It’s the million-dollar question — with double, triple and quadruple trait stacks becoming the norm industry wide, how do […]
Building Brands that Work | September 2013
The seed-selling marketplace is already bursting with product messaging. What does it take to make your brand stand out? Spend five minutes on a crowded tradeshow floor, surrounded by countless logos […]
Industry News – Late Summer 2013
Industry News is geared to seed professionals and delivers the people, industry, business and product news you need to know. Submissions are welcome. Email us at news@issuesink.com. People News Legacy Seeds […]
Russia Invests in Seed Industry | September 2013
Russia plans to raise the seed industry out of a protracted crisis through investment — to the tune of $9.4 billion — in breeding, research and infrastructure with an aim […]
Growth in Global Seed Markets | September 2013
Growing seed corn demand is driving expansion in three key emerging seed markets. The first years of the new millennium have been heady times for the global seed industry. According to […]
Outlook on Agriculture: China
With the 2014 ISF World Seed Congress in Beijing, China, coming up, it is worthwhile to take a look at how agriculture will develop in the coming decades and the […]
Protecting Pollinators: Honey Bee Stressors
Part two of Seed World’s Protecting Pollinators series delves into the combination of stressors affecting honey bee health and threatening the honey bee pollination industry, potentially placing our global food […]
Plant Breeders Look to the Future
Plant Breeders Look to the Future Members of the National Association of Plant Breeders and the Plant Breeding Coordinating Committee flocked to Florida to network, strategize and take in new […]
African Seed Industry Faces Challenges
Challenges Hinder Seed Industry Development in Africa A patchwork quilt of more than 60 sovereign states, territories and de facto independent states comprises the continent of Africa. Natural resources abound. Food […]
Bowman vs Monsanto
Supreme Court Holds: Patent Exhaustion Does Not Apply to Patented Seeds Patent law experts say the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Bowman v. Monsanto […]
A New Tool for Plant Breeders
New Tool for Breeders PINTO provides transparency to plant breeders. A new tool is available to breeders around the world in search of patent details related to plant varieties commercially available […]
ISF’s Greek Triumph
The ISF World Seed Congress in Greece was a rousing success. Seed World publisher Shawn Brook tells you why. Athens, Greece—home to the Acropolis, birthplace of the marathon and our […]
Greece Hosts ISF World Seed Congress
World Congress Shows Seed Industry Vibrant as Ever There was no shortage of opportunities to learn, network and trade for attendees of ISF’s 2013 World Seed Congress in Athens, Greece. […]
Modernizing Seed Movement in Europe
Modernizing the Movement of Seed in Europe New marketing regulations should allow for stronger private sector involvement, say advocates. Although the foundation of Europe’s seed marketing rules remains solid, the time […]
Technology Takeoff
Technology Takeoff More farmers are turning to biotech crops for production and sustainability benefits. Whether they’re still working the soil with four-legged horsepower or have upgraded to the four-wheeled variety, […]
Treated Seed Stewardship
Treated Seed Stewardship: A Tale of Two Continents In the face of increasing scrutiny over the relationship between neonicotinoids and bee health, seed associations and other industry stakeholders in North […]
Globalization Continues to Reshape Seed Sector
Consolidation is creating an increasing number of global opportunities for both large and small companies, seed experts say. As chairman and founder of AgriCapital, a respected private investment banking firm […]
Sizing Up the Seed Sector
With the adoption of new technology around the globe, and more mouths to feed, the seed industry is experiencing rapid growth. What size is the global seed industry today and […]