Dejándose Llevar por los Mitos: Las Noticias Falsas Nos Rodean
Solía pensar que las fake news, noticias deliberadamente falsas, engañosas o tendenciosas, eran algo reciente e inextricablemente ligado a Internet. No podía estar más equivocado. Los rumores falsos y las noticias inexactas han estado con nosotros desde que hay gente que los crea y los difunde. Mucho antes de la llegada de las redes sociales, de hecho, desde la invención de la imprenta, las noticias falsas han formado parte de la historia de los medios de comunicación. Pero fue el desarrollo y el uso generalizado de Internet lo que aumentó enormemente la capacidad de cualquiera para escribir y difundir rápidamente contenidos engañosos por todo el mundo con sólo pulsar un botón.
APSA and ISF Sign MoU to Foster Technical and Advocacy Cooperation
The Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA) and the International Seed Federation (ISF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the centennial ISF World Seed held in Rotterdam.
Benefits of ISTA Membership
Members of the International Seed Trade Association gain in multiple ways.
Cheers to Major Milestones at ISTA, ISF and Seed World too!
100 years! Congratulations to the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) for standing at the forefront of global seed and food security for the past century. For a full 10 decades, ISTA has been the driving force towards promoting international standardisation in seed sampling, testing and reporting. I’m delighted to be travelling to Cambridge to celebrate the Centenary and report to the wider world of seed as ISTA charts its path forward into the next century.
Albaugh Names New North American VP of Technology
Nathan Kimmerle reecently joined Albaugh, LLC as the North America Region Vice President – Technology.
According to an Albaugh news relase, Kimmerle will oversee production and operations at Albaugh’s manufacturing facility in St. Joseph, Missouri.
3 Reasons to Register for the NAPB Meeting Before July 1
If you want to help Rethink, Reinvent, and Revolutionize plant breeding, an upcoming event being held in St. Louis, Miss., is for you. Early bird registration for the annual meeting […]
National Perspective: Mexico: Asociación Mexicana de Semilleros (AMSAC)
Puente: AMSAC has a membership of 90 companies, increasing by 15 new companies in the last three years. AMSAC companies represent around 80% of the improved seed market in Mexico and generate close to 100,000 direct jobs and 300,000 indirect jobs. The value of the seed market in Mexico is estimated at US$1 billion per year.
Perspectiva Nacional: México: Asociación Mexicana de Semilleros (AMSAC)
La Asociación Mexicana de Semilleros, A.C. (AMSAC) cuenta con una membresía de 90 empresas, con un incremento de 15 nuevas empresas en los últimos tres años. Las empresas de AMSAC representan alrededor de 80% del mercado de semillas mejoradas en México, y generan cerca de 100 mil empleos directos y 300 mil indirectos. El valor de mercado de semillas en México se estima en 1,000 millones de dólares anuales.
Growing Leaders
“You know what’s wild? In the agribusiness world and seed in particular, we know so much about what’s going on with our fields and our crops. We have technology today that can look at how a crop is growing and decide in the moment whether we should put product down or not. We can link our harvesting equipment to satellites that read the biomass of the field and tell our equipment exactly how to harvest that field. Yet in the world of how we grow and develop our people, we scratch our heads and say: ‘I don’t know what to do.’ If we knew as much about our people as we do about our crops and fields, we’d be in a remarkable place.”
World Agri-Tech South America Summit Starts Today
The fifth World Agri-Tech South America Summit begins today, June 18, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Summit focuses on innovation across the entire agricultural supply chain, showcasing how investments, new technologies and partnerships are improving resilience for one of the most important food production regions.
An Inside Look at ISTA’s Goals for its Second Century
As the International Seed Trade Association celebrates 100 years, ISTA Secretary General Andreas Wais and ISTA President Dr. Keshavulu Kunusoth make plans to lead the organization forward in a changing political and regulatory landscape.
New Lettuce Breeding Lines Show Strong Resistance to Major Pests and Diseases
USDA-ARS study reveals advanced green leaf, red leaf and romaine lettuce varieties that combat leafminer, corky root, and downy mildew, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical interventions for farmers.
Farmers Turn to Regenerative Agriculture Amid Climate Challenges
As U.S. farmers deal with extreme weather conditions like heat, drought, heavy rainfall, flooding and erosion—all factors of climate change affecting crops—there’s been increasing interest in regenerative agriculture. Big agriculture companies are promoting “carbon farming” as a way to make money while also improving soil health.
