When I became SIPA program board chair in June 2018, I couldn’t have anticipated the transitions that SIPA would undertake. In addition to planning and implementing SIPA’s programmed activities, we successfully transitioned the executive director position from our founding executive director, James Weatherly, to industry veteran and former SIPA program board member, Eloy Corona. This all happened while under travel and meeting restrictions initiated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At our 2018 Program Board Meeting, the board made a commitment to expand its outreach to growers. As a result, SIPA launched a new advertising campaign and promoted the benefits of seed innovations and respect for intellectual property to growers. Industry researchers work continuously to develop seed innovations that allow us to produce crops with increased disease resistance, better quality, increased yield, improved shipping ability and longer shelf-life. These characteristics provide a direct benefit to growers, but innovation doesn’t stop there.
“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.”Max DePree
While researchers continue to improve seed for growers, they are also working to improve products for consumers. These improvements include increased nutritional components, enhanced flavor and freshness. Seed innovations allow us to maximize the potential of the seed, increase crop yields and further our ability to feed a growing population. Seed innovations also improve our natural resource efficiency by reducing water usage, energy usage and contributing to the reduction of greenhouse emissions. This is a tall order!
There are three things everyone in our industry should know about seed innovations:
1. The Value of Seed Innovation
2. How to Protect Seed Innovations
3. Intellectual Property Rights for Seed Innovations
SIPA continues to pursue its mission to provide education and to promote best practices to the seed industry regarding the value of seed innovation, seed intellectual property protection and intellectual property rights for seed innovations. SIPA was formed to create a unified and consistent voice for education and best practices in IP protection and its value to our industry.
2021 marks the 7th anniversary of the SIPA. Since its inception, SIPA has championed the importance of intellectual property protection within the seed industry. During the past three years, SIPA has developed educational seminars and webinars, infringement investigation programs, pilot audit programs and has conducted valuable survey research within our industry. SIPA is now a widely recognized and highly regarded organization within the seed industry. SIPA is well positioned to continue its mission to improve the understanding of innovation, protection of innovation and respect for intellectual property rights within the seed industry. This makes SIPA a sustainable organization that continues to add value to our industry. The work that SIPA does is important and will have lasting impacts for growers and consumers worldwide. This makes me excited for future of SIPA.
Leading the SIPA Program Board of Directors for the past 36 months has been perhaps the most challenging and rewarding experience of my lifetime. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the SIPA Program and the seed industry in this capacity. I look forward to continuing to participate as a member of the SIPA Program Board as there is still so much to do!
