Today, Jan. 25, the American Seed Trade Association welcomed more than 830 individuals in the seed industry to its 2015 Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference in Tampa, Florida.
From Jan. 24-27, industry representatives participate in educational sessions, conduct business with other companies, help set the policies of the association and network. About one-fourth of the attendees are international, representing about 25 countries, says Jennifer Crouse, ASTA director of meetings and services.
“The trading room continues to grow and so does participation in that area,” Crouse says, noting that there are 135 companies participating in the trading room. “We are close to breaking record attendance and expect that by the end of the conference, we’ll have a new record.”
New this year is the attendance of a delegation of students from the University of Florida. This afternoon, the students presented posters that showcase how the seed industry might be able to address the challenges of the world in 2050.
Crouse also says that the meeting sessions have been modified to reflect the advancements in the industry. One example is the Innovation and Policy Committee, formerly the Biotechnology Committee, which was renamed to reflect more of today’s issues and the scope of the committee.