In an Effort to be More Inclusive, the CSGA is Launching a Consultation on New Membership Classes
In what it calls an effort to foster an inclusive and forward-thinking seed certification system, the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) board of directors is formally beginning a consultation process […]
New National Barley Cluster Launched
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced a new Canadian National Barley Cluster, a significant initiative aimed at advancing barley production in Canada. With a value of $9.6 million over five […]
ISF Looking for 100 #SeedHeroes
In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Seed federation (ISF) launched the #SeedHeroes campaign to highlight the essential workers in the seed sector. These dedicated individuals ensured that farmers and growers worldwide could access quality seeds, enabling them to produce healthy crops and provide nutritious food for all. The campaign was a tremendous success, showcasing the diversity within the global seed industry, including the variety of people, professions, roles, and types of companies and organizations involved.
Thank Gene Editing for Your Morning Cup of Joe
The pace of climate change the world is experiencing is far greater than anything we’ve ever experienced before. At Tropic, our focus is on the tropical crop sector, mostly banana, rice and coffee. These are sectors, that today suffer greatly from climate change.
Agradezca a la Edición Genética por su Taza de Café Matutina
El ritmo del cambio climático que está experimentando el mundo es mucho mayor que cualquier otra cosa que hayamos vivido antes. En Tropic, nos centramos en el sector de los cultivos tropicales, principalmente la banana, el arroz y el café. Se trata de sectores que hoy sufren enormemente las consecuencias del cambio climático.
From Lab to Legislation
Marlene Ortiz Berrocal was completing her Ph.D in plant biotechnology at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México on route to beginning an academic career in research when her studies took an almost accidental right turn. It changed the entire direction of her career path, unexpectedly turning her into a powerful regulatory ally for Mexico’s seed sector.
Del Laboratorio a la Legislación
Marlene Ortiz Berrocal estaba terminando su doctorado en biotecnología vegetal en la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, a punto de iniciar una carrera académica de investigación, cuando sus estudios cambiaron de dirección de forma casi accidental. Cambió por completo el rumbo de su carrera, convirtiéndola inesperadamente en una poderosa aliada de la regulación del sector de las semillas en México.
The Never-Ending Quest for the Holy Grail: Low Risk and High Margin
Searching for the metaphorical Holy Grail is a common practice that doesn’t usually involve risking one’s life. I am struck, however, by the shear amount of risk some companies are willing to take on for what seems to be small margin opportunities. This imbalance of taking high risks for small rewards is a growing theme. Margin is hard to find, and some are risking a lot in the quest to discover it.
Standout Stewardship on The Hill for the Seed Industry
Janae Brady traces her agricultural roots to the vast, open Kansas wheat fields. From these beginnings on her family’s farm, Brady has grown into a pivotal figure in agricultural advocacy, currently serving as vice president of government affairs for the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). Her journey from farm to the forefront of agricultural policy in Washington D.C. reflects her deep connection to her roots and her desire to be a dynamic influence on the seed industry.
Picketa Systems Expands LENS Technology into United States
Picketa Systems, an agricultural technology company dedicated to unlocking agronomic potential, is expanding into 13 states across the United States. Their LENS system, a real-time crop management technology, is set to redefine how agronomists and farmers handle their crop. Committed to integrating real-time plant tissue analysis into agribusiness workflows, Picketa Systems showcased its precision agricultural management in a recent news release.
Students Selected for International Borlaug-Ruan World Food Prize Foundation Internship
The World Food Prize Foundation has announced the selection of 14 students for the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship program, according to a release. These individuals, representing 11 U.S. states as well as China, will embark on eight-week internships at international research centers and development organizations in Costa Rica, India, Kenya, Mexico, Peru and Taiwan.
Embarking on a New Chapter
With great enthusiasm, I want to extend my warmest greetings to you! I am the newly appointed associate editor of Seed World LATAM. Joining the Seed World Group team is an honor and a pleasure. Most importantly, it’s the perfect intersection of my passions for agriculture and cross-cultural communication. I’m delighted to contribute to advancing Seed World Group’s mission of leading the global seed sector forward through a platform that fosters the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and innovations. LATAM is a critical part of the global seed sector, and I’m incredibly excited to help tell its unique stories.
