Through his involvement with the American Seed Trade Association’s International Executive Committee, Tom Moore’s understanding of the global seed industry grew. Moore is the West Coast production manager for HM.CLAUSE.
Seed World: What’s your favorite hobby, and how does it help you in the work environment?
Tom Moore: My favorite hobby would be gardening. There is still nothing like a homegrown tomato hot off the vine. There are always challenges with a garden, and that is the same with seed production, as no two days are alike. To me that is perfect.
SW: What do you see as the biggest opportunity in agriculture?
TM: The biggest opportunity I see in agriculture, and more specifically in the seed industry, is the new technology that seems to be improving every year. Breeders have more tools to work with today than they did in the past, which will bring the right varieties to market faster. We also have many new tools in the seed supply chain, both in production and operations.
SW: What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced at HM.CLAUSE?
TM: As I look at my 25 years with the company, the biggest challenge I have faced was the merger of two companies, which had a different way of doing just about everything. That was one of the most challenging periods in my career but at the same time one of the most rewarding. It was a significant transition that has made HM.CLAUSE the company it is today.
SW: What’s your favorite seed to grow yourself?
TM: Hybrid onion. It is one of the most challenging and sometimes the most rewarding.
SW: How did your experience as the chair of International Executive Committee (IEC) for the American Seed Trade Association help you grow at HM.CLAUSE?
TM: Being the chair of the International Executive Committee was a learning experience from day one. It exposes you to all the different aspects of the international seed business: intellectual property rights, global seed movement with all the phytosanitary issues, plant breeders rights, innovation and policy and seed treatment issues across all different species. The committee often visits with staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the U.S. Patent and Trade Office, Hill meetings, USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, and several embassies. Working with the outstanding staff at ASTA and all the experts who are members of the International Executive Committee is a great experience. It exposed me to several great contacts both within and outside the industry that I would have never had the opportunity to meet otherwise. This has been a great asset to HM.CLAUSE.
SW: Who was your most important mentor?
TM: My Dad is my most important mentor; he helped to create my interest in life science from Day 1.
SW: What do you want people to know about agriculture?
TM: Agriculture is more important today than ever. We need everyone’s help to tell the ag story. So many people in this country don’t know where food comes from and it is our job to tell them. We are a strong industry with honest hard working people who feed the world. Let’s spread the word!