Emprendiendo un Nuevo Capítulo
Los saludo con gran entusiasmo como la nueva editora asociada de Seed World LATAM. Es un honor unirme al equipo de Seed World Group, donde coinciden mis pasiones por la agricultura y la comunicación entre culturas. Estoy emocionada de sembrar mis propias semillas en el terreno fértil de Seed World y cultivar el intercambio de conocimientos e innovaciones, para crecer a ser líderes informativos en el sector mundial de las semillas. LATAM es una parte crucial de la industria semillera mundial, y estoy emocionada de ayudar a contar sus historias únicas.
Seed World Group Adds the Voice of Latin America
Latin America is a giant territory with significant importance in the global seed landscape, and Seed World LATAM was created to give it a voice, share its knowledge, help build worldwide networks, and gather insights about our region’s specific concerns.
Seed World Group Suma la Voz de América Latina
América Latina es un inmenso territorio con una importancia significativa en el panorama mundial de las semillas, y Seed World LATAM se creó para darle una voz, compartir sus conocimientos, ayudar a crear redes mundiales y recabar información sobre las preocupaciones específicas de nuestra región.
Invertir en CRISPR para los Cultivos del Futuro
LA CUMBRE MUNDIAL DE INNOVACIÓN AGRI-TECH 2024, celebrada en marzo en San Francisco, reunió a más de 2.500 delegados de toda la cadena de valor agrícola y de más de cuatro docenas de países. La Cumbre, de dos días de duración, se centró en la comercialización de soluciones para una agricultura resistente al clima y estuvo repleta de temas de reflexión. Como era de esperar, uno de los principales temas que surgieron durante la Cumbre fue CRISPR.
We Set Out to Discover What’s Big in Public Sector Research. Here’s What we Discovered
A huge percentage of plant breeding and plant science in general is done by Canada’s public sector. The landscape of public and private breeding can be somewhat different depending on […]
Protagonistas De La Historia Semillera Del Último Siglo: Dr. Alejandro Violic Martinovic
Con 99 años de edad, el Dr. Alejandro Violic Martinovic es una figura sobresaliente en el campo de la fitogenética, cuya vida y labor han transcurrido en paralelo a la evolución de esta ciencia durante el último siglo. Su mente lúcida y vigor físico son sorprendentes, haciéndolo aparentar 25 años menos. En su incansable búsqueda de excelencia, Violic ha vivido una vida marcada por su dedicación al sector agrícola, en especial a la formación de jóvenes genetistas y agrónomos en el arte y la ciencia del mejoramiento genético y las técnicas de producción.
A Sneak Peek at What to Expect at ISTA’s Centennial Annual Meeting
The International Seed Trade Association’s secretary general Andreas Wais walks us through what to expect at ISTA’s Annual Meeting and 100th Anniversary celebration coming up in Cambridge, U.K., July 1-5.
Lessons Learned from Argentina’s UPOV 91 Debate
In Argentina, the recent debate regarding its adherence to the 1991 Act of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV 91) has been one of the most contentious and significant for its seed sector. Although Argentina did not, in the end, subscribe to this convention, the process left a series of crucial lessons for all the actors involved, from producers and seed companies to legislators and civil society.
Lecciones Aprendidas Tras el Debate Sobre UPOV 91 en Argentina
El debate en Argentina sobre su adhesión al Acta de 1991 de la Unión Internacional para la Protección de Obtenciones Vegetales (UPOV 91) ha sido uno de los más contenciosos y significativos en el sector semillero argentino recientemente. Aunque Argentina finalmente no se adhirió a este convenio, el proceso dejó una serie de lecciones cruciales para todos los actores involucrados, desde productores y empresas semilleras hasta legisladores y la sociedad civil.
Focused on Surviving or Thriving?
I frequently engage with industry leaders to discuss the direction of our sector. The overall sentiment in our conversations at ISF World Seed Congress was remarkably positive, with a dynamic shift happening right now regarding where businesses will emerge and who will deliver on these new opportunities. However, the industry currently feels divided into two distinct camps.
How Weikai Yan Became One of the Most-Cited Plant Breeders in the World
Oat cultivars developed by Weikai Yan, oat breeder at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Ottawa, have become highly regarded and widely adopted in key oat-growing regions like Ontario and Quebec. […]