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europeanseedPREMIEREEDITIONESA2014ANNUALMEETINGLISBONPORTUGALVOLUME1ISSUE1EUROPEAN-SEED.COMISPMsTAKINGDOWNBARRIERSFORSEEDFREEDOMTOOPERATEMANAGINGPROTECTEDVARIETIESANDTRAITSLOW-LEVELPRESENCEFEELINGTHEIMPACTTHEEUSBANONNEONICSISAFFECTINGGROWERSANDINDUSTRYALIKEEUROUNDTABLEONTHEPOLICYDEBATE SONIDOisthenewinnovativeBayerSeedGrowthsolutionforearlysoilandleafpestcontrolincornBestin-classearlyprotectionagainstallspeciesofwirewormandfrityImmediateonsetofefcacydepoteffectaroundseedlingandprotectionoftheyoungleavesNouseconstraintsinrotationandfollowingcropsmaizeerasedraisedWireworm EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI1TABLEOFCONTENTSFEATURESEUFeelingImpactofNeonicsBan.....................................................................06TheNeverEndingStory.......................................................................................10JustWhattheDoctorOrdered...........................................................................14FreedomtoOperate............................................................................................16KnowledgeisPower............................................................................................20CompatibleChameleons....................................................................................22SpeakUpforSeeds...........................................................................................26DEPARTMENTSSpotlightPlantum................................................................................................30GlobalSeedWatch..............................................................................................34Regulatory............................................................................................................38IndustryNews......................................................................................................42Extras....................................................................................................................46CalendarofEvents..............................................................................................47GiantViews...........................................................................................................4814221006europeanseedVOLUME1ISSUE1 2IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMeuropeanseedEUROPEAN-SEED.COMVOLUME1ISSUE1Suite3467-68HattonGardenLondonEC1N8JYUnitedKingdomPUBLISHERShawnBrooksbrookissuesink.comEDITORIALDIRECTORMarcelBruinsmbruinsissuesink.comMANAGINGEDITORLindsayHoffmanlhoffmanissuesink.comSTAFFWRITERSJulieDeeringMarkHalsallShannonSchindleMarcZienkiewiczADVERTISINGSALESCraigArmstrongcarmstrongissuesink.comHitenShahhshahissuesink.comFabienCastelf.castelbreizywood.comSamMostafasmostafaissuesink.comDIGITALMEDIASALESJillHollosijhollosiissuesink.comMARKETINGLynneRoyCREATIVETheresaKurjewiczLesleyNakonechnyDIGITALMEDIACREATIVEKyleDratowanyCalebMacDonaldVinceMendellaCIRCULATIONDeanFrenchdfrenchissuesink.comCONTRIBUTORSGarlichvonEssenKoenMortelmansADVISORYBOARDStephanieFranckPlfanzenzuchtOberlimpurgChrisGreenGreenResourcesLtd.MartinGrussBayerCropScienceNigelMooreKWSUKLtd.SzabolcsRuthnerHungarianSeedAssociationAnaSilvaEuropeanSeedAssociationwww.facebook.comEuropeanSeedtwitter.comEuropeanSeedSUBSCRIPTIONSEuropeanSeedispublishedtwotimesayear.Europeansubscriptionratesareoneyear20.Internationaloneyear75.Tosubscribepleaseemailsubscribeissuesink.com.Pleaserecyclewherefacilitiesexist.Nopartofthismagazinemaybereproducedwithoutthewrittenpermissionofthepublisher.PrintedinPoland. FORPROFESSIONALSThetrainingistargetedtowardpersonnelcurrentlyinvolvedinbreedingprograms.Attheendofthetwo-yearcourseparticipantswillhavetheskillsandknowledgetoleadandmanageanindependentplantbreedingprogram.AllinstructionwillbeinEnglish.pba.ucdavis.eduTHEPROGRAMParticipantsmeetinsixcountriesforthree1-weeksessionsperyearovertwoyearsallowingstudentstocontinuetheiremploymentwhileparticipatingintheclasses.GentBelgiumAngersFranceGaterslebenGermanyEnkhuizenNetherlandsAlmeriaSpainDavisCaliforniaTheAcademyisapremiumprofessionaldevelopmentcourserecognizedbytheglobalseedindustry.ItwasdesignedbytheSeedBiotechnologyCenterattheUniversityofCaliforniaDavistoincreasethesupplyofprofessionalplantbreeders.Reducednumbersofplantbreedersarebeingtrainedinacademicprogramsleadingtoashortagethroughouttheindustry.ThecenterandseedindustryleadersaddressedthisissuebycreatingtheAcademy.PLANTBREEDINGACADEMYINEUROPENEXTSESSIONSTARTSOCTOBER2015EmpoweryourmostimportantassetYourtalentedemployees 4IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMEDITORSMESSAGEASEEDPOWERHOUSEWITHSTRONGNUMBERSFORDOMESTICMARKETSSEEDIMPORTSANDINTERNATIONALSEEDEXPORTSEUROPESSEEDINDUSTRYISTHRIVING.nexceptionallywarmwelcometotheveryirstissueoEuropeanSeedthebrandnewmagazineortheEuropeanseedsector.Ihavethehonourandprivilegeoservingasitseditorialdirec-tor.Itiswithmuchjoyandanticipationthatwereoeringyouthisexcitingpublication.WhyaEuropeanseedmagazineyoumightaskPopulation-wiseEuropeisnotthebiggestcontinentandassuchitsdomesticmarketorseediscertainlynotthelargestglobally.Withthecombineddomesticmar-ketsotheEUcountriesreachingalittleover7.2billionitranksinthirdplacebehindAsiawithcloseto12.4bnandNorthAmericawithalittleover10.8bn.Howeveroncewestartlookingattheinternationalseedtradewestartseeingacompletelydierentpicture.Europeimportscloseto3.6bnonseedswhichismorethandoubletheamountoAsiawhichsitsatNo.2with1.7bnandNorthAmericawith1.5bn.ThepictureisevenclearerwhenwelookattheexportoseedswithEuropeleadingthepackwithavalueoawhopping4.9bnalmosttripletheamountoNorthAmericawhichrankssecondwith2.1bnISFdata.SotheseedtradeinEuropeisvibranttosaytheleast.Thereisnoothercontinentwheresomuchseedistraded.SeedtradepowerhouseslikeFranceTheNetherlandsandGermanyhavebeenleadingthewayormanyothercountriesoutsideEuropeandreceivealargenumberovisitorsannuallywhowanttolearnthebusinessromthebest.TheEuropeanseedindustryprovidesdirectjobstoover50000peopleandspendsanestimated1bnRDalone.Ontheipsidethecontinentacesreg-ulatorychallengeslikenoother.OneneedsonlytomentionthebiotechdebateortherecentbanonneonicsoryoutoknowwhatImean.Onemightwonderaretheregula-torydevelopmentsintheEUanexampleorothersorsomethingthatshouldbeavoidedatallcostsIwouldbetwecanindsup-portersobothcampseasily.InanycasetheEuropeanseedindustryiscertainlyMarcelBruinsworthourattentionandwelldoourbesttoprovideyouthereaderwithtimelybusiness-criticalandseed-ocusedcontent.Wereimmediatelystartingowithsomegreatstoriesaboutintellectualpropertyandtheneonicssaga.InEuropeanSeedwellalsobespotlightingindividualsandorganizationsintheprivateandpublicsectorthathaveanimpactonthewholeseedenvironmentwhetheritstheirinnovationincertaincropsortoheartheiropiniononatopicshapingtheindustry.ButasnocountryorcontinentcanstandaloneinitsseedprovisionswerenotlimitingthecontenttoEuropealone.Wellbelookingbeyondourbordersineachissuetosharewithyouwhatshappeningabroad.Wellalsobehighlightingregulatorynewsandhavealotootherinterestingandinormativemate-rialrelevanttoyourbusiness.Anditdoesntstopthere.AsyoureadthisissueyoucanalsovisitEuropean-Seed.comtofndthemagazineonlinewithsupportingcontentvideoandmuchmore.WantevenmoreStayconnectedwithEuropeanSeedviaTwitterandFacebooktoreceivethelatestinormationandseedinsights.EnoughsaidEnjoythefrstissueanddoletusknowwhatyouthinkoit.MarcelBruinseditorialdirectorEuropeanSeedmbruinsissuesink.comAEuropeimportscloseto3.6bnonseedswhichismorethandoubletheamountofAsia... 6IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMEUFeelingImpactofNeonicsBanEuropeangrowersandindustryarefeelingthestingofthetwo-yearrestrictionontheuseofneonicotinoids.NEONICSUPDATEBYSHANNONSCHINDLEANDMARCZIENKIEWICZ6IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM lmostayearatertheEuropeanCommissionenactedabanontheuseoneonicotinoid-basedseedtreatmentsgrowersandindustryintheEuropeanUnionareexperiencingseriousconsequencesasaresult.GuySmithvice-presidentotheNationalFarmersUnionNFUandagrowerhimselsaystheramifcationsothebanorbothgrowersandpollinatorsmaybeworsethanwasoriginallypredicted.Theweatherhasturnedhotanddryandthathasencouragedactivitywitheabeetlewhichisthemainpesttheneonicpesticidesaredesignedtocombathesays.Withouttheprotectionthoseproductsoermanygrowersaresuering.Itsearlydaysbutweregettingreportsoarmerslosinghaltheircrops.InFebruary2013theEuropeanFoodSaetyAgencyEFSAidentifedanumberorisksposedtobeesbythreeneonicoti-noidinsecticides.TheEuropeanCommissionaskedtheagencytoassesstherisksassoci-atedwiththeuseoclothianidinimidaclo-pridandthiamethoxamasseedtreatmentsorasgranules.EssentiallyEFSAwastoassesseachseedtreatmentonitsacuteandchroniceectsonbeecolonysurvivalanddevel-opmentitseectsonbeelarvaeandbeebehaviourandtherisksposedbysub-lethaldosesothethreesubstances.DespitethatinsomecasesEFSAwasunabletofnalizeitsassessmentsduetoalackoavailabledatatheEuropeanCommissionenactedrestric-tionsontheuseoneonicotinoidsbeginningDec.12013orseveralbee-attractivecropsandincludedatwo-yearperiodtourtherreviewconditionsorregistrationoneonic-otinoidsinthesecrops.TheEuropeanSeedAssociationESAalsosaysthebanhashadanumberoneg-ativeeectsorindustry.Thisbanmeansabiggapintheareaoinsecticideseedtreatmentinmanykeycropssuchasoil-seedrapeandmaizesaysAnaSilvaESAcommunicationsmanager.Thebanhashadsomenegativeeconomiceectsontheseedsectorandweexpectthistogetworseaswemoveinto2015.SavinaLaScaleaSyngentaAGmediarelationsmanageraddsthatthesuspen-sionhasdonenothingtoaddressdiseasesvirusesandlossonutritionorpollinatorswhicheventheEuropeanCommissionacknowledgesasthebiggestthreattopol-linators.SyngentaAGhasseenanegativeimpacttoitsbottomlineduetoreducedsalesoCruiserbutitstressesthatEuropeanarmerswhohavebeendeniedaccesstoinnovativeandsustainablecropprotectiontechnologieshaveeltamoresigniicantimpact.Growersnowhavetousealterna-tiveproductsmanyowhichareolderandlesseectivesaysLaScalea.BayerCropSciencecantestiytothataswell.AccordingtoMartinGrussheadoSeedGrowthproductsorBayerThereareseveralproductsinourportoliothatwecantoertogrowersanymoreandocoursecreatingnewproductsdoesnthappenover-night.Forthegrowersthatsabigdisadvan-tage.Theresnoinsecticidesolutionavailablerightnoworoilseedrape.GrussaddsthatBayerisabletooermostEuropeangrowersSonidoaseedtreatmentthatprotectscorncropsagainstwireworms.Sonidohoweverdoesntoerthesameprotectionsasrestrictedseedtreat-mentsGrussnotes.Ithelpsguardagainstwirewormattacksbutshouldbeaccompa-niedbyamicrogranuleincasesoheavyattacksoragainstcornrootworm.Butmicrogranulesaremorecumbersomeorgrowerstouseheadds.Manygrowersthoughareunabletousemicrogranulesatall.AccordingtoFrance-basedThierryGestatEuropeanMartinGrussheadofSeedGrowthproductsforBayerCropSciencesaysBayercannolongerofferseveralofitsproductstoEUgrowersduetotheneonicotinoidrestrictions.THEBANHASHADSOMENEGATIVEECONOMICEFFECTSONTHESEEDSECTORANDWEEXPECTTHISTOGETWORSEASWEMOVEINTO2015.EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI7 JonEntinefounderanddirectoroftheGeneticLiteracyProjectnotesthatEuropeangrowersarenowforcedtousepesticidesthataredemonstrablyworsefortheenvironmentthanneonicotinoids.marketsegmentmanagerorBayerCropSciencealotogrowersnowuseplantersthatarenotequippedwiththeappropriateapplicator.Thesameproblemexistsorgrowerswhoarmoilseedrapeandmustreverttosprayapplicationandmorerequentvisualcropinspectioninautumnwhiletheyarealreadybusywithotherwork.Togobacktotheoldwayoarmingoilseedrapeisdifcult.Itsusuallypossiblebutarmoredifcultdependingonpestpressurehesays.BILLIONSATSTAKESincethebancameintoeectGerman-basedHumboldtForumorFoodandAgricultureHFFApublishedtheirstcomprehensivereviewothevalueoneonicotinoidtreatedseeds.Assessingthesocio-economicandenvironmentalcontributionsoneonicotinoidseedtreatmentsintheEUacrossthemajorcropsandinkeycountriesthestudyoundthatineonicotinoidseedtreatmentswerenolongeravailableinEuropetherewouldbeasigniicantreductionooodproductiondramaticallyalteringthecommoditiestradebalance.TheHFFAstudyshowsNeonicotinoidseedtreatmentscontributemorethan2billionannuallytoEUcommoditycroprevenues.Thevalueoneonicotinoidtreatedseedtogrowersversusnotusingpesticidesatallexceeds4billionperyear.Ithebancontinuesoveraive-yearperiodtheEUcouldloseupto17billionandacesigniicantpestpressure.IthetechnologyremainsunderabanEUarmerincomewoulddecreaseanaverageofvepercent.Atleast50000armjobswouldalsobelostacrosstheEU.ESAsSilvasaysitisdifculttograspallotheeectsatthistimebutthemodelingcon-ductedbytheHFFAstudyshowstheeconomicbeneftsoneonicotinoid-treatedseeds.Thereisanincreasingbodyoevidencesupportingtheviewthatneonicotinoid-treatedseedisoneothemosteectiveandtargetedormsocropprotectiontechnologyavailableLaScaleasays.TheHFFAstudyalsooundthatiusedcorrectlyneonicotinoidseedtreatmentscanbeusedsaelyorallmajorcropsacrossEurope.Thecropprotectionindustryisengaginginactivestewardshiptoensurethatthisisthecase.Inadditiontheseedseedtreatmentandcropprotectionindustrieshaverecentlyimplementedqualityassuranceanduserinormationmeasurestourtherimprovesaeuse.TIMERESTRICTIONREVERSALUNLIKELYDespitetheHFFAstudysindingsthoselikeJonEntinesaystudieslikeitdontcarryenoughweighttoconvincetheEUtoreverseitsban.EntineanAmericanauthorandjournalistandormerEmmy-winningproducerorbothNBCandABCNewsisounderanddirectorotheGeneticLiteracyProjectwhichpromotespublicawarenessogeneticsandscienceliteracy.Ithinkthereszerochancetheylldoanythingtoreversethebanbeorethetwoyearsareupnomatterhowdirethesituationishesays.Itshardtoun-ringabell.ItwouldbealongshotorthemtochangetheirmindsunlesstherewassomecredibleagencyaEuropeanonenotaU.S.onethatcameoutwithsomekindovindicatingreportawhistle-cleanstudythatputstheissuetorest.Politiciansarepoliticiansandthisisapoliticalissueasmuchasitisascienceissue.TheNFUsSmithagrees.Werekeentomakeregulatorsawarethatitheytakethesetoolsawayarmersmaylosecropsandthathasaneconomicimpactorthewidersociety.WecanonlytrytolobbytothebesteectbutwiththeByzantinenatureoEuropeanpoliticsyoucanneverbesure.EntinehaswrittenextensivelyontheEUneonicsbanandsaysthehypesurroundingneonicsisunlikelytodieointhenearuture.Theresnobeeapocalypsehappeningandthelinktoneonicsisverythin.Theproblemisthereisalotoindecisionandmurkydataouttherecombinedwithstudiesthatinalotocaseswerepoorlyexecutedthatlinkbeedeathstoneonics.Entinenotesthatgrowersarenoworcedtousepesticidesthataredemonstrablyworseortheenvironmentthanneonicotinoids.Itswhathappenswhenadvocacygroupswin.Theenvironmentandpublichealthdoesntalwayswin.Itssadbutthatshowpoliticsdistortsscience.NEONICSUPDATETHERESNOBEEAPOCALYPSEHAPPENINGANDTHELINKTONEONICSISVERYTHIN.Withstricterauthorisationcriteriaandahazard-basedassessmentapproachESAearsthatevenmoreproductswilldisappearornotmakeittomarketwiththebanineect.AsaresultESAhasdevelopedtheEuropeanSeedTreatmentAssuranceSchemeESTAtoensurequalityapplicationoplantprotectionproductstotheseedduringthetreatmentprocessaswellastheproperhandlingandsaeuseoqualitytreatedseed.OnlyESTA-certifedtreatmentacilitiescanusetheESTAlogoontheirproductstodocumentcomplianceandacilitatethereemovementotreatedseedthroughouttheEU.Syngentahasalsoimplementeditsownstewardshipsolutions.FormorethanadecadeOperationPollinatorhasbeenplacingpollinatorhabitatsandnutritionbackintoarmlandscapes.OurbiggestdisappointmentisthatarmerswillcontinuetobedeniedaccesstothiscropprotectiontechnologywhilenothingisdonetoimprovebeehealthLaScaleasays.BayeristryingitsbesttooersolutionsaswellbydevelopingsuchtechnologiesasSweepAiranewair-cleaningtechnologyordrillersthathelpscontroldustatplanting.Weareprovidingsupportorstewardshipmeasuresorurtheruseodust-reducingtechnologiesbecausewewanttheproductappliedtotheseedtostayontheseedGrussadds.8IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM HYBRIDWHEATAEUROPEANSUCCESSSTORYBecauseitmeetstheiryieldconsistencyexpectationshybridwheathasgainedwiderecognitionamongwheatgrowersacrossEurope.Forthepast15yearsthankstoitsuniqueexpertiseinbreedingandseedproductionandtoitsproprietaryCroisorhybridizingtechnologySaaten-Unionhascreatedinnovativehybridwheatvarietiessuitedtoamoresustainablefarming.In2014aquartermillionhectaresofEuropeanwheataregrownfromSaaten-Unionshybridseeds.Forfurtherinformationhybridwheatsaaten-union.frwww.hybridwheat.net 10IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMEUROPEANSEEDGarlichcouldyoupleasegiveusanupdateontheEuropeanCommissionsLLPpolicyGvETheirstCommissionproposaltoregulatethepresenceogeneticallymodiiedorganismsinnon-GMproductssurprisingthoughitmayseemlookedatseed.In2000ollowingarequestromtheEuropeanseedindustryrom1999theCOMpresentedafrstdrat.ClearlythisquickreactionwasnottheleasttriggeredbyapracticalincidentsuchastheGMpresenceinseedooilseedrapeinthespringothatyear.Sincethenalmost15yearshavegonebyandalmosteverythinginrelationtoGMOsromauthorisationtomonitoringandromcoexistencetolabellinghasbeenregulatedmeticulouslybytheEuropeanUnionwiththemarkedexemptionoseed.ThelatestadditiontotheEUspolicieshasbeenthepassingoaso-calledtechnicalsolutionorthepresenceoGMOsthatarenotyetauthorisedintheEUbuthavealreadybeenauthorisedorcultivationinotherpartsotheworldbutonlyundertheprovisothattheTheNever-EndingStoryExpertsweighinonEuropeslow-levelpresencepolicydebate.ByMarcelBruinsLLPPolicyForthepastcoupleofyearswehavebeenhearingalotaboutEuropesstruggleswiththeacceptanceofbiotechvarietiesandfindingapracticalsolutiontothelow-levelpresenceissue.EuropeanSeedmagazinecontactedGarlichvonEssensecretary-generaloftheEuropeanSeedAssociationESAJonathanRamsaygovernmentandindustryaffairsleadofMonsantoinBrusselsBelgiumandKerstinMnchheadofsectionbiotechnologyandgeneticengineeringattheGermanPlantBreedersAssociationBDPwhosharedtheirviewsonthematter. EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI11producetobeimportedisintendedoreeduseonlyamovemainlymotivatedbytheEUsstrongdependenceonproteinimportsoritsanimalproduction.Despitemassivecomplaintsromagri-oodchainoperatorsandspecifcallytheinternationalgraintradetheEUstillhasnotextendedthistechnicalsolutiontooodusesleavingbusinessesinvolvedinbotheedandoodtradeinlegallimbo.MostoallhoweverpractitionersaredissatisfedthattheEUisnotworkingonapropersetorulesorlow-levelpresenceoGMOsinnon-GMproductsandarespectivethreshold.Ithasrestricteditsallegedsolutiontoonlythetipowhatisseenasanicebergoproblemsbylimitingittoonlyaewproductsandsettingalevelodetectiono0.1percentasthehighestacceptablelevel.ButwhataboutseedonemightwonderWhileoodandeedproductshaveathresholdo0.9percentorlabellingobligationssince2003andworkontheextensionoatechnicalsolutionoroodhasatlastbeenannouncedbytheCommissionseedrulesseemtohavebeenavoidedbytheCommissionatalmostallpoliticalandeconomiccost.ESJonathanwhatdoyouthinkofthecurrentAPLLPpolicyintheEUJRWellfrstoallIhavetosaythatseedqualityandsaetyisournumberonepriority.Seedcompaniescanandwilladapttorulesandregulationsbutnobusinesscanthrivewherethereisuncertainty.ThatiswhyaharmonisedsamplingandtestingapproachisvitalorEurope.ThereemovementogoodsisaundamentalprincipleotheEUanditisastonishingthattheCommissionreusestoaddresstheissueoharmonisedtestingandsamplingoseed.RatherthanocusingonlegalisingillegalbanstheEuropeanCommissionshouldocusontheclearcallromallmemberstatesdatingbacktothe2008Counciltoestablishathresholdoradventitiouspresence.ThefreemovementofgoodsisafundamentalprincipleoftheEUanditisastonishingthattheCommissionrefusestoaddresstheissueofharmonisedtestingandsamplingofseed.ESKerstincouldyoudescribewhatarethepracticalconsequencesofthislackofregulationKMThedifcultiesorthecompaniescausedbytheEuropeanzerotolerancepolicyareshowneveryyearespeciallywhenthesowingomaizeandoilseedrapetakesplaceEvenitheGMOtestingwithinelaborateinternalqualityassurancesystemsdoesntgiveanyhinttoGMOtracesanyothertestingcouldcometoacompletelydierentresult.AslongasseedmultiplicationtakesplaceinreenaturetherecouldbenoguaranteeothecompleteabsenceounintendedtechnicallyandbiologicallyunavoidableGMOtracesinconventionalseed.PlantbreedingcompaniesaswellasthewholeagriculturalsectorhavetodealwithpermanentlegaluncertaintyandtheearoseedlotsorintheworstcasefeldsthathavetobedestroyedjustbecauseosuspectedGMOtraces. 12IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMESGarlicharecentdecisiongaveEUcountriesthepowertochoosewhethertheyallowthecultivationofGMvarietiesornot.HasthispolicyalreadybeenimplementedandwhataretheprosandconsofsuchanapproachGvEDitchingpoliticalresponsibilityalsoseemstobethemainmotivationbehindthelatestideaotheCommissiontoscraptheEUsdecision-makingpoweronGMauthorisationsaltogetherandhanditbacktoitsMemberStates.FormorethanadecadeMinistersregularlyailedtoauthorisenewGMproductsdespiterepeatedpositivesaetyassessmentsromtheEUsownoodsaetybodyEFSA.AccordingtothecurrentrulesitwasthenuptotheCommissiontotakethefnaldecisionandocoursetheblameordisregardingpoliticalwillovocalactivistgroupsandopposingMemberStates.TheEUauthorisationsystemisknowntobenotoriouslyslowandunpredictable.Countriescouldsaelyapprovethemostlyunnoticedyetirreplaceableimportswhiletakingahardlineonthemuchmorepublicisedcultivationdossiers.WhiletheCommissionstressesthatgivingcountriestherighttorestrictbanGMcultivationintheirterritoryshouldhelpunblockthisinamousauthorisationsystemmostinsiderspredictthatlittlewouldchangeundersuchanewsystem.OntheonehandmanyMemberStateshavealreadyintroducednationalGMcultivationbansmostlyadvocatingnewscientiicevidencethatallegedlyoverturnedtheEuropeanFoodSaetyAuthorityspositiveopinion.WhilemanyothesebanshavebeendisputedbybiotechandseedcompaniesandevenarmersandwereconsequentlyannulledordeclaredillegalbynationalandEUcourts.TheEuropeanCommissiongenerallyexpectedtobethewatchdogorharmonisedimplementationoEUlawhasshownverylittleappetiteorsuchlegalbattles.ButmostimportantlythequestionohowtheEUwoulddealwithapotentialpatchworkodierentauthorisationstatusesothesameGMeventindierentcountriesremainsunanswered.HowcanproductsmovewithinaninternalmarketwhenthesameproductisullyapprovedorallusesinoneMemberStatewhileitisconsideredillegalandbannedinanotherThisandotherquestionswillsurelybeupordiscussionagainwhentheproposednewapproachnowgoesintoasecondroundodiscussionbetweentheMemberStatesandthenewly-electedEuropeanParliamentasothisall.LLPPolicyESGarlichcanyousharewhatisinthepipelineforthenearfutureGvEWhilethedetailsothefnaloutcomemaystillbeuncertainitseemsthatadealwillbereachedasboththeCommissionaswellastheParliamentsharethedesiretoappeasethewidespreadanti-GMlobbyratherthantoollowtheEUsownscientifcbodies.AurtherindicationisthestrongstatementothenewCommissionpresidentJeanClaudeJunckerwhooutlininghispolicyprioritiesorthenewCommissiontotheParliamentalreadypromisedMEPstoreviewtheUnionsoverallGMpolicytobetterreectsocietalviews.ClearlythisstatementisjustoneomanyconcessionsJunckerhasusedtogainthenecessarysupportorhimselandhisnewteamromParliamentbutitmustbeexpectedthatMEPswillholdhimandhisresponsibleCommissionerVytenisAndriukaitisromLithuaniaaccountabletodeliveronthispromise.ESJonathanwhataretheplansofyourcompanyonthebiotechcultivationapprovalsJRWhileMonsantohaslongarguedorEuropeanarmerstobegrantedthesamelevelochoiceastheirinternationalcounterpartsaroundtheworldtheEUwillhavetocometothatdecisioninitsowntime.ESKerstinwhatotherconsequencesarecausedbysuchapolicyKMEvenmoredevastatingthantheeconomicconsequencesotherestrictiveGMOpolicyistheimpactonGMOresearch.Whiletherewere109feldtrialsintheEuropeanUnionin2009only10wererealisedin2014withnotasingleoneinGermany.Inthiscontextnotonlyhavetheprivateactivitiesbeendiscontinuedbutalsothepublicresearchseesnochancetoworkunderthesehostileconditions.WhiletheCommissionstressesthatgivingcountriestherighttorestrictbanGMcultivationintheirterritoryshouldhelpunblockthisinfamousauthorisationsystemmostinsiderspredictthatlittlewouldchangeundersuchanewsystem.europeanseedVISITUSONLINEWithtailoredseed-focusedcontentEuropeanSeedwillofferspecialisedmediathatwillprovideunparalleledvaluetotheindustryourreadersandouradvertisers.Ourcontentiscomprisedoffarmorethanjustarticlesitsatotalpackagethatfusescurrentissueswithcompellinganalysisinadditiontoanarrayofdigitalofferingsthattakeouraudiencetotheheartofthestoriesthatmatter.BoththeseedindustryandworldofcommunicationsarechangingatarapidpaceandthatswhyEuropeanSeediscommittedtobeingamultifacetedmediaplatformwebmagazinemobileandvideoprovidemultiplechannelsthroughwhichtoconsumepracticalinformationideasandsolutionsthatmattertoyourbusiness.EUROPEAN-SEED.COMeuropeanseedeuropeanseedeuropeanseedeuropeanseedeuropeanseedeuropeanseed STARPACKHighSpeedMulti-FunctionBaggingSystemUpto1600bagsperhourCONCETTIS.p.A.S.S.75CentraleUmbrakm4190Ospedalicchio06083BASTIAUMBRAPerugiaItalyTel.39075801.561Fax39075800.0894Brochureandvideosonwww.concetti.comWorldleadingproviderofpackagingtechnologyonturn-keybasisCONCETTINorthAmericaCorp.POBox605HOSCHTONGEORGIA30548Toll-FreeNumber855-524-0660 14IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMPhytosanitaryRegulationsByMarcelBruinsJUSTWHATTHEDOCTORORDEREDMoreharmonisedphytosanitaryregulationsarepoisedtoofferaprescriptiontotradewoes.14IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI15orthosewhomisseditthereisaveryinterestingongoingdevelopmentintheregulatoryfeldwhichwillhavemajorconsequencestowardimprovingnotonlythelivesothoseintheEuropeanseedindustrybuttheglobalseedtrade.ForthepastcoupleoyearstheseedindustryhasbeenworkingtoimprovethecumbersomephytosanitaryregulationsandtheplacetodosoisattheInternationalPlantProtectionConventioncommonlyknownasIPPC.TheIPPCisaConventionthathasbeensignedbymostgovernmentsandprovidestherameworkorregulatingtheinternationaltradeoplantsandplantmaterialsexplainsGerardMeijerinkseniorgovernmentrelationsadvocateorSyngentainBrussels.ThisConventionprovidesguidancetogovernmentsoutlininghowtosetupphytosanitaryinspectionbodiesperormpestriskanalysisanddetermineipestswarrantregulation.MostimportantlytheConventionexplainshowtodefnephytosanitarymeasuresthatprevententryounwantedregulatedpestswithoutbeingtoorestrictivetotrade.TheConventionisarameworkwherecountriesagreetotheoverallaimopreventingthespreadoplantpestsandmoredetailedguidanceisprovidedintheInternationalStandardsorPhytosanitaryMeasuresorISPMs.MostISPMscoveraspectsophytosanitaryconceptswhichhavehorizontalvalidityoranytypeoplantorplantmaterialsuchasseedsruitslivingplantsvegetablesandgrain.HoweverinthepasttherehasnotbeenanISPMspecifctoseedwhichleavesagreatdealopentointerpretationandcancreateconusionintheseedtradeoneothemanyreasonstheinternationalseedindustryhasbeenpushingtheIPPCtoadoptseed-specifcISPMs.ThesenewISPMswillaecttheactivitiesoeachandeveryseedcompanyseekingtotradeormoveseedaroundtheworld.WHYISTHISSIGNIFICANTSeedcompaniesareincreasinglymovingvaryingquantitiesoseedaroundtheworldornumerousreasonssuchasbreedingseedproductionlaboratorytestingtriallingandcommercialproduction.Sobusinessisotenaectedbyoverlycomplexandunreasonableregulations.TheseedindustrythroughtheInternationalSeedFederationhasbeenlobbyingormanyyearsoraphytosanitarystandardwhichwouldbettertakeintoaccountthespecifcsoseedorplantingMeijerinksays.JulieAliagadirectorotheinternationalstandardsprogramattheUnitedStatesAnimalandPlantHealthInspectionServiceandstewardothenewlyproposedISPMsmentionsthetroublesthattheseedindustrywashaving.Theseedindustrywithitsinternationaltradeisveryspecifcandalsoverycomplexinnatureduetotheactthatseedscanbestoredoralongtimebeorebeingre-exportedshesays.Thiscancauseproblemsinthosecaseswhereaphytosanitarydeclarationisneededbasedonrecentevidence.BrentLarsonstandardsoicerattheIPPCSecretariataddsthatthenewISPMshouldhelpharmonisephytosanitaryregulationsamongcountries.AteradoptionothisISPMtheNationalPlantProtectionOrgansationswillhaveguidanceonhowtoredrattheirnationalrules.InotherwordshowtodevelopandimplementtheirphytosanitarymanagementoseedimportsLarsonsays.SinceitsfrstrequestoranISPMonseedstheseedindustryhasprovidedanumberopapersthatwerespecifcindescribingtheissuesotheseedindustryandatthesametimeaddingpossiblesolutions.InJuly2014theirstdratothisISPMwasreleasedormemberconsultation.AllcountriesthroughtheirnationalplantprotectionorganisationNPPOhavetheopportunitytogiveeedbackonthedratandtoexpressalternativeproposals.ThisconsultationlaststhroughNovemberothisyear.LarsonadvisestheseedindustrytoengagewiththeNPPOs.GetinvolvedintheprocessandhelpyourNPPOdratyournationalcommentshesays.AdditionallytheInternationalSeedFederationarelevantinternationalorganisationorthisISPMalsohasanopportunitytoprovidesuggestions.In2012theIPPCadoptedaStrategicFrameworkthatprovidesdirectionorthenexteightyearsandoneotheourkeyobjectiveswastoenhanceitscontributiontotheglobaloodsecurityagendathroughnewandupdatedstandardsaimedatpreventingpestspreadintradeLarsonadds.WiththenewISPMonseedtheIPPCcontinuestoadvancetowardmeetingitsstrategicobjectiveswhileacilitatingtheinternationalseedtrade.WHATDOESITSOLVEMeijerinksumsuptheseed-specifcissuesthatarebeingaddressedbythisISPMItprovidesguidanceonpestriskanalysiswithspeciicconsiderationorseedasapotentialpathwayorentryandspreadingoapest.TheISPMreerencesISFsPestListsasauseulresourceordecidingwhichpestsonwhichseedsmightbeapathway.Itprovidesguidanceonhowtodefnephytosanitarymeasurestakingintoaccounttheintendeduseotheseed.Thiswillallowdierentiationorexamplebetweenseedsorcommercialopenfeldplantingandseedsordestructivelaboratorytesting.Itprovidesguidanceophytosanitarymeasuresspecifcorseeds.Amongothersitintroducespestresistanceandseeddisinectiontreatmentaspotentialphytosanitarymeasures.Itprovidesmorespecifcguidanceonhowtohandlere-exportsespeciallywhenpartotheadditionaldeclarationscomeromthecountryore-export.Harmonisationoadditionaldeclarationsandequivalencyophytosanitarymeasuresarealsousedtoacilitatere-exportstodestinationswithvaryingrequirements.Itprovidesguidanceonthecriteriaorseedhealthtestprotocolsortreatedanduntreatedseeds.TheISPMmakesreerencetotheseedtestingprotocolsdevelopedbytheInternationalSeedHealthInitiativepublishedontheISFwebsite.UponadoptionothenewISPMwhichmightoccurin2016attheearliestitwilltaketimebeorecountrieshaveullyimplementedthisnewISPM.CountriesandtheirNPPOswillneedthesupportandinputromtheseedindustry.Forexamplereviewingothepestscurrentlyregulatedorseedsandremovalorequirementsorthosepestswhichdonotwarrantregulationwilltaketimeandlikelyagreatdealolobbying.ThereoreuponapprovalotheISPMtheseedindustryshouldnotexpectimmediatechangesbutnationalandinternationalseedassociationswillhavegreatsupportromthenewISPMintheireortstowardimprovedscience-basedandproportionalphytosanitaryrequirementsandintheireortstoremovetradebarriers.WHATARETHEBENEFITSOncethiseorthasbeencompletedtheseedindustrymightexpectewerunoundedrequirementsmoreharmonisedrequirementsorcommercialseedsandmoreadaptedrequirementsorsmallerquantitiesandseedswithspecifcpurposes.Thisisagreatsteporwardandaprescriptionorinnovation.TheseedindustrythroughtheInternationalSeedFederationhasbeenlobbyingformanyyearsforaphytosanitarystandardwhichwouldbettertakeintoaccountthespecicsofseedforplantingEUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI15 FREEDOMTOOPERATPINTOdatabaseoffersbreederscriticalinformationonprotectedvarieties.BYMARCELBRUINS16IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI17orbreedersandtheirbossesitsalwaysatoughquestionhowdoweknowwhichvarietieswecanreelyuseinourbreedingprogramsThisissuehasbeenacingbreedersorthepastcoupleodecadesbuthasnowbecomeurgentasseedcompanieslargeandsmallhavestartedpatentingplanttraits.Whichinturnextendstothevarietieswiththesetraits.WouldntitbeniceiwecouldalllookinoneplaceandgettheinormationweneedThereareseveraldatabasesthattrytoillthisgapintheindustry.OnesuchdatabaseisPINTOPatentInormationandTransparencyOn-linebuiltbytheEuropeanSeedAssociationESAin2013.ESAcreatedthePINTOdatabaseinanattempttoprovideatoolorbreederstogetmoreclarityandinormationonthepatentstatusoplantvarietiesexplainsSzonjaCsrgdirectorIPandlegalaairsoESA.ThereareanumberopublicdatabasesprovidinginormationonpatentapplicationsandgrantedpatentsbutthenoveltyoPINTOisthatitprovidesinormationonwhetheraspecifcplantvarietyiscoveredbythescopeooneorseveralpatents.Publicpatentdatabasesnormallyprovideinormationontheclaimsoapatentapplicationorgrantedpatentbutromreadingaclaimitisalmostimpossibletoknowwhichvarietiesthatareavailableonthemarketwouldbeallingwithinitsscope.ThisisthegapthatPINTOaimstofllinsaysCsrg.InEuropenewplantvarietiescanbeprotectedbythesuigenerisintellectualpropertysystemoplantbreedersrightsPBRbasedontheInternationalUnionortheProtectionoNewVarietiesoPlantsUPOV.Tailoredtothespecifcitiesandneedsoplantbreedingsuchprotectionguaranteesthecontinuousowoimprovedplantvarietiesbysaeguardingaccesstogeneticvariabilitythroughtheso-calledbreedersexemption.BesidesPBRpatentsalsoplayanincreasinglyimportantroleintheEuropeanseedandplant-breedingsector.UnderEuropeanpatentlawplantvarietiesaswellasessentialbiologicalprocessesortheproductionoplantsareexcludedrompatentability.Butinpracticeasaresultothespeciicnatureoplant-relatedpatentsplantvarietiesmayallunderthescopeocertainpatents.Underpatentlawhoweverthereisnogeneralbreedersexemptionthereoretheuseorurtherbreedingoaplantvarietycoveredbythescopeoapatentandthecommercialisationothenewly-bredplantvarietyisalwayssubjecttoconditions.Inordertobeabletodeinetheirreedomtooperatewhenstartingtheirbreedingprogramsbreedersneedtoknowwhethertheplantvarietytheyintendtouseallsunderthescopeoapatentapplicationoragrantedpatent.Asalreadymentionedthereareanumberopublicpatentdatabasesprovidingimportantinormationonpatentsbutthisspecifcelementcannotbeoundinthosedatabases.ThereorePINTOhasbeencreatedwiththeprimarygoaloallowingbreederstomakeamoreinormedchoicewhendecidingonthevarietiestobeusedinabreedingprogram.CurrentlyPINTOincludesmorethan1000entriesbelongingto15dierentcroptypeswhichmeansthatitprovidesinormationorthese1000plantvarietiesregardingtheirpatentstatus.ThenumberopatentsthatarecurrentlyincludedinPINTOis23butsomeothevarietiesthatareincludedarecoveredbythescopeotwoormorepatentsatthesametime.TheinormationromPINTOcanberetrievedinvariouswaysdependingonthesearchcriteriaauserisselecting.Onecanlookoraspecifcvarietybydenominationorcheckthecoverageoapatentbyselecting 18IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMaspecifcpatentnumberoryoucangetanoverviewothepatentsituationinaspecifccropionlythecropisselectedinthesearchcriteria.Furthercombinedsearchesarealsopossibletomaketheresearchmoretargetedandreducethenumberohitsintheend.WithregardstoitsusersithastobeunderlinedthatPINTOisapublicdatabaseaimedprimarilyatbreedersbutavailablereeochargetoanybodywhowishestouseit.ThereoreusersoPINTOareindividualpersonswhointhelargemajorityocasesbelongtothecommunityoplantbreedersandthusarelinkedtospeciiccompaniesbuttherearealsoanumberouserswhoarenotnecessarilybreeders.IntotalPINTOcurrentlyhascloseto400registeredusersromallovertheworld.COMPLETINGPINTOThedatabaseitselperormswellandgeneratestherequestedinormationquickly.InormationincludedinthePINTOdatabaseisupdatedeverysixmonths.ThismeansthatsincethecreationoPINTOtherehavebeentwogeneralupdatesbothresultingintheexpansionothecoverageoPINTOwithmorevarietiesandpatentsbeingadded.Neverthelessacontinuouschallengeremainsitscompleteness.PINTOisconstructedonthebasisoinormationreceivedromcompaniesdevelopingandmarketingvarietiesunderthescopeopatents.CompaniescontributetoPINTOonavoluntarybasisandESAiscontinuouslyworkingonreachingouttoasmanycompaniesaspossibleinordertomakePINTOascompleteaspossible.Despitealltheseeortstheexerciseisstillarrombeingfnalisedandalotoworkstillneedstobedoneoncoverage.AssuchithastobeacceptedthatPINTOduetoitsvoluntarynaturewillalwaysremainincompletetosomeextentandthuscomplementarytoolsarenecessaryorbreederstogetaullpictureonstatusovarieties.FrancoisMeienbergromthenon-governmentorganisationBerneDeclarationagrees.HementionsthatthePINTOdatabasecouldbeahelpultooltoincreasetransparencyregardingvarietiescoveredbypatentclaimsnotonlyorbreedersbutalsoorarmersconsumersNGOsorcivilservants.Forthistohappenthedatabaseneedstobemorereliablewithurtherimprovementsmade.Heeelstheinormationneedstobemoredetailedinregardtowhichcompaniesorotherbreedinginstitutionsparticipateandespeciallywhichdonotparticipate.Ithastobeclearwhathappensiacompanywhichisnotparticipatinginthedatabasesellsvarietiesunderapatentlicenseromanothercompanyorwhenthecompanyisout-licensingitsownpatents.Thegoalshouldbeaulltransparencyoreachandeveryvarietyonthemarketiitiscoveredbypatentclaimsornot.Probablysuchaullcoveragewillonlybepossibleithedatabaseismanagedbyagovernmentalagencyandwhenthereisalegalbasistomakeitmandatorytoprovidetherequestedinormation.WhenwegetridopatentsonseedsthewholeinormationgatheringandbureaucracywillnotbeneededanymoreaccordingtoMeienberg.OtherscanattesttoPINTOneedingmorework.AnotherdisadvantageisthatthePINTOdatabaseonlyincludesvarietiesthatareavailableincountriesthatbelongtotheEuropeanEconomicAreaEEAwhichiscomprisedoallotheEUandmembersotheEuropeanFreeTradeAssociationexceptorSwitzerland.FinallythePINTOdatabaseislimitedtoEuropeanpatentsandapplicationsonly.AsmostbreedingcompaniesareactiveallovertheworldPINTOmightberegardedasincompletesaysArendStrengpatentspecialistatRijkZwaaninTheNetherlands.HementionsthatespeciallyorbreedersPINTOisapracticaltooltoseewhetheracertainvarietyisprotectedbyapatentorapplication.Thedatabaseprovidesinormationonthecommercialembodimentoapatentandisbymyknowledgethefrstpubliclyavailabledatabasedoingso.Thisinormationhelpsbreederstoseewhichvarietiesarenotreelyavailableorurtherinnovation.StillStrengdoesindPINTOhighlyuseul.ThePINTOdatabaseisahelpultooltorelatepatentapplicationstoplantvarieties.PersonallyIusethedatabaseaboutonceeverymonth.Thedatabasehasaneicientstructureandinteracethatallowsyoutosearchorseveralaspectsoavarietyorapatentapplication.TheactthatitgivesadirectlinktoapatentinthedatabaseotheEuropeanPatentOfceEPOisuseul.Alsousersareabletoregisterthemselvesinordertocustomisetheirsearches.CsrgconirmsthatthegeographicalscopeoPINTOiscurrentlylimitedtoEuropeEEAmeaningthatonlyvarietiesregisteredormarketedintheEEAaretobeincludedinit.OncethecompletenessothedatabaseissigniicantlyimprovedontheEuropeanleveldiscussionswillalsocontinueonhowtoexpandthescopeoPINTOtootherpartsotheworld.THEGOALSHOULDBEAFULLTRANSPARENCYFOREACHANDEVERYVARIETYONTHEMARKETIFITISCOVEREDBYPATENTCLAIMSORNOT.Thedatabasehasanefficientstructureandinterfacethatallowsyoutosearchforseveralaspectsofavarietyorpatent. 20IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMnthepastewyearsTheInternationalUnionortheProtectionoNewVarietiesoPlantsUPOVinGenevahasdevelopedseveraldatabasesincludingtheGENIEPLUTOandUPOVLexthatprovideplantbreedersandtheseedindustryintheinternationalcommunitywithinvaluableinormationattheiringertips.Whileallthreedatabasesarerelativelynewhavinglaunchedsince2010theycontinuetoevolvetobettermeetuserneeds.Overallthedatabaseshavereceivedpositiveeedback.Belowyoulllearnalittlebitabouttheunctionalityoeachdatabasetheinormationprovidedanduserexperience.GENIETheGENIEdatabaseprovidesinormationonGENeraandspecIEshenceGENIEinrelationtoprotectionoeredbymembersotheUnionexperienceandcooperationintheexaminationodistinctnessuniormityandstabilityDUStestingandtheexistenceoUPOVTestGuidelines.InadditiontheGENIEdatabaseistherepositoryotheUPOVcodesandprovidesinormationconcerningalternativebotanicalandcommonnames.PeterButtonvicesecretary-generaloUPOVexplainsthatcooperationwithregardtoDUStestingisanimportantbeneftotheUPOVsystem.TheGENIEdatabaseprovidesinormationonapproximately3300generaorspeciesorwhichmembersotheUnionhaveindicatedtheirpracticalexperienceinDUStesting.Inadditiontherearealmost2000generaorspeciesorwhichinormationisprovidedonagreementsbetweenmembersotheUnionorcooperationintheexaminationoDUS.TheGENIEdatabaseisaveryimportantinstrumentorthePBROSwitzerlandandtheselectionoaDUStestinglocationoranewvarietysaysManuelaBrandheadotheSwissPlantBreedersRightsPBRofce.ForexampleGENIEcanserveasatoolorindingasuitabletestingstationwithasimilarclimate.ThatisanimportantmatterbecauseSwitzerlanddoesnttestanyvarieties.WithGENIEwehaveanoverviewothecooperationinDUSexaminationbetweentheUPOVmembers.InadditiontheGENIEdatabaseishelpulincheckingUPOVcodesordownloadingtestguidelinesoraPBRapplication.KnowledgeisPOWERUPOVsdatabasesoerawealthoinormationortheseedsector.UPOVDatabasesByMarcelBruinsFormoreinormationvisitwww.upov.intgenieenSessions16545Users8913PageViews84306NewVisitors48ReturningVisitors52VisitstotheGENIEDatabaseontheUPOVWebsitein2013TheGENIEdatabaseprovidesinformationonapproximately3300generaorspecies... EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI21PLUTOAseconddatabaseorindustryisthePLUTOdatabasewhichstandsorPLantvarietiesintheUPOVsystemTheOmnibus.ThedataissuppliedbythecompetentauthoritiesoUPOVmembersandbytheOrganisationorEconomicCo-operationandDevelopmentOECD.Asignifcantpartotheinormationrelatestoplantbreedersrightsplantpatentsandtonationallistings.Datarommorethan600000documentsisavailableintheUPOVsearchsystem.AkeypartothePLUTOdatabaseistoprovideinormationonvarietydenominationsandadenominationsearchtab.AlsoYohannBagotcontrolleratSICASOVaFrenchorganizationthatcollectsroyaltiesorbreedersodierentcountriesispositiveaboutPLUTO.WeusethePLUTOdatabasetocontrolbreedersandco-breedersrightsownerskindoprotectionandduration.PLUTOispracticalcompleteandquicktouseaccordingtoBagot.SICASOValsocontrolsseedcompaniesandusestheinormationinPLUTOorthiswork.Bagothasonepointorimprovementtohaveoineaccesstothedatabaseortheabilitytodownloadmorethan2000datasetspersession.Sometimeswithonthespotcontrolsheneedstohaveaccesstomorethan2000data-points.TherequesthasbeenorwardedtoUPOV.JeanMaisondeputyheadothetechnicalunitotheCommunityPlantVarietyOfceinAngersFrancealsousestheUPOVdatabases.HementionsthatwhenitwasdevelopeditsinternalproceduresintheearlydaysotheOicetheCPVOhadtocreateaneicientsystemtoanalysevarietydenominations.TheUPOVROManancestoroPLUTOwasaveryprecioussourceoinormation.TakingintoaccounttheneedtoconsideradditionalinormationnotincludedintheUPOVROMe.g.dataromEUnonUPOVMemberStatesorcommercialregistersandtheneedtocreateasearchtooltotestdenominationsorsimilarityontheotherhandtheOfcedecidedtodevelopitsowndatabase.Oneothebiggestchallengesindevelopingadatabaseistokeepituptodate.Possibilitiestoindsynergieswereidentifedinthisrespectandamemorandumounderstandingwassignedin2005wherebyUPOVandCPVOagreedtocollectrespectivelynon-EUandEUdataromtheirrespectiveMemberStatesandexchangethemregularly.Theexchangehasbeenoperationalor10yearsnowanditcanbesaidthatPLUTOandtheCPVOVarietyFinderarecloselyinterrelated.UPOVLexAndlastbutnotleastisUPOVLexasearchabledatabasecontainingthelegislationoUnionmembersthathavebeennotiiedinaccordancewiththeUPOVConventiontheUPOVConventionnotifcationsconcerningindividualmembersotheUnione.g.accessionsratifcationsnotifcationsongeneraandspeciesandthetextotheUPOVConventionanditsActs.ContinuousImprovementsCurrenteortsocusonimprovingthesearchabilityothesedatabasestotestvarietydenominationsorsimilarity.ButtonexplainsthatthedatabasesareallrelativelyrecentdevelopmentsinUPOV.PLUTOandUPOVLexwerelaunchedin2011andGENIEwasmadepubliclyavailablein2010.Howeverinadditiontocontinuouslyincreasingthedataincludedineachdatabasetherehavebeenimprovementstothedatabasessincetheirlaunch.In2013theollowingimprovementswereintroducedorPLUTOPageorsearchingvarietydenominationsOptionstosavesearchsettingsIntroductionoarrangementsortheinclusionodataintheoriginalalphabetinadditiontothedatabeingprovidedinRomanalphabetandIntroductionothepossibilityorcontributorstotheplantvarietydatabasetoprovideinormationondatesonwhichavarietywascommercialisedortheirsttimeintheterritoryoapplicationandotherterritories.Fortheutureurtherimprovementsareplanned.InrelationtoPLUTOaworkinggrouphasbeenestablishedtodevelopproposalsoraUPOVdenominationsimilaritysearchtool.Thereisalsoanon-goingprogramtoincreasetherequencyandcompletenessodataprovidedbyUPOVmemberssaysButton.MaisonaddsSpeciesnamesareacornerstoneoraplantvarietydatabase.WhenUPOVcreateditsGENIEdatabasetheCPVOimmediatelyreliedonittodealwiththeissueosynonymsinbotanyandtheharmonisationospeciesnames.TheCPVOVarietyFinderworksonthebasisoUPOVcodesandwhenitreceivestheapplicationoraspeciesorwhichtherewerenoapplicationssoartheCPVOconsultsGENIEtostandardisethespeciescodeoraskstheUPOVoicetocreateanewone.ForthepurposeoEUprocedurestheCPVOasksUPOVorthecreationomorethan100codeseveryyearandisproposingthedevelopmentoamoreinormativeUPOVcode.Itisalwaysgoodtoknowitheproductsyoureleaseinthiscasethedatabasesarebeingusedandbywhom.TothatendUPOVtracksthevisitstothedatabasesandtheseshowthatallthreedatabaseshavehighnumbersopageviews.Around12000usershaveregisteredthemselvestohaveaccesstothesedatabases.GENIEhoversaround85000pageviewsperyear.PLUTOhad70000pageviewsin2013.UPOVLexspageviewsarerelativelysteadyataround90000peryear.AllthreedatabasesseethelargebulkotheusersgototheEnglishversionandmuchlowerpercentagesousersgotoeithertheSpanishFrenchorGermanversions.InterestingactthenumbersovisitorsromFrancearethehighestoralldatabasesollowedbycountriessuchasSwitzerlandtheUnitedStatesandTheNetherlands.Formoreinormationvisitwww.upov.intplutoenFormoreinormationvisitwww.upov.intupovlexenPLUTOispracticalcompleteandquicktouse.THEREISALSOANON-GOINGPROGRAMTOINCREASETHEFREQUENCYANDCOMPLETENESSOFDATAPROVIDEDBYUPOVMEMBERS. 22IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMeveallseenthestatisticsonpopulationgrowth.Theuno-fcialchallengehasbeenissuedtotheagricultureindustryandmorespecifcallytheseedsectortofndawaytohelparmersproducemorewithless.Butthereisfneprintthatcomeswiththischallengeanditreadsthatwemustdoitinaresponsibleandsus-tainablemanner.LookingatthecropprotectionindustryasawholegreatstrideshavebeenmadeinRDoverthelasttwodecadestocreateproductsthatarebothsaerorusersandtheenvironment.Whenweexaminehowthishasbeenaccomplishedwellnotetherehasbeenashitinthedeliverymethodoinsecticidesertilisersandungicideproducts.Weapplylessbyoliarapplicationandincreasinglytheseproductsaredeliveredwiththeseed.Toensurethatarmersareequippedtosucceedtheseedandcropprotectionsectorshavebeenactivelyworkingtogetherfndingwaystocreateatotalseedpackagethatsaelyandeectivelydeliverstheneces-saryseedenhancementproducts.MarcAndrieuxheadoSeedGrowthTechnologyServicesatBayerCropScienceperhapssumsitupbestTheideaintheendisthatyouthearmercansimplyplantyourseedandeverythingwillbethereandgrowwell.Entertheimportantroleoseedcoatings.THEROLEOFCOATINGSBreedingcompaniesinvestalotomoneyandresourcestobringthebestgeneticmaterialtothemarketandtheirseedsrequireaprotectiveseedtreatmentproducttocontrolseveralpestssaysWillemFijmabusinessareamanagerwithIncotecFieldCropsEurope.Polymercoatingsoertheabilitytosticktheseseedtreatmentproductstotheseedscontrollingdust-oandthusreducinglossesoactivematter.Acoatingcanactasvehicleorseveralcompoundsenhancingtheearlyemergenceothegerminatingseeds.Inadditiontoseed-appliedun-gicidesandinsecticidesproductlikegrowthpromotersbio-stimulantsandtraceelementscanbeaddedusingspeciallyormulatedseedcoatings.Basicallytheroleotheseedcoatingsistoadherethesebenefcialormu-lationsintheseedspaceFijmaexplains.Butthatsnotwheretheroleoseedcoatingsends.BothFijmaandAndrieuxemphasisetheimportanceoseedcoatingstoensureproperowabilityduringplantingimproveseedingratesandpreventdoublesorskips.Seedswhicharedifculttodrillbecauseosizeandshapecanbecoatedwithmultiplelayersobulkingmaterialtocreateauniormly-sizedseedresultinginuniormplantestablishmentFijmasays.DEALINGWITHDUSTWithincreasingpressureacingtheindustryseedcoatingsalsoplayakeyroleinproductstewardship.AndrieuxconfrmsthisDustalwaysaccompaniestreatedseeds.OneexampleohowstewardshipispracticedatBayerSeedGrowthcomesromthecompanyssuccessuleortstolimitdust-othroughimprovedormulationthroughtailor-madeflmcoatingsandtheirimprovedusebyourcustomers.WewanttokeepalltheproductontheseedsaysAndrieux.Seedcoatingsthemselvesaredesignedtobeneutraltheyneedtobecompat-iblewiththeotherproductsappliedtotheseed.Intheendwewantthefnalproducttobesaeortheseedsaeortheoperatorandsaeortheenvironment.INNOVATIONANDADAPTABILITYCompaniesinvolvedintheseedcoatingindustryareactivelyinvestinginRD.WithadedicatedacilityandteambasedatMrvilleFranceBayerSeedGrowthCoatingsdevelopsnewandinnovativeseed-appliedSEEDCOATINGSCOMPATIBLECHAMELEONSPRACTICALANDPRETTYSEEDCOATINGSANDCOLOURANTSPLAYANIMPORTANTROLEINTHEABILITYTODELIVERFARMERSCOMPLETESEEDSOLUTIONS.BYLINDSAYHOFFMANW EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI23technologies.Aspartotheirworktheytacklethechallengesoger-minationsowabilityowabilityanddustcontroltestingapplicationsinboththelabandonthefeld.BayerSeedGrowthplanstolaunchtenoiteennewilmcoatingproductslaunchedoverthenextfveyearssaysAndrieux.Whenwedevelopnewproductswetrytoconsidertheneedsotheglobalmarket.Bayersnewsolutionsincludeproductstargetedorsmallgrainscornriceandsoybean.AccordingtoFijmaoneoIncotecskeyareasoinvestmentisthedevelopmentoseed-appliedadditives.Wedobelievethishasagreatutureandwewillbringthesespecialcoatingstomarket.Oneoourseed-appliedadditiveconceptsisGeniusCoataready-to-useseedcoatingthatstimulatesrootormationandcropestablishment.Coatingscanaddmorevaluetothegeneticpotentialoavariety.FijmastatesthatwecanalsoexpecttoseemoreintelligentpolymersromIncotecspipelinethingssuchascoatingsthatreg-ulatethespeedogrowthoparentallinesnanotechnologycoatingsthatregulatethereleaseoactivematterinthesoilorIDpolymerstoidentiyspecifcvarietiesorseedtreatmentsallowhichwilladdnewvaluetotherangeobasecoatingsthataremarketedtoday.WHATSNEXTTheglobalseedcoatingmaterialsmarketisgrowingatahealthyrateandthemarketisexpectedtogrowintheutureaccordingtoarecentlyreleasedreporttitledSeedCoatingMaterialsMarketbyTypePolymersColorantsBindersandOtherAdditivesByCropTypeCerealsGrainsOilseedsFruitsVegetablesByGeography-GlobalTrendsForecaststo2019romU.S.-basedmarketresearchandconsultingirmMarketsandMarkets.ThereportprojectstheseedcoatingmaterialsmarkettoreachUSD1426.78millionby2019withacompoundannualgrowthrateo7.5percentrom2014to2019.Theycitemarketdemandorpro-gressivemultiunctionalseedtechnologiestoavertthedecreasingacreageandtoincreaseseedperormanceisoneothedrivingactorsomarketgrowth.Thereportalsospeakstothepotentialothismarketandthatitisattractingleadingcompaniestoinvest.Companiesareocusingonglobalexpansionandsettingupnewplantsorincreasingproduc-tioncapacityaswellasstrengtheningtheirproductlines.MarketsandMarketsnotesthatthesecompaniesarealsoputtingeortsintodevelopinginnovativenewproductswhichareeco-riendlytoover-cometheregulatoryrestraints.TheseedcoatingmaterialsmarketisestimatedtobeworthUSD993.84millionin2014andisprojectedtoreachUSD1426.78mnby2019.Polymersarethemajorcontributorstowardsperormanceenhancementocoatingmaterials.Theyalsodominatedtheseedcoatingmaterialsmarketollowedbycolourantsandbindersin2014.Thecerealsandgrainssegmentheldthelargestmarketshareorseedcoatingmaterialsollowedbytheoilseedssegment.NorthAmericaandEuropearethetoptwoconsumersoseedcoatingmaterialsandaccountedormorethan55percentothemarketin2013.TheAsia-Pacifcregionisestimatedtobetheastest-growingregionintermsovalue.GrowthisparticularlyhighinemergingcountriessuchasChinaIndiaandBrazilbecauseothemajorcontributionoagricultureintheeconomyandtheincreaseindemandoragricultureproduction.SourceMarketsandMarketsSeedCoatingMaterialsMarketbyTypePolymersColorantsBindersandOtherAdditivesBCropTypeCerealsGrainsOilseedsFruitsVegetablesByGeography-GlobalTrendsForecaststo2019Seedcoatingandseedenhancementtechnologyisbecomingincreasinglycomplexandrequiresincreasinglylargerinvestmentsinresearchproductionacilitiesandknow-how.TodevelopandproducethemanydierentproductcombinationsnecessarytomeetthedemandogrowersaroundtheworldandtodosowhileensuringproftabilityyouneedtoreachacertainscaleooperationsaysFijma.Hepredictsthatintheuturetheindustrywillbecomemorespecialisedwithseedcom-panieschoosingtostayocusedongeneticsversusseedenhancements.Weneedtoproducemoreoodwithlessagriculturalareaandthiswillincreasethedemandorbettergeneticsseedtreatmentsandtop-qualityseedcoatingtechnologyFijmaexplains.Farmerswillhaveastrongerinuenceonthetreatmentsandgeneticstheywillgrow.Incoteciscertainlywillingtosupportthemdownstreambyprovidingstate-o-the-artseedappliedproducts.MARKETSNAPSHOTSEEDCOATINGSAtBayersglobalSeedGrowthcenterinMrvilledozensofmenandwomenareinlvolvedintheRDoflmcoatings.Cropprotectionproductsareamongthemostpainstakinglyinvestigatedproductsaroundbeforetheyareapprovedintherstplace. 2014isayearocelebrationsinseeds.CongratulationsareduetoEuropeanSeedonitsfrstissueandwewishthisnewmagazineeverysuccess2014isalsoaspecialyearorBayeraswerecelebrating100yearsoinnovationinseedtreatmentandthefrstanniversaryoBayerSeedGrowththeullyintegratedsystemoron-seedapplicationsthatunitesallourcompetenciesinseedtreatmentproductscoatingsequipmentandservices.ForusatBayerSeedGrowththeEuropeanagriculturalmarketisogreatimportanceandwewelcomethebenefcialcontributionthisnewmagazinewillmakejustasthepromisingbiologicalandchemicalproductsinourpipelinewillbemovingthemarketorwardinuturetoo.LearnmoreaboutourintegratedBayerSeedGrowthoeringatwww.seedgrowth.bayer.comFindouthowyoucanbeneftromBayerSeedGrowthbytalkingtousattheESACongress.CONGRATULATIONS 26IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMESAUPDATE EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI27SPEAKUPFORTheEuropeanSeedAssociationsharesItsthoughtsontheissuesandforcesshapingEuropesseedindustry.hepast18monthshavebeenlikearideonahigh-speedrollercoasterorEuropesseedsectoratleastasaraspoliticalandlegislativedevelopmentsareconcerned.ManyothesedevelopmentshaveeitheralreadyseriouslyimpactedtheEuropeanUnionsseedsectororareexpectedtodosooncefnalregulatorymeasurescomeintoorce.ABadStartWellstartwithperhapsourgreatestchallenge.Asyouallwellknowinearly2013alarge-scalebanwasplacedonkeyinsecticideproductsorseedtreatmentagroupcalledneonicotinoids.DespitethejointlobbyingeortocropprotectionseedtreatmentandseedcompaniesbackedbystrongsupportromarmersandvegetablegrowersromalloverEuropetheEuropeanCommissionpushedthroughitscontroversialdecision.WiththathundredsandthousandsoseedbusinessesinEuropewereputinadifcultspotromalegalaswellasapracticaloperationalperspective.WhatabouttheexistingstockoproductsWhatabouttheinventoryoseedalreadytreatedCouldtheystillbeusedwithinasensibleperiodograceCouldtheyatleaststillbeusedorproductsthatwereexportedWhileneonicotinoidseedtreatmentsarestillconsideredthemostmoderneectiveandsustainablewayocombattinganumberokeypestsEuropesarmersandgrowerslostyetanothertechnologyromtheirtoolboxortheoreseeableuture.SincethebanmuchworkhasbeendonetodevelopnewEUguidelinestobeusedintheassessmentocropprotectionproductsinviewobeesaetyseedtreatmentassessmentsexaminingthequalityotreatedseedandorthegeneralreviewomanyactivesubstances.UnortunatelytogetherthesedevelopmentsseriouslythreatenEuropesabilitytoefcientlyandeectivelyrespondtopestanddiseasepressuresandtocompetewithcompetitorsandtheirproductsromdevelopingcountriesonalevelplayingfeld.TheEuropeanseedindustryisaddressingthispointbythecontinuousroll-outandextensionoitsqualityassuranceschemeEuropeanSeedTreatmentAssuranceESTA.Basedonindependentauditandcertiicationbothtreatmentprocessandqualityoinalproductareassuredanddocumentedthroughthisagreement.MoreandmorecompaniesarecomingundertheschemeandweareconvincedthatESTAhasakeyroletoplayinassuringavailabilityomoderncropprotectionsolutionsinseedtreatments.AModernNewSeedLawforEuropeFollowingaprocesslastingmorethanfveyearstheEuropeanCommissioninallypresenteditsproposalsoraar-reachinggeneraloverhaulotheEUsregulatoryrameworkorseedmarketingplantandseedhealthandrespectiveoicialcontrolsinmid-2013.AlreadyatthetimeopresentationitseemedquestionablewhethertheremainingewmonthsinthetermotheEuropeanParliamentthatwaselectedinspring2014wouldallowafrstreadingoallpartsothelegislativepackagetobeconcluded.ThisprovedeventruerasinparticulartheseedmarketingpartotheilewasquicklybrandedasyetanotherexcessiveattackoBrusselsbureaucratsonprivatecitizensandhobbygardeners.ThispieceolegislationasitturnsoutwouldurtherdeteriorateeortstopreserveandutiliseSeedsByGarlichvonEssengeneticresourcesinEuropeanplantbreedingandpracticalagriculture.Whilebothsuppliersandusersi.e.breedersandarmersjointlyunderlinedtheimportanceohigh-qualityseedandtheneedortherespectiveregulatoryrequirementsoracompetitiveagricultureenvironmenttoaddressoodsecuritychallengesandtosaeguardcustomerprotectionitwasmainlynon-governmentalorganisationsthatcalledoraliberalisationothemarket.Anoddsituationthatwasotendiiculttoexplaintodecision-makersduringthediscussionprocessinParliament.Howeverthemainproblemotheproposalremaineditssuccessuldiscreditingbyactivistscontendingthatitwasasananti-biodiversityandpro-industrylawthatwouldonlybeneitahandulomultinationalcompanies.GiventheupcomingEuropeanParliamentelectionsandageneralpolicyandcampaigntrendtopositiononeselagainsturtherEUintegrationorharmonisationitprovedintheendimpossibletopenetratethissimplisticlineoargumentsoopponentsintime.JustbeoreitsrecesstheEuropeanParliamentdecidedtorejecttheproposalandcalledupontheCommissiontopresentanewoneassoonaspossible.GarlichvonEssenSecretary-GeneralEuropeanSeedAssociation 28IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMWhenthiswillactuallyhappenandhowanewproposalcouldaddressthemisperceptionsofmanygroupsandindividualMEPsisstillopenatthistimebutthesubjectwillsurelybedecisivealsofortheoverallpositioningandperceptionofEuropesseedsectorvis--visthenewCommissionandthenewParliamentwaybeyondtheactualscopeofthisconcretelegislation.ToAccessOrNottoAccessAnareawherethisclashofperceptionsandmisperceptionshasbecomeveryobviousinthepastmonthsistheEUspolicyandrulesonaccesstogeneticresources.TheEUveryearlysettheformalimplementationoftheNagoyaprotocolonaccessandbenefitsharingforgeneticresourcesasatoppolicypriority.Theintentionwastobeamongthefirstpartiestoformallysetandimplementallnecessaryprovisionsandwiththattocontributetotheearliestpossibleentryintoforceoftheprotocolitselfwith50countriesrequiredtheEUs28MemberStatesclearlycanplayamajorrolehere.WhiletheplantbreedingsectorsharedtheprincipalpoliticalobjectivesoftheproposedEUregulationitquicklybecameobviousthatthenecessarysector-specificruleshadnotbeenconsideredproperlybytheCommission.ThefinalRegulationthereforecontainselementsthatareunacceptableforplantbreeders.ThesearenowsubjecttoalegalchallengetothenewlawputforwardtotheEuropeanCourtbytwolargergroupsofindividualcompanies.Mostspecificallycompaniesfeartheexponentialincreaseofdocumentationobligationsandtherelatedlegaluncertainty.TheyalsofeelthatthecornerstoneoftheEuropeanUnionsplantvarietyrightslegislationtheBreedersExemptiongrantingfreeaccesstocommerciallyavailablevarietiesforfurtherbreedingisseriouslyjeopardised.OfcoursetheoutcomeofthislegalchallengeisnotyetknownbutfightingforthebreedersexemptionisincludedintheraisondtreofESA.AndnotleasttheintroductionofthisspecificprovisionforplantbreedingintothegeneralEUUnitaryPatentlastyearprovidesamarkedexamplethatdespiteallopponentsandcriticismEuropesplantbreederscanmobilisepoliticalmajoritiesintheirfavour.WithclearfocusaveryhighlevelofmotivationandexpertiseandcontinuousoutreachandadvocacywehavebeenabletoconvincebothMemberStatesandMembersofParliamentofourspecificneedsandproposal.ThisisagoodexampletorememberinviewoftheupcomingchallengeofaddressinganewEuropeanParliamentandanewCommissionNewFaces.OldPrejudicesWithanevenmorediverseandoutrightEuroscepticEuropeanParliamentgatheringsuchpoliticalmajoritieswillpossiblybeevenmorechallengingthaninthepast.ManyMEPsarenewtoEuropeanpoliticsandmanymanyorganisationswillcompetefortheirattentionandsupport.ButseedisexcitingItdoestriggerinterestanddiscussion.Itisgenerallyconsideredimportantbysocietybypoliticiansbyusersandsuppliersofseedalike.Seeddoesnothaveanattentionproblemwemightnotnecessarilyagreewithviewsofthosepayingthiscloseattention.Butwedohaveaproductandrelatedpoliciesthatarerightatthecentreofageneralsocietalandpoliticaldebate.Assuringthatreasonedjudgementtakesoverfromsomeoftheprejudicesandaccusationsofthepastisatallorderforourindustry.Notleastinviewofthemanychallengesaheadproposalsforareviewoftheorganicfarmingandnovelfoodregulationsarealreadyoutanddiscussedthereviewoftheplanthealthandseedlegislationwillcontinuethedebatesonthere-nationalisationofauthorisationsofGMOsandoninternationaltraderuleswillsurelypickupmomentuminthemonthstocome.ESAwillbeatthecentreofallregulatoryandtechnicaldiscussionbutwewillforemosttrytobeatthecentreoftheoverallsocietalandpoliticaldebateaswelltogetherwithourpartnersintheEuropeanandinternationalagri-foodchain.YeswewillspeakupforseedsESAUPDATE 30IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMSPOTLIGHTPLANTUMlantumtheDutchassociationorplantreproductionmaterialrepresentsahighlyinnovativeandastgrowingsectoragricultureagriculturalindustry.Itsapproximately350membercompaniesareactiveinbreedingresearchandplantbreedingpropagationandproductionaswellasthetradeoseedsbulbstuberscuttingsandyoungplants.Togetherourmembersrepresentabout10000jobswith35percentothematahighqualiicationlevelsaysPlantumgeneraldirectorNielsLouwaars.Weareoneothelargernationalorganisationsintheplantreproductionmaterialsector.Ourstaconsistso12expertsassistedbysomeadministrativecollaborators.ThatscomparabletotheU.S.GermanandFrenchsectororganizations.Plantumrepresentsandpromotestheinterestsoitsmembersandonbehalothesectoractsasadiscussionpartnerwithgovernmentbodiesandinterestgroups.OurocusisonconsolidatingandurtherimprovingthecompetitivepositionothesectorandothegroupsoafliatedmembersonanationalandinternationallevelsaysLouwaars.SEEDVISIONARIESINVOLVEDINALLASPECTSOFTHESEEDSECTORPLANTUMISWORKINGHARDTOBEONTHELEADINGEDGEOFCHANGEANDINNOVATIONINORDERTOBENEFITITSMEMBERS.BYKOENMORTELMANSRESEARCHCAREEROPPORTUNITIESOneothechallengesacingcompaniesintheexpandingDutchseedsectoristheycannoteasilyfndexcellentyoungstamembers.TocombatthisPlantumismakingaconcertedeorttohelpincreasetheintakeonewuniversitystudentsinplantsciences.WehelpexcellentbachelorlevelstudentstochooseplantsciencesbyprovidingtheprospectoaPhDgrantco-undedbytheindustry.InthenearuturewewillseetheresultsotheseactionssaysLouwaars.Inthemeantimeourcompaniesareactivelyrecruitingworldwide.LuckilystudentsromallovertheworldcometoAmsterdamorWageningenUniversityintheNetherlandstostudyplantsciences.Howevereventhisinputisnotenoughtofllinallotheavailablejobpositions.Amonghighschoolstudentstheseedsectorisinsufcientlyknown.Toootentheindustryacesproblemswithalesspositiveimageotheagriculturalandhorticulturalsectorsasawhole.Thisimagereectsonus.WetrytocounteritbyemphasisingthatweareoneothenineoiciallyacknowledgedtopsectorsintheNetherlandsandthatweareexcitinglyinnovativeandinternationalsaysLouwaars.Plantumproactivelydeendstheinterestsothesectorinrontothepoliticaldecisionmakers.Weareknownasanorganisationwithaveryprooundknowledgeaboutallourmattersointerestandlessaspoliticallobbyists.WehavealotoormalandinormalcontactswithDutchgovernmentmemberswhoamiliarwithourgoalssaysLouwaars.Forthemweareasourceovaluableinormation.Ideallydecisionsareinuencedontheministrylevelweonlyactivelyapproachparliamentmemberswhenweeelthatgovernmentactionsaregoingthewrongway.EUROPEANDTHEWORLDOntheEuropeanUnionpoliticallevelPlantumcloselycollaborateswiththeEuropeanSeedAssociation.ESAlobbiestheEuropeanCommissionandtheEuropeanParliamentonallmattersrelatedtotheseedsector.HoweverLouwaarsunderlinesthatinthisrespectthePlantumspectrumissomewhatbroaderthanscopeoeithertheESAorInternationalSeedFederation.WedontonlycoverseedcompaniesbutalsoenterprisesworkingwithbulbsBlueAsterVegtableSprout EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI31tuberscuttingsandyoungplants.VegetableseedsseedpotatoesandornamentalshaveasigniicantweightintheDutchsector.Inmostcountriestheeconomicweightotheornamentalbreedersbranchistoosmalltohaveaull-timenationalrepresentativeorganisationstatesLouwaars.Thisbroadrangemakesusstrongandstrengthensourvoicetowardsgovernment.Itwasalsothemainreasonwhyseverallong-establishedsectororganisationsmergedtobecomePlantumin2001.ThePlantumstaseatedinthehistoricalcheesecityoGoudaoerssupporttodozensothematiccommissionsandworkinggroups.Therearepermanentcommissionsonbiodiversitybreedingmethodsinnovationpolicyintellectualpropertyrightsemploymentrulesorganicseedsexporttradebarrierscropprotectionandenvironmentandpublicimage.Inthecommissionandworkinggroupmeetingsmemberdelegatesotendealwithbothhotbuttonanddelicateissues.Inthededicatedworkinggroupsakeyunctionistheknowledgeexchangewithcolleaguesandtheplanningojointactions.BIODIVERSITYAkeyissueorPlantumisbiodiversitypolicy.Plantumhasbeenactiveinthisdossieratinternationallevelsoratleast12yearsHempSeedPotatoesWheatsaysAnkevandenHurkdeputydirectorandbiodiversityspecialistwithPlantum.CurrentlywehavetodealinparticularwiththeimplementationotheNagoyaProtocolinthenationallegislations.Accesstogeneticsourcesisimportanttoensureuturebreederscontributionstosustainabilityinhorticultureandagricultureamajorsocietalobjective.DuetotheEuropeanbiodiversityregulationsbasedontheNagoyaProtocolsuchaccessmaybecomeverycomplex.ItwillnotonlybecomeveryexpensivebutalsobringalargeadministrativeworkloadvandenHurkcautions.Theriskolimitingtheuseogeneticresourcesisdecreasedinnovationandadeclineingeneticdiversity.In2013PlantumhelpedtodevelopnewEuropeanlegislationonaccesstogeneticresourcesandassistedincreatinglegalcertaintybyintroducingthelawonaccesstomaterialsreceivedatertheNagoyaProtocolwentintoorce.RecognitionosectorspecifcsystemshadbeenincludedintheprotocolollowingintensivelobbyingongloballevelbutimportantchallengesarestillacedontheleveloimplementinginnationalrulesvandenHurksays.TherecentinclusionoalimitedbreedersexemptionintheDutchPatentsActisconsideredtobeanimportantfrststepinenablingtheplantbreedersaccesstomaterialsorbreeding.ThisistheintermediateresultoanintensivedebategoingoninvariouscountriesinEuropeandabroad.PROTECTINGPROSPERITYCropprotectionisalsoaveryimportantdossier.Thewithdrawalochemicalsisaseriousproblemespeciallywhenhigh-qualityseedneedstobeproducedorarmers.GeaBouwmancropprotectionspecialistatPlantumarguesthaticropprotectionisusedintheseedproductionstageorasseedtreatmentthelarge-scaleuseochemicalscanotenbereducedsigniicantly.ItisimportantthatnationalinterpretationoEuropeancropprotectionrulesdonotdamagethelevelplayingfeldthatEuropewantsandneedstoachieve.IthappenstoootenthatchemicalsthatareallowedinotherEUcountriesarewithdrawnbytheDutchauthoritieswarnsBouwman.Plantumknowsacilitatingexportandinternationaltradeisakeyissueoritsmembers.Everycountryhasitsownphytosanitaryrequirements.Thesecanoperateastradebarriers.Otenthebarrierscanberesolvedthroughcontactsbetweenthenationalplantprotectionoicersbutdamagetotradecannotalwaysbeavoided.PlantumactsasanintermediarybetweencompaniesandphytosanitaryoicialssaysMariandeBeuzewhoisresponsibleorPlantumsexportpromotionandtradebarrierscommittee.Contrarytothediscussionsaboutbiodiversitythesearesubjectswheredecisionsandactionscantendurelongdelaysshesays.NielsLouwaars 32IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMSPOTLIGHTPLANTUMIntellectualpropertyisalsovitaltooursectorbothinthehomemarketsandinternationally.Itisessentialtocontinuetoinvestininnovationwhichoursectordoesataratethatisunheardo.WeestimateanaverageinvestmentinRDatthelevelo15percentoturnover.Invegetablebreedingitmaybeover25percentinindividualcompaniessaysdeBeuze.Theseinvestmentsneedstobeprotected.PlantumisanoicialobserverintheCommunityPlantVarietyOfceandregularlysupportsISFinUPOVmeetingsonallissuesrelatedtoplantbreedersrights.TogetherwiththeDutchgovernmentwearenegotiatingwithChinatoimprovetheimplementationobreedersrightsdeBeuzesays.Thebalancebetweenpatentsandbreedersrightsandonagloballevelbetweenbreedersrightsandarmersrightsareveryimportantaswell.Howeveropinionsdierwithinthesector.TheDutchplantreproductivematerialsectorhasgainedaleadingstatusinternationallythroughitscontinuousinnovationeorts.BeuzeexplainsIn2013thegovernmentdecidedtoallocateanewbudgeto2.6millionorthemulti-annualco-fnancingo11researchprojectsorhorticultureandplantreproductionmaterials.Intotaltheco-inancingo39researchprojectshasbeengrantedunderthetopsectorsystem.PUBLIC-PRIVATEPARTNERSHIPSDespitethestaggeringinvestmentlevelsinRDcompaniesputahighvalueontheexistenceoastrongpublicresearchandeducationinrastructure.AlthoughcompaniesoperateataglobalscaleandcanshoporthebestknowledgegloballytheyconsideranaccessibleandexcellentknowledgebaseintheNetherlandsanimportantreasontocontinuetoinvestinthiscountrystatesThijsSimonsresponsibleWeneedarobustprogramwithaclearlong-termvisiononfundingandbasicrulesandregulations.ortheinnovationagendaatPlantum.DespitetheseedsectorbeingatopsectorinthepolicyotheDutchgovernmenttheknowledgeinrastructureissueringunderseriouspressure.Theocusonpublic-privatepartnershipshasstartedtodamagesupportorundamentalcuriosity-drivenresearchsaysSimons.Plantumseesinvestmentinundamentalresearchprimarilyasagovernmenttask.Weurthermoretrytostreamlinethethicketorulesorpublic-privateresearchconsortia.ThisisanimportanttaskotheoundationorpublicprivatepartnershipsPPPinresearchonplantreproductivematerialscalledTKIUthatPlantumchairs.Thiscreatesabaseortheknowledgechainandprovidesopportunitiestoeducatenewresearchworkers.InordertoparticipateinPPPcompaniesneedarobustprogramwithtransparentanduniormbasicrequirementsandalong-termcommitmenttoconvertknowledgeromundamentalresearchintomarketinnovations.Todaytherearetoomanydierentschemes.Theyaretoosmall-scaledoreachtopicandeachhasitsownbasicrequirements.Weneedarobustprogramwithaclearlong-termvisiononundingandbasicrulesandregulations.CompaniesmustbeabletouseoasingleschemeratherthanhavingtoexplorenewinstrumentsoverandoveragainsaysSimons.BarleyCarrotsNEWBREEDINGMETHODSTheNetherlandsisasmallcountry.Wedonthavethenecessaryareaorlarge-scaleagriculturesuchascornorwheat.InsteadweneedtogetthehighestreturnsoutoeverysquaremetresaysLouwaars.Thisisthebasisorourworldleadershipinhorticultureincludingseedsseedpotatoandgrassseeds.InordertocontinuetoservetheworldwithnewvarietiesthatincreaseyieldsupportsustainableproductionsystemsandthatoerproductqualityanddiversitybreedingandseedtechnologyhavetobesupportedexplainsSimons.ImportantortheutureoresearchandinnovationinbreedingisthataccesstonewbreedingmethodsismiredinoverlycomplexregulationsthatarelinkedtothecurrentapprovalsoGMOs.ThediscussionsaboutGMOsareongoingintheNetherlandsbutthereexistsabroadpoliticalsupportorcisgenesisasitscurrentuseismainlyinbreedingorresistancesincropsthatusealotocropprotectionchemicalssaysLouwaars.Unortunatelysomegroupsarenotinterestedindebatingbutsticktotheiroldprinciples.Plantumisalwayspreparedtodebatesuchcomplexissueswithpoliticiansministriesandcivilsociety.Tolearnmorevisittheassociationswebsitewww.plantum.nl.LabTesting Learnmoretodayatwww.AgroProtection.caTollFree1-800-667-2992TwitterAgroProtectionWhatdoesIntellectualPropertyProtectionlookliketoyouYOURPARTNERSINTHEFIELD 34IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMINTERNATIONALNEWSGLOBALSEEDWATCHCHECKOUTWHATSHAPPENINGINTHEGLOBALSEEDINDUSTRYFROMANEWQUALITYASSURANCESCHEMEFORSEEDTREATMENTINEUROPETOTHEDISCOVERYOFWILDSOYBEANSLINKEDTOSALTTOLERANCEINCHINA.STATUSCHINAAteamoresearchersromTheChineseUniversityoHongKongBGIandotherinstituteshaveidentiiedageneowildsoybeanlinkedtosalttolerancewithimplicationorimprovingthisimportantcroptogrowinsalinesoil.PublishedonlineinNatureCommunicationsthisstudyprovidesaneectivestrategytounveilnovelgenomicinormationorcropimprovement.Soybeansareanimportantcroportheworld.Duetodomesticationandhumanselectioncultivatedsoybeanshavelessgeneticdiversitiesthantheirwildcounterparts.Amongthelostgenessomemightplayimportantrolesortheadaptationtodierentenvironments.Inthisstudyscientistsusedwildsoybeanasaresourceorinvestigatingthevaluablegenesthatadapttocertainenvironmentalconditions.TheysequencedandassembledadratgenomeowildsoybeanW05anddevelopedarecombinantinbredpopulationorgenotyping-by-sequencingandphenotypicanalysestoidentiymultipleQTLsrelevanttotraitsointerestinagriculture.Usingthedenovosequencingdataromthisworkandtheirpreviousgermplasmre-sequencingdatatheteamdiscoveredanoveliontransportergeneGmCHX1andsuggesteditmightberelatedwithsalttolerance.Duringtheollowingrapidgain-o-unctionteststheGmCHX1genewasconerreditsunctiononsalttoleranceandsuggestedGmCHX1actedprobablythroughloweringtheNaKratio.TheauthorsassumedthattheeliminationoGmCHX1insalt-sensitivegermplasmsmightbeanexampleonegativeselectionagainstastresstolerancegeneinunstressedenvironments.Theexpressionostresstolerancegenesmaybeanenergyburdenontheplantitheunctionsothesegenesarenotrequired.Throughthisstudyresearchersdevelopedaneicientstrategyusingthecombinationowhole-genomedenovosequencinghigh-density-markerQTLmappingbyre-sequencingandunctionalanalyseswhichcouldenhancetheefciencyouncoveringQTLsandgenesorbenefcialtraitsincropbreeding.SourceBGISTATUSAUSTRALIATheUniversityoQueenslandandMeatandLivestockAustraliahavedevelopedanewpsyllid-resistantLeucaenavarietyandarenowseekinginterestrompotentiallicensees.Leucaenaisatreelegumethatproducesveryhighqualityorageorcattle.Thenewhigh-qualityvarietyhasexcellentpsyllidresistancehighorageyieldandgoodbranchingstructureorgrazing.ThisnewvarietywillovercomethesignifcantimpactsopsyllidscurrentlyexperiencedbyexistingLeucaenavarietiesandpermithighproductivityLeucaena-basedpasturesinhigherrainallregions.ThenewvarietyiscurrentlyundergoingDUStrialsorPBRregistration.IdeallyanypartnerwillbeabletodemonstratesuitableseedproductionmarketinganddistributioncapacityinAustralia.FormoreinormationandatechnicalpackagepleasecontactAmandaMcAlpineatamcalpinemla.com.au.STATUSCANADAOicialsromtheProvinceoOntarioareconsideringabanonneonicotinoidswhichhavebeenblamedorthedecreasingnumberopollinators.Theprovincewantstomoveawayromwidespreadindiscriminateuseoneonicotinoid-basedpesticidessaysJeLealOntarioAgricultureminister.OverthecomingmonthsIwanttofrstconsultwithindustryarmersandenvironmentalstakeholdersonoptionsthatarepracticalincludingtheconsiderationoalicensesystem. EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI35Lealsaysheiscommittedtofndingabalancedapproachbasedinsciencethataddressestheimportantrolepollinatorsandgrowersplayintheprovincesoodindustry.Howeverthereisconlictingevidence.AstudydonebyaresearcherattheUniversityoGuelphshowsthatbeesexposedtoneonicotinoidsbecomeworseatpollinatingastheybecomemoreamiliarwiththeirenvironmenttheoppositeowhatshouldhappen.YetanotherfeldstudybyadierentresearcherromtheUniversityoGuelphoundnolinkbetweeninsecticidalseedtreatmentsandbeehealth.SowhatsagovernmenttodowhenthereisconictingcredibleevidencethatsupportstwodierentpositionsTheministerdoesnthavetheauthoritytobanneonicotinoidsbuthecanbanthesaleothisclassopesticidesinOntario.CropLieCanadaacknowledgesthatitsimportanttoreducetheexposureobeestoseedtreatmentdustandarmersareencouragedtoollowbestmanagementpracticestohelpprotectpollinators.TohelpurtherreducedustemissionsthisyearthePestManagementRegulatoryAgencymandatedarmersuseBayerCropSciencesFluencyAgentwhenplantingtreatedseed.MeanwhiletheNationalFarmersUnionsentHealthCanadaaletteraskingtheMinisteroHealththeMinisteroAgricultureandtheMinisterotheEnvironmentandtoactinthepublicinterestbyinvokingaprecautionaryprincipleandimplementaive-yearmoratoriumontheuseoneonicotinoid-treatedseedinieldcrops.OntheotherhandGrainFarmersoOntariorepresentingtheprovinces28000cornsoybeanandwheatarmersreleasedastatementthatexpressesdisappointmentinthegovernmentsdirection.TheeortandleadershipgrainarmershavedemonstratedonthisissuehasbeensecondtononeandtohavethisdiscountedwithsucharashmoveandannouncementthroughmediaisranklyinsultingsaysHenryVanAnkumchairotheGrainFarmersoOntario.Farmersacrossthecountrysidehavemodiiedtheirequipmentareparticipatinginieldtrialsareusingthenewmandatoryluencyagentwhichhasprovensuccessulandhaveorgedgoodopencommunicationswithmanybeekeepers.ThisisanevolvingissuearoundtheworldandEuropeanSeedwillcontinuetoollowit.JulieDeeringSTATUSPAKISTANDuringatwo-dayannualWheatProductivityEnhancementProjectWPEPplanningmeetingheldinIslamabadtheUnitedStatesDepartmentoAgricultureUSDAwheatresearchersromacrossPakistantheInternationalMaizeandWheatImprovementCenterCIMMYTandtheInternationalCenterorAgriculturalResearchintheDryAreasICARDAocusedonreviewingtheprogressothepastwheatgrowingseasonanddevelopingaplanorbreedingdiseaseTheeffortandleadershipgrainfarmershavedemonstratedonthisissuehasbeensecondtononeandtohavethisdiscountedwithsucharashmoveandannouncementthroughmediaisfranklyinsulting 36IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMGLOBALSEEDWATCHsurveillanceseedproductionandagronomyresearchortheupcomingrabiseason.TheWPEPprojecthasproducedexceptionalresults.WheatisanimportantcropinbothPakistanandtheU.S.andourtwocountriesarecontinuinga50-yeartraditionocollaborationinagriculturesaidU.S.EmbassyAgriculturalCounselorDavidWilliams.Williamsnotedthatarmersineveryprovincegrowwheatandthisimportantcropaccountsor60percentothedailycaloricintakeotheaveragePakistani.HeurtherexplainedthattheU.S.PakistancollaborationisvitaltotheglobaleorttocombatUG99andotherwheatdiseases.ThemeetingparticipantsagreedthatmakingUG99wheatungaldisease-resistantvarietiesavailabletoarmersisacriticalstepinmaintaininghighyieldsorPakistansmostimportantcrop.ThecombinedeortsoU.S.andPakistaniscientistshaveresultedinthesuccessultestingandreleaseotwohighlyproductivewheatvarietiesthatarecapableosurvivingthedestructiveUG99wheatungaldisease.WPEPandPakistanipartnersintroducedandtestedtwonewwheatvarietiesNARC2011andPAK-13.Thesenewvarietiesnotonlyprovidediseaseprotectionbutalsoproducehigheryieldsthanexistingvarieties.UG99isalreadypresentinneighbouringcountriesandthreatenstodevastatePakistanswheatcropiresistantvarietiesarenotdevelopedanddeployed.TheU.S.Government-undedWPEPsupportsPakistaniandinternationalscientistsinevaluationanddevelopmentsectorsandreleasesnewhigh-yieldingdisease-resistantwheatvarieties.OtherobjectivesincludeimprovingagronomicpracticesandupgradingPakistansresearchcapacity.U.S.andPakistaniscientistsexpressedsatisactionovertheprogressoWPEPsoar.SourcePakistanTodaySTATUSTHAILANDSixorganisationshavejoinedhandstopromotetheproductionohigh-qualityriceseeds.ThecollaboratingagenciesincludetheRiceDepartmenttheBankorAgricultureandAgriculturalCooperativestheThaiRiceFoundationunderRoyalPatronagetheNationalScienceTechnologyandInnovationPolicyOfcetheAgriculturalResearchDevelopmentAgencyandtheNationalScienceandTechnologyDevelopmentAgencyNSTDA.Theshortageohigh-qualityseedisoneothemajorproblemsacedbyricearmersandothersinthesectorinThailandasitdirectlyaectstheproductionandqualityoricegrainsenteringthedomesticandworldmarkets.Only40percentorice-seeddemandismetleadingtoproductionproblemssuchaslowyieldandinconsistentandlow-qualityricegrains.Therootcausesoproblemsinrice-seedproductionaremanyaccesstoelitelinesandmasterseedsalackoseed-productionknowledgeamongarmersashortageoinspectorstocertiyhigh-qualityseedadisconnectionbetweenproducersanddistributorsandweakinancialstructuretosupporttheproductiondistributionchain.Thesixorganisationswillthereoreworktogethertoaddresstheseproblemsbasedonthestrengthandexpertiseoeachbody.ThaweesakKoanantakoolpresidentotheNSTDAsaidtheoverallobjectiveothecollaborationistodevelopthenetworkorice-seedproducersanddistributorsupgradethesystemoproductionandcertiicationohigh-qualityseedandmeettheKingdomsrice-seeddemand.Theactivitiestobeundertakenwillcomprisethelaunchoatrainingprogrammeinseedproductionandboostinghumancapitalintheieldoseedcertiicationraisingawarenessamongarmersotheimportanceoqualityseedsandaccesstoinancialresourcesorarmersandbusinessoperatorsinthevaluechain.WiththiscollaborationriceproductioninThailandcanbeadvancedgeneratingsigniicantincomeorarmersaswellasincreasingthecompetitivenessothericeindustryintheglobalmarkethesaid. 38IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMREGULATORYEUROPEKEYGENEEXPANDSSBGPORTFOLIOKeyGenehasannouncedthatitsSequenceBasedGenotypingSBGpatentportoliohasbeenexpandedwiththerecentgrantothepatententitledMethodorHighThroughputAFLP-basedPolymorphismDetectioninboththeUnitedStatesandChina.ThegrantothesetwobroadpatentsisthemostrecentadditiontoKeyGenesSBGpatentportolioinEuropeJapanandtheUnitedStateswhichnowcomprises13grantedpatents.InadditionproprietaryexpertiseandsotwaretoolsenablescientistsoKeyGeneanditslicenseestogenerateanalyseandapplylargeamountsosequence-basedmarkerdatainacost-andtime-eectivemanner.SBGisoneoKeyGenesleadingproductsintherapidlydevelopingnext-generationsequencingspaceseeingwide-spreadadoptionorresearchandcommercialpurposesworldwidesaysMichielvanEijkKeyGeneCSO.ANOVEACCREDITEDWITHESTATheEuropeanSeedAssociationsqualityassuranceschemeorseedtreatmentandtreatedseedtheEuropeanSeedTreatmentAssuranceESTAisurtherestablishingitspositionintheEuropeanUnionwithaourthnationalagent.ANOVEisnowaccreditedtocarryoutESTAinSpain.ESTAcombinesanumberoelementstoguaranteeproes-sionalhighqualityseedtreatmentapplicationssuchasindependentcertifcationotreatmentsitesbyaccreditedauditorsdefnedqualityreerencevalueswithauniormtestingprotocolandsaeuseinorma-tionandrespectivelabelingorusers.ANOVEsexpertisewillguaranteeasucessullrolloutoESTAinSpain.WeareveryhappytowelcomeANOVEourSpanishmemberassociationasnationalagentortheimplementationoourEuropeanSeedTreatmentAssuranceschemeESTAGarlichvonEssensecretarygeneraloESAstated.ESTAisakeyinstrumenttoassurequalityandsaetyorourcustomersandtheenvironmentandtomaintainseedtreatmentasthemostmodernandmostsustainablewayoseedandcropprotectioninEurope.AnyseedtreatmentplantinSpainthatwishestoapplyortheESTAcertifcationshouldcontactANOVE.EUMEMBERCOUNTRIESTODECIDEGMPOLICYAteryearsodiscussionarecently-adoptedaccordbytheEuropeanUnionwillallowmembercountriestomaketheirowndecisionsonwhetherornottoallowgeneticallymodifedcrops.AllmemberstateswiththeexceptionoBelgiumandLuxembourghavegiventheiragree-mentsaysGreekAgricultureMinisterIoannisManiatisaterarecentmeetingwithEUcolleagues.TheaccordgivesindividualEUstatestherighttobanGMcropsevenitheyhavealreadywonclearanceonhealthandsaetygroundsattheEUlevel.Thenewsystemguaran-teesthatthememberstateshaveachoiceaddsFrenchEnvironmentMinisterSegoleneRoyal.TheaccordwillnowproceedtotheEuropeanParliamentorapproval.COMBINEDAGENCYTOSAFEGUARDANIMALANDPLANTHEALTHAcombinedagencywillstartworkthisautumntoensuretheUnitedKingdomgovernmentisbetterequippedtopreventthespreadoanimalKEEPINGYOUINFORMEDOFLEGISLATIVEANDREGULATORYCHANGESINEUROPEANDABROADFROMLAWSUITSTOAPPROVALSTOOTHERREGULATORYISSUESAFFECTINGYOURBUSINESS.BYSHANNONSCHINDLE EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI39andplantdiseases.TheAnimalandPlantHealthAgencywillbegininOctobertobetterequipthegovernmenttopreventthespreadoanimalandplantdiseasesandtorespondtoemergencies.ChrisHadkisshasbeenappointedasthechieexecutiveothecombinedagency.HadkissiscurrentlychieexecutiveoAnimalHealthandVeterinaryLaboratoriesAgencyAHVLA.EarlierthisyearitwasannouncedthatacombinedagencywouldbecreatedwithourunctionsotheFeraInspectoratesincludingBeeInspectoratethePlantsHealthandSeedsInspectoratethePlantVarietyandSeedsGroupandtheGMInspectoratejoiningwithAHVLA.TheAnimalandPlantHealthAgencywillalsoplayavitalroleinstoppingpestsdiseasesandinva-sivenon-nativespeciesenteringtheUK.IamreallylookingorwardtobuildingontheexcellentreputationoboththeFeraInspectoratesandAHVLA.Togetherasoneagencywewillbeworkingorahealth-ierenvironmentandeconomysaysHadkiss.CABIUKASACCREDITATIONASSESSMENTTheCentreorAgricultureandBiosciencesInternationalbasedintheUnitedKingdomhassuccessullyreceiveditsannualassessmentbytheUnitedKingdomAccreditationService.TheannualassessmentundertakeninJulytotheinternationallyrecognisedstandardISO17025demonstratesCABIscompetencyimpartialityandperor-mancecapability.Theinitialaccreditationin1984ormouldgrowthandueltestinghasexpandedconsiderablyCABIisnowtheonlyUKlaboratorytooeron-siteungalsamplingandthemolecularidentifcationoungibacteriaandyeaststoullspecieslevel.WeredelightedwiththeUKASassessmentandtheuniquepositionthisputsCABIin.Thetechnicalassessorswerehappywithourcom-petencetotheextentthatthenameweprovideiscoveredbytheaccreditationprocess.Ourcustomersintheoodanddrinkandman-uacturingsectorsorexamplecanbeconfdentthattheirsamplesarebeingtreatedproperlyandtraceablywiththeguaranteedleveloqualitytheyneedsaysPaulBridgedirectoroBioservicesatCABI.EUREGULATORYACTIONAGAINSTINVASIVESPECIESTheEuropeanCommissionhaspublishedaproposaloraregulationonthepreventionandmanagementotheintroductionandspreadoinvasivealienspeciesIAS.Theproposalseekstoaddresstheproblemoinvasivealienspeciesinacomprehensivemannersoastoprotectnativebiodiversityandecosystemservicesaswellastomin-imizeandmitigatethehumanhealthoreconomicimpactsthatthesespeciescanhave.Theproposalisorthreetypesointerventionspreventionearlywarningandrapidresponseandmanagement.AlistoinvasivealienspeciesoUnionconcernwillbedrawnupwithMemberStatesusingriskassessmentsandscientifcevidence.TheproposedregulationwillnowbeexaminedbytheEUCouncilandParliament.INTERNATIONALGUATEMALAREPEALSPLANTVARIETYRIGHTSLAWTheCongressotheRepublicoGuatemalavotedtorepealinitsentiretythelawortheProtectionoPlantVarietyRightsthatitapprovedlessthanthreemonthsago.Thelawgrantedplantbreed-ersexclusiverightsor25yearsinthecaseotreesandvinesand20yearsorotherplantspeciesregardingthemarketingsaleandothercommercialactsrelatingtoseedsonovelplantvari-etiesregisteredwiththegovernment.Howevershortlyaterthelawwasenactedlawmakerscameunderintensepressuretoreormorrepealthemeasure.Avarietyolabourunionsindig-enouscommunityorganisationsandothercriticsexpressedearsthatitwouldleadtotheprivatizationothenationalseedsupplyconcentrationoagriculturalproductioninthehandsomultinationalcompanieserosionooodsovereigntyandthedisruptionotraditionalandindigenousarmingpractices.COUNCILOFINTERNATIONALBIOTECHASSOCIATIONSFORMEDAninternationalconederationobiotechnologytradeassociationshascreatedtheInternationalCounciloBiotechnologyAssociationsICBAwiththepurposeoadvocatingorpublicpoliciesthatsupportthegrowthothebiotechnologyindustryworldwide.JimGreenwoodBiotechnologyIndustryOrganizationpresidentandCEOwaselectedICBAchairmanandNathalieMollsecretarygeneraloEuropaBiowaselectedvicechaireachservingatwo-yearterm.TheICBAwillmeetannuallyattheBIOInternationalConvention.ThebiotechnologysectoraceschallengesandopportunitiesthatcrossborderssaysGreenwood.InormingtheICBAourindustryistakinganimportantstepthatallowsustobettercoordinateorganiseandacetheseissuesaroundtheworldtogether.MBIRECEIVESNEWPATENTMarroneBioInnovationsInc.aproviderobio-basedpestmanage-mentandplanthealthproductsortheagricultureturandornamen-talandwatertreatmentmarketshasreceivedapatentortheuseoChromobacteriumanaturallyoccurringbacteriumwithdemonstratedinsecticidalandmiticidalcapabilities.ThepatentprotectstheusesoChromobacteriumormulationscompositionsandcompoundstocontrolcornrootwormlarvaeinestation.Thispatentisanimportantfrststepindevelopingacommerciallyviableproducttoinhibitinesta-tionsocornrootwormlarvaeacrossAmericaandotherregionswheretheycontinuetospreadsuchasLatinAmericaandEuropesaysPamMarroneMBIsCEO.OurresearchshowsChromobacteriumtobeeectiveatcontainingthelarvaeandwearedevelopingproductappli-cationsthatoergrowersanadditionalresourcetocombatthispest.VIETNAMAPPROVESCULTIVATIONOFBIOTECHTRAITSFollowingasixmonthregulatoryreviewtheVietnamMinisteroAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentsignedthefrstourcertifcates 40IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMREGULATORYoroodandeedsaetyorourgeneticallymodiiedcorntraits.AdditionallytheMinisteroNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentissuedthefrstbiosaetycertifcatetooneotheourcorntraitsapprovedbyMinisteroAgricultureandRuralDevelopment.ThetraitapprovedbyMinisteroNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentwillbeabletobecom-merciallygrowninVietnamollowingvarietyregistration.ThetraitMON89034isaninsect-resistanttraitandwillbecommerciallygrowninVietnamollowingvarietyregistrationtheintrogressedtraited-hybridvarietywhichwilltakeoneseasontocomplete.TheMinisteroNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentisreviewinganadditionalthreetraits.ThecommercialisationoagriculturalbiotechnologyinVietnamhasbeenagoalorseveralyearsandisanintegralpartothegovernmentsagri-culturalrestructuringprogramwitheortstoincreasetheadoptionotechnologyinagricultureandlessenthecountrysdependenceoncornimports.OAPIJOINSUPOVTheAricanIntellectualPropertyOrganizationOAPIisthesecondintergovernmentalorganisationandthe72ndmembertojointheInternationalUnionortheProtectionoNewVarietiesoPlantsUPOV.ThepurposeoUPOVistoprovideandpromoteaneectivesystemoplantvarietyprotectionwiththeaimoencouragingthedevelopmentonewvarietiesoplantsorthebeneftosociety.OAPIoperatesaplantvarietyprotectionsystemwhichcoverstheterritoryoits17memberstatesincludingBeninBurkinaFasoCameroonCentralAricanRepublicChadComorosCongoCotedIvoireEquatorialGuineaGabonGuineaGuinea-BissauMaliMauritaniaNigerSenegalandTogo.TheheadquartersoOAPIareinYaoundeCameroon.MURDOCHUNIVERSITYINAUSTRALIAAPPLIESFORGMWHEATFIELDTRIALTheOfceotheGeneTechnologyRegulatorOGTRhasreceivedalicenseapplicationromMurdochUniversityortheintentionalreleaseogeneticallymodifedGMwheatintotheenvironmentwhichqual-ifesasalimitedandcontrolledreleaseundersection50AotheGeneTechnologyAct2000theAct.MurdochUniversityisseekingapprovaltoconductafeldtrialowheatGMorimprovedgrainquality.ThetrialisproposedtotakeplacebetweenMay2015andDecember2017atonesiteinWesternAustralia.Themaximumareaothetrialwillbe0.06hectaresperyear.USDAALLOWSCOMMERCIALISATIONOFENLISTCORNANDSOYBEANTRAITSTheU.S.DepartmentoAgricultureUSDArecentlyissueditsdecisionderegulatingDowAgroSciencesEnlistcornandsoybeantraitsintheUnitedStatesconcludingoneothemostthoroughreviewsoabiotechtraitinhistory.TheEnlisttraitsarepartotheEnlistWeedControlSystemanewtraitandherbicidetechnologythatwillcontrolherbi-cide-resistantandtoughweeds.USDAsdecisionappliestotheEnlistcornEnlistsoybeanandEnlistE3soybeantraits.EnlistE3soybeansarebeingdevelopedthroughacollaborationbetweenMSTechnologiesandDowAgroSciences.WiththistheCompanynowawaitsEPAregis-trationoEnlistDuoherbicidethecompanionherbicidetotheEnlisttraits.ApprovalorEnlistDuoisexpectedinthenearuture.EnlistwillhelparmersincreasetheirproductivitytomeetthegrowingdemandorasaeandaordableoodsupplysaidTimHassingerpresidentDowAgroSciences.Weveusedthelatestscienceandtechnologytoaddressproblemweeds.Enlistwillbeaveryeectivesolutionandwerepleasedtohavethistechnologyonestepclosertothearmgate.CommercialintentionsorEnlistin2015willbeprovidedatertheEPAhasissueditsdecisiononEnlistDuoherbicide.WHATINDUSTRYLEADERSARESAYINGABOUTTHECHALLENGESANDOPPORTUNITIESINTHESEEDSECTOR.EUROPEAN-SEED.COMEXPLORETheGiantViewsoftheIndustryonlinevideoseriescoversawidevarietyoftimelytopicssuchasWHATSCOMINGDOWNTHEINDUSTRYPIPELINEINFORMATIONONRESEARCHBREAKTHROUGHSTRENDSAFFECTINGTHESEEDINDUSTRYViewtheinterviewsonlinetodayateuropean-seed.comeuropeanseed SUBSCRIBETOEUROPEANSEEDTODAYANDSTAYINFORMED.Nowmorethaneverisaveryexcitingtimetobeinseedindustry.Withtailoredseed-focusedcontentEuropeanSeedwillbringspecialisedmediathatprovidesunparalleledvaluetotheindustryandourreaders.Ourcontentiscomprisedoffarmorethanjustarticlesitsatotalpackagethatfusescurrentissueswithcompellinganalysisinadditiontoanarrayofdigitalofferingsthattakeouraudiencetotheheartofthestoriesthatmatter.EuropeanSeediscommittedtobeingamultifacetedmediaplatformwebmagazinemobileandvideoprovidemultiplechannelsthroughwhichtoconsumepracticalinformationideasandsolutionsthatmattertoyourbusiness.SUBSCRIBEONLINETODAYATEUROPEAN-SEED.COMONEYEARSUBSCRIPTIONRATE-TWOISSUES20INTERNATIONALSUBSCRIPTIONRATE75EUROPEANSEEDSECTORINTELLIGENCEDELIVEREDDIRECTLYTOYOUeuropeanseedeuropeanseedMEDIA 42IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMINDUSTRYNEWSPEOPLENEWSINCOTEChasappointedAlexandervanderHeidenascommercialmanagervegetablesandornamentalsinEurope.VanderHeidenwillberesponsibleorINCOTECssalesandmarketingactivitiesinEuropetheMiddleEastandNorthernAricaintheieldovegetableandlowerseedenhancements.ForthepastsevenyearsvanderHeidenwassalesmanagerattheDutch-basedcompanyPriva.TheInternationalSeedFederationhashiredCamillaPerret-Gentilaseventmanager.Perret-GentilisalreadyamiliarwiththeISFSecretariatandrelatedeventsasshehasworkedincollaborationwithISFinthepastincludingtheWorldSeedCongress2012inRiodeJaneiroBrazil.PRODUCTNEWSNewhigh-yieldingpeavarietiesromLSPlantBreedingaddtoincreasedattractionopulsecropsor2015sowing.Campusisagame-changingvarietyat3percenthigheryieldingthanProphetinoicialtrials.WecanseeurtherevidenceothisinthecropswehaveinthegroundnowtomultiplytheacreageorwhatwebelievewillbeasignifcantdemandorthevarietyinthecomingseasonsaysPeterBusfeldcommercialmanageropulsespecialistsDunnsLongSuttonLtd.whoaretheUnitedKingdomsexclusivemarketingagent.CraigPadleyLSPBspulseandoilseedsbreederaddsthatthecompanyhasurtherwinterandspringpeasinthepipelineasbreedersworkhardtobringnewvarietiestotheUKmarket.Ninenewirst-choicevarietieshavebeenaddedtotheBritishSocietyofPlantBreedersBSPB2015ForageMaizeDescriptiveList.ThevarietiesAsgaardAlfastarEmblemandSunliteromLimagrainHobbitromGrainseedMontyromDLFTrioliumplusSergioKWSandExxtensromKWSandRAGTrespectivelyhavebeenaddedtotheFavourableDL.SergioKWSEmblemSunliteandExxtenswerealsoaddedasFirstChoicevarietiestotheLessFavourableDLaimedatmarginalgrowingconditions.InadditiontotheninenewvarietiesivemorehavebeenreclassiiedtotheFirstChoiceFavourableDLromtheSecondChoicelistincludingAmbrosiniKontenderandSalgadoromKWSplusMarcoandTruxxromGrainseedandRAGTrespectively.CertisEuropehassignedanagreementwithChemturaAgroSolutionsextendingitsdistributionoChemturasseedtreatmentportolio.CertishasanestablishedpositionintheFrenchseedtreatmentsectorthroughdistributionotheChemturarangeoproductssincetheormationoCertisEuropein2001.UnderthenewagreementitspositioninthesectorisstrengthenedbytheadditionoItalytheUnitedKingdomandBelgiumtoitsterritory.TheproductscoveredundertheagreementwillbedistributedonanexclusivebasisandincludeRancona15MERanconaI-MixandVitavaxFloNFinItalyalsoRancona15MERanconaI-MixAnchorSignalandThiraflointheUKandLangisinBelgium.TheadditionotheChemturaseedtreatmentportolioinItalytheUKandBelgiumisasignifcantsteptosupportCertisstrategicobjectivestoinvestinandexpanditsseedtreatmentcapabilitiesacrossrelevantseedtreatmentmarkets.ElsomsandIncotechavelaunchedtheinnovativenewseedtreatmentGeniusCoatalongsideanewseedandgrainsterilisingserviceThermoSeed.Intheabsenceoneonicotinoideseedtreatmentsandthecontinuedreductioninapprovedagrochemicalsbothprovideaninnovativenewwayoimprovingplantperormancethroughimprovingseedandrootquality.GeniusCoatoersanovelblendospecifchumicandulvicacidsincorporatedinaspeciallydevelopedilmcoatormulationoruseoncereals.Thebalancedlevelohumicsubstancesenhancescropnutritionbyinuencingthewater-retainingcapacityothesoilandstimulatingrootdevelopmentwhichpotentiallyincreasesyield.ThermoSeedisaninnovativetreatmentoreectivecontroloseed-bornepathogensbytheuseohothumidair.ThermoSeedtreatedseedhasshownsignifcantlyenhancedseedvigouraswellasrootandplantdevelopmentresultinginimprovedfeldemergencecropTAILOREDTOSEEDPROFESSIONALSINDUSTRYNEWSDELIVERSTHEPEOPLERESEARCHBUSINESSANDPRODUCTNEWSYOUNEEDTOKNOW.SUBMISSIONSAREWELCOME.EMAILUSATNEWSISSUESINK.COM.BYSHANNONSCHINDLE EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI43densityandyield.Intermsograinqualitytheabilitytoeectivelysterlisethegrainbeingtreatedattractedalotpositiveinterest.BUSINESSNEWSNickersonZwaanB.V.haschangeditscompanynameintoHazeraSeedsB.V.andlauncheditsnewbrandHazeraconjointwithitspartnercompanyHazeraGenetics.Theorganizationalstructureincludingmanagementsalesteamcustomerserviceresearchanddevelopmentset-upandallsupportingdepartmentswillremainunchanged.ThenewnameandbrandrelecttheimportantandrapidexpansionothecompanysworldwidebusinesssinceNickerson-ZwaanandHazeraGeneticswereunitedin2008bytheirparentcompanytheLimagrainGroup.Thisevolutionaddressestheneedtooperategloballyunderonenameandbeidentiiedasonecompany.ThenameHazerarepresentsthecombinedandcomplementaryexpertiseexperienceheritageandproessionalismobothNickerson-ZwaanandHazeraGenetics.ThisunifcationpositionsHazeraamongtheleadingplayersintheglobalvegetableseedsindustrywithavasterinternationalpresencearichimprovedproductrangeandanoverallcommitmenttocontinuousprogress.SynpromicsLimitedaprivatelyheldScotlandbasedsyntheticbiologycompanyhassuccessullygeneratedseveralhighlyeectivesyntheticpromotersoruseinplants.ThisrepresentsamajorsteporwardorthecompanyandtheapplicationoourtechnologyintheAgBioindustry.BasedonthissuccesswearenowmovingaheadwithimportantnewplantscienceprojectsthroughpartnershipswithaviewtoaddressingthemajorchallengesthatacetheagindustrysaysMichaelRobertsounderandCSOoSynpromicsLimited.RijkZwaanSouthAricahastakenoverthesalesactivitiesromcurrentRijkZwaandistributorsJavelinSeedsandFilmlexPlastics.WiththeestablishmentothisnewsalessubsidiaryRijkZwaanexpectstoreachastrongermarketpositionintheregion.RijkZwaanhasbeenactiveinSouthAricaormorethan20yearsandisalreadyawell-knownbrandintheprotectedcultivationsectorandhasgrowntobeingmarketleaderincucumberandleaysaladcropswithastrongpositioninseveralothercropssuchassweetpeppertomatoandmelon.RijkZwaanSouthAricabuildontheseoundationsandusethestructureandsystemsoRijkZwaantorealizethenextphaseogrowth.TheseedcompaniesMomontinFranceandKWSinGermanyhavesignedanagreementtotransersharesromtheMomontamilytoKWS.WiththisnewagreementMomontbecomesaullmemberotheKWSGrouponcealloicialapprovalshavebeengranted.ThenewentitytobenamedKWSMomontwillintensiyitsactivitiesintheieldsoresearchproductionandcommercialisationocerealseedsandrapeseedwhilepursuingitscurrentactivitiesinpeascornandodderbeet.ThisisasubstantialstepinKWSaimtodevelopitscerealsdivisionparticularlybyreinorcingthewheatbreedingactivitiesinFrance.Thetargetothisagreementistoreinorcethesynergiesbetweenthedierentbreedingprogramsothegroupandtogainproitromtheexpertiseandmarketsknow-howoMomontenhancingtheproductoeringtoFrencharmersparticularlyinwheatsaysThierryMomont.LimagrainhasannouncedplanstoestablishaplantinthewesterntownoBursaTurkey.LimagrainhadinitiallyplannedtobuildaplantinUkrainebutdecidedtoshittheinvestmenttoTurkey.ThiswillbeLimagrainsthirdactorywiththeothertwolocatedinFrance.TheplanttobeestablishedinBursawillprocesssunowercornwheatbarleyandcanolaseeds.Theplantisexpectedtobeoperationalwithinthenextyear.KeyGeneandINCOTEChaveintensifedtheircollaborationinordertodevelopSNPassaysinvariouscrops.TheassaysUniSNPsetsareusedorqualitycontroltestingincommercialseedproductionsuchasvarietytracingandhybridtoopenpollinatedseedpuritytesting.Thetwocompaniesteamedupin2012toworkonthisventure.Inthelast2yearsUniSNPsetshavebeendevelopedandcommercialisedworldwideortomatopeppercucumbermelonwatermelonlettuceandsunower.TogetherINCOTECandKeyGenehavedesignedbroadlyapplicableSNPassaysorvarioiuscropsandtheyhavebeenmadeavailabletoallseedcompanies.Cropswhicharecurrentlyunderassaydevelopmentareeggplantseveralbrassicasonioncornandsquashwithriceandcottontoollowsoon.FMCCorporationhassignedadefnitiveagreementtoacquireCheminovaASawholly-ownedsubsidiaryoAurigaIndustriesAS.CheminovaisamultinationalcropprotectioncompanybasedinDenmark.CheminovasdirectmarketaccessinEuropecombinedwithitsstrongpositioninLatinAmericawillhelpbringgreaterbalancetoourbusinesssaysPierreBrondeaupresidentCEOandchairmanoFMCCorporation.Itstechnologywillallowustoexpandourpositioninexistingcropsegmentsandprovideacceleratedaccesstoadditionalcropssuchascereals.Itwillalsostrengthenouroeringstoexistingcustomersespeciallyinsugarcanesoybeansandcotton.BrondeauaddedthatCheminovabringscomplementarytechnologiesininsecticidesandherbicidessigniicantlyenhancesFMCsungicideportolioandaddsagrowingmicronutrientbusiness.FMCanticipatesachievingsynergiesthroughproductionandoperatingefciencygainsaswellasimprovedmarketaccess.Theacquisitionisexpectedtocloseinearly2015.BayerCropSciencehasinauguratedtheirstBayerForwardFarmintheBelgiantownoHuldenberg.TheHotenBoscharmownedbyJanandJossePeetersbringstogetherarmersscientistsandacademiatechnologypartnersandotherplayersthroughoutthevaluechainpoliticsandregulatorsaswellasconsumerswiththegoalsoexchangingagriculturalknow-howandormingpartnershipstojointlypromotetheimportantroleoagricultureinsociety.BayerForwardFarmingisaknowledgeplatormorsustainableagriculturalpracticesdesignedtourtherstimulatethedialogwithintheindustryandbeyond.TheinitiativeappliedtoHotenBoschisbuiltuponthreebasicelementsintegratedcropsolutionsthecombinationohighvalueseedsandchemicalandbiologicalcropprotectionproactivestewardshiptoensurethesaeandeicientuseocropprotectionproductsorboththeuserandtheenvironmentandpartnerships.OuraimistobringourBayerForwardFarminginitiativewithitscombinationointegratedcropsolutionsproactivestewardshipandpartnershipstoothercountriesworldwidestartinginEuropesaysBirgittWalz-TyllaheadosustainabilityandbusinessstewardshipatBayerCropScience.INDUSTRYNEWSAccordingtoarecentreportbyResearchandMarketstheUnitedKingdommarketforseedtreatmentisestimatedat43.6millionUS56.3millionin2014andisurtheranticipatedtoregistera2013-2020compoundannualgrowthrateo5.9percent.Accountingoranestimated94.1percentin2014chemicalagentsormthelargestapplicationareaintheregionthoughdemandorbiologicalagentsispoisedtoposttheastest2014-2020growthrateo7percent.Bytypeocropcornmaizeaccountsorthelargestshareo31.9percentestimatedin2014inoverallseedtreatmentthoughtheastest2014-2020growthrateo 44IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMINDUSTRYNEWS6.5percentislikelytoberegisteredbyseedtreatmentdemandinsoybeans.ThemarketorseedtreatmentgainsinsignifcanceareduetoanumberoactorsincludingagronomictrendsthatcomprisedevelopmentohighqualityseedsthroughtheenhancedpotentialoeredbygeneticallymodiiedorganismsGMOschangesinclimaticconditionsincreasingratesocroprotationexibilityinsowingapproachesandgreaterpressureromregulatoryrequirements.AnInternationalconsortiumomorethan30researchinstitutescoordinatedbyscientistsattheFrenchNationalInstituteforAgriculturalResearchINRAandtheFrenchNationalSequencingCentreCEA-GenoscopeandtheUniversityofEvryinFrancehasdecipheredthecomplexgenomeoftheoilseedrape1BrassicanapusLknownasrapeseedrapeorcanolathemostimportantoilseedcropinEuropeCanadaandAustralia.Thisscientifcbreakthroughpavesthewaytoaundamentalunderstandingotheoriginsocropspeciesthroughpolyploidyandprovidesaoundationalresourceoracceleratingon-goingbreedingeortsinthecrop.TheresearchhasbeenpublishedinthejournalScience.AccordingtoarecentstudyconductedbyMarketReportsOnlinetitledGlobalVegetableSeedsMarketTrendsandOpportunities2014-2019AsiaisthelargestmarketorvegetableseedsollowedbyEuropeNorthAmericaSouthAmericaandArica.Thevegetablesmarketisdividedintosixmaincropgroupingsand17majorcrops.TheGlobalVegetableSeedsMarketAnalysisresearchreportprovidesaninsightintooverallvegetableseedssectorovertheyearswithaspecialocusonsolanaceaecucurbitaceaeandrootandbulb.Solanaceaeisthelargestgroupthatconsistsotomatopepperandeggplant.Thereportincludesdetailedinormationonmarketsizegeographicalsegmentationandimportandexporttrendsinthevegetableseedssector.Italsodiscusseskeygrowthdriverschallengesandtrendsothemarket.Accordingtotheauthorsothereportgovernmentsodierentcountriesareocusingonvegetableseedindustrybyinvestinginbiotechnologyandrelatedresearches.Seedcompaniesareinvestingmoreandmoreinapplicationobiotechnologicaltoolsincropimprovement.ScientistsromDenmarksAarhusUniversityhaveoundthatbeeswithrootsinthelocalenvironmentmanagemuchbetterinthestruggleorsurvivalthanimportedhoneybeesromoreignenvironments.Researchersdeterminedthisbyinvestigatingtheinteractionbetweenthegeneticmakeupohoneybeesandtheirenvironment.Eventhoughalotisknownaboutthegeographicalandgeneticdiversityohoneybeesknowledgeohowhoneybeesadapttothelocalenvironmenthasbeenlimiteduntilnow.Manybeekeepersbelievethatitisbesttobuyqueensromoutsideinsteadousingthequeenstheyhaveintheirownbeehives.HoweverthereisincreasingevidencethattheglobalhoneybeetradehasdetrimentaleectsincludingthespreadonewdiseasesandpestssaysseniorscientistPerKrygerromtheDepartmentoAgroecologyatAarhusUniversity.TheInternationalWheatGenomeSequencingConsortiumIWGSCpublishedadratsequenceothebreadwheatgenomeinthejournalScience.Thedratsequenceprovidesnewinsightintothestructureorganisationandevolutionotheworldsmostwidelygrowncerealcrop.Theconsortiumhasestablishedthefrstreerencesequenceorthelargestchromosome3Bwhichcouldserveasatemplateorsequencingtheremainingchromosomes.Withthedratgenesequenceoreachothebreadwheatchromosomesandthefrstreerencesequenceochromosome3BwehavereachedagreatmilestoneinourroadmapsaysCatherineFeuilletIWGSCco-chair.Withachromosome-basedullsequenceinhandplantbreedersnowhavehigh-qualitytoolsattheirdisposaltospeedupbreedingprogramsandidentiyhowgenescontrolcomplextraits.ResearchcarriedoutbyseedphysiologistsromWageningenURandseedexpertsromtheCentreforGeneticResourcestheNetherlandsshowedthatwhenseedswerestoredwithoutoxygen98percentothemgerminatedaterthreeweeks.IntheirscientiicarticleWageningenresearchersproposethatgenebankspackageseedsinoxygen-poorconditionsimmediatelyaterharvestanddryingbecausethiswillslowthelossoantioxidants.Thismeansthattheseedscanbestoredorlongerperiodsotimereducingregenerationcosts.TheCentreorGeneticResourcesisaDutchgenebankwhichispartoWageningenUR.Kagomeisinvesting1.5millioninanewresearchcentrededicatedtothetomatointheregionoRinatejoPortugal.HITPortuguesegroupwhoismajorityownedbytheJapanesemultinationalKagomeannouncedtheinvestment.Kagomeisaspecialistintomatoesandtomatoproducts.ThecountryhasmanagedtoincreaseitsexportstoJapanby37percentinrecentyears.Portuguesetomatoproductionor2014couldreach1.6milliontonnes.BayerCropScienceisexpandingproductionatitsMuttenzsiteinSwitzerlandandhasalsoinauguratedanewproductionacility.ThenewacilityisareactiontothegrowingdemandoragriculturalcommoditiesandwillexpandBayersproductioncapacitiesintheareaocropprotection.ThisinvestmentwillmakeMuttenzacentralsiteromwhichwewillbeabletoservetheglobaldemandortheNativoamilyocropprotectionproductssaysBayerCropScienceCEOLiamCondon.Theproductionacilitieseaturestate-o-the-arttechnologyincompliancewiththelatestenvironmentalstandards.Thesiteproducesvariousintermediatesorthesynthesisotriloxystrobinanactivesubstancewithabroadspectrumoactionagainstungaldiseasesinmanyruitvegetableandcerealvarietiesthatisusedsuccessullyaroundtheworld.BayerhasalsoannouncedthatthecompanyintendsintheuturetoocusentirelyontheLifeSciencebusinessesHealthCareandCropScienceandloatMaterialScienceonthestockmarketasaseparatecompany.InthiswayBayerispositioningitselasaworld-leadingcompanyinthefeldohumananimalandplanthealth.EmploymentlevelsareexpectedtoremainstableoverthenextewyearsbothgloballyandinGermany.WEBANDAPPNEWSTheGermplasmResourceInformationNetwork-GlobalknownasGRIN-Globalwascreatedtoprovidetheworldscropgenebankswithapowerullexibleeasy-to-useglobalplantgeneticresourceinormationmanagementsystem.GRIN-Globalistheplatormoraneicientandeectiveglobalnetworkogenebankstopermanentlysaeguardplantgeneticresourcesvitaltoglobaloodsecurityandtoencouragetheuseotheseresourcesbyresearchersbreedersandarmer-producers.TheGRIN-Globalprojectnowmanagesacollectionomorethan180000accessionsomaizeandwheatgeneticresources.GRIN-Globalnowoersawebapplicationthatallowsgenebankusersbreedersstudentsandresearcherstosearchaccessionsandrequestseedromthewebsitegotohttpmgb.cimmyt.orggringlobalsearch.aspxandhttpwgb.cimmyt.orggringlobalsearch.aspx.Thosewhoollowtheissueogeneticallyengineeredcropshaveheardclaimsthatthereislittleindependentresearchontheirsaetyorconsumptionortheenvironment.Anewpublicdatabaseoresearchtellsadierentstory.TheresourceistheGENeticEngineeringRiskAtlasGENERA.Theresultsshowthatindependentpeer-reviewedresearchonGMOsiscommonconductedworldwideandcompriseshalothetotaloallresearchonrisksassociatedwithgeneticengineering.GENERAisasearchabledatabaseopeer-reviewedscientiicstudiesontherelativerisksogenetically EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI45TOSUBMITYOURINDUSTRYNEWSSENDYOURPRESSRELEASESTONEWSISSUESINK.COMengineeredcrops.JournalistsscientistspublicofficialsandanyoneelsecanuseGENERAtosearchforresearchontheeffectivenessofusinggeneticengineeringtomodifythegeneticsofplantsandcanfindstudiesthatcompareGMOstonon-GMOstoseeiftheyareequivalent.Studiesconductedonthesafetyofconsuminggeneticallyengineeredfoodsandtheirimpactsontheenvironmentarealsoincludedintheatlas.httpgenera.biofortified.orgBejohaslauncheditsCropalyserAppapracticaltooltoeasilyidentifymajorpestsdiseasesanddisordersinvegetablecropsincludingredbeetcarrotscabbageandonions.TheAppprovidesinformationaboutthehealthandgrowthofyourcrop.ThesearchfunctionCropalyseisahandytoolwhichguidesyoubymeansofansweringquestionsaboutirregularitiesanalysinggrowthdevelopmentsandrecognisingsymptoms.Cropalyseralsocontainsadviceoncropcontrolandpreventionofpestsanddiseases.TheCropalyserprovidesgrowerswithfunctionalcropinformationathand.Duringgrowthstagesuserscansearchbymeansofsymptomspicturesandquestionsastowhichdiseaseorpestishinderingthedevelopmentofthecrop.ScientistsfromWageningenURintheNetherlandsaretakingpartinaprojectdesignedtostimulatethedevelopmentofappsforuseinagricultureandhorticulture.Appdevelopersandusersareinvitedtosendintheirapplications.TheSmartAgriFoodIIprojectispartoftheEuropeanFutureInternetPublic-PrivatePartnershipprogrammeFI-PPPsetupasanincentiveforthedevelopmentandimplementationofinternettechnologyinEurope.SmartAgriFoodIIfocusesspecificallyonappsfortheagriculturalandhorticulturalsectors.TheappswillbedeliveredthroughaplatformspeciallysetupforthepurposeknownasFISpace.Formoreinformationgotowww.smartagrifood.com.Wealsoofferturnkeyfacilitiesdesignbuildconstructionmanagementbulkstorageadditionstofacilities.Industryleadingproductionresearchequipment.Fromdryingshellingtocleaningwedoitall.www.aec-corp.comManufacturedinEuropewithfullEuropeanandAmericansupportstaff.WeofferSinglePassReversingDoublePassReversingDryersandBulkStorageSystems.GabrielGheorgheggheorgheaecenterprises.com40730170192www.aecenterprises.com 46IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMEXTRASTRAITTRACKERCropLifeInternationalhasre-launchedtheonlinedatabaseBioTradeStatusaglobalresourcethatprovidesdataonthecommercialstatusandnationalauthorisationsoplantbiotechtraitsorcultivationoodandeeduseandimportationworldwide.BioTradeStatuswww.biotradestatus.comistheirstcomprehensiveandsearchableonlinedatabasetoprovideboththeapprovalandcommercialstatusorCropLieInternationalmembercompaniesplantbiotechtraitsworldwidesodatabaseuserscaneasilydeterminewhichproductsareintheglobalmarketplace.ThedataonthissitecanbedirectlyaccessedviatheConventiononBiologicalDiversitysCBDBiosaetyClearing-HouseBCH.ThecoordinationbetweenBioTradeStatusandtheBCHwillprovidesignatoriestotheCartagenaBiosaetyProtocolwithsigniicantlyimprovedaccesstoplantbiotechtraitcommercialstatusinormation.BioTradeStatusistheonlycentralisedandaccessibleonlinedatabasewiththisin-depthplantbiotechtraitregulatoryandcommercialstatusinormationwhichisessentialormaintainingthesmoothuninterruptedglobaltradeoagriculturalcommoditiessaysHowardMinighpresidentandCEOoCropLieInternational.ItsdataenabletheentireagriculturalvaluechainromarmerstograinhandlerstoregulatorstobeullyawareoboththeapprovalandcommercialstatusoabiotechtraitproducedbyCropLieInternationalmembersinanycountry.CELEBRATING100YEARSOFINNOVATIONINSEEDTREATMENTThroughout2014BayerSeedGrowthhasbeencelebratingthe100thanniversaryotheirlaunchoUspulunthefrst-everseedtreatmenttofghtthecenturies-oldproblemoungaldiseasesincereals.Fast-orward100yearsandtheglobalseedtreatmentmarkethaschangeddramatically.AcenturyoinnovationsromBayerhasbeneftedtheentireseedtreatmentvaluechainandchangedtheworldoarmingorthebetter.TolearnmoreandseeadetailedtimelineontheevolutionoseedtreatmentsromBayerCropSciencevisitwww.seedgrowth.bayer.com.In2008HarrisMoranSeedCompanyandClauseTezierweregroupedtogetherunderHM.CLAUSE.Inordertodevelopcloseoperationallinksbetweenthetwocompaniestheorganisationwaslookingorajointqualitymanagementsystem.ItwasuptoErikPostmavice-presidentqualityandintellectualpropertytofndandimplementasystemthatwouldallowHM.CLAUSEtorealizethisgoal.Inouropinionshopoorworkersdeterminethequalityotheproduct.Inordertoenablethemtodeliverhighqualityandtoconstantlyimprovetheirskillsandtheirownprocessesyouhavetoimplementajointsystemwhichwillbeusedonadailybasistosupportteamwork.ThisraisedtheollowingquestionIsthereanenterprisequalitymanagementsotwareEQMSthatmatchesthisvisionIntheendHM.CLAUSEchoseiCOLOGiQEQMS.HM.CLAUSEstartedtheimplementationotheEQMSinthesummero2013.HM.CLAUSEANDICOLOGIQTACKLEEQMSIMPLENTATIONWITHAFRESHAPPROACHThewholeprojectisexpectedtobefnalisedin2016.ThisseemsalongwayromnowbutPostmaknowsitisworthit.Itwillbecomeacentralsystemorusabusiness-criticalplatorm.InthenearuturewewanteveryonetoopentheEQMSfrstandwewanttheapplicationtobecomejustasimportantase-mailistoday.LikeIsaidbeoreitisnotaqualitysystemthatisusedonlybyqualitymanagersitwillbecomeasystemorthewholeworkorceoHM.CLAUSE.Weengagethemincontinuousimprovement.Whenseenromthisperspectivethreeyearsoranorganisationooursizeisaveryreasonableperiodotimekeepinginmindthatwhentheprojectisfnishedallprocessesarewell-defnedandtransparent.AspartotherolloutotheprojectHM.CLAUSEutilisedanongoingcomicstriptocommunicatewithemployeesthebeneftsothesystemandhowitwillaidinadvancingtheirbusiness. EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI47CALENDAROFEVENTS10November2014to14November2014AsiaandPacicSeedAssociationAnnualCongressMacauChina17November2014to20November2014ISTAQualityAssuranceWorkshopinSeedTestingforAdvancedLaboratoriesBassersdorfSwitzerland25November2014PotatoCouncilSeedIndustryEventCrieffPerthshireScotland4May2015to7May2015EUCARPIAInternationalSymposiumonProtienCropsPonteverdaSpain25May2015to27May2015InternationalSeedFederationWorldSeedCongress2015KrakwPoland15Februaryto17February2015AgricultureandClimateChangeAdaptingCropstoIncreasedUncertaintyAmsterdamTheNetherlandsUPCOMINGEVENTSCONFERENCESANDTRADESHOWSINYOURREGIONANDAROUNDTHEWORLD.SUBMISSIONSAREWELCOME.EMAILUSATNEWSISSUESINK.COM.EUROPEAN-SEED.COMIEUROPEANSEEDI47 48IEUROPEANSEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COMGIANTVIEWSFREEDOMDRIVESCREATIVITYBYGERARDBACKXheseedindustryhasareputationforproducinghigh-valueproducts.Seedsmentraveltheglobesellingtheseedstraitsandgeneticsproducedbyourindustry.Thefreedomofthisindustrydrivescreativityandinturnthatcreativityhasdeliveredhugevalueforthefoodandfeedindustriesaswellasfortheornamentalssector.Wecollectivelyhaveaskedourgovernmentstobemindfulofregulationsthatprotectourindustryandinrecentyearsthishasincludedlobbyingforchangesthatwillallowaccesstonewandimprovedgenetics.Fordecadeswehavelivedwiththerulesthatwerecreatedandthoserulesclearlyhavestimulatedourindustrybutnowtheyarelimitinginnovation.Societysviewschange.Ioftenwonderwhatreallyisthecausefortheseshiftstheserulechangeswhichmanifestthemselvesintheformofpubliccallsforlegislativechangefromourgovernmentsthatultimatelyhindertheseedindustry.IsitthesuccessofourseedbusinessesIsitbecausewetheseedindustryarenotreallyvisiblyattheconsumerlevelAreweperceivedtobemisbehavingourselvesIsitbecausewearenotunderstoodIsitbecausewedonotlistenenoughtoconsumersIsitbecauseweworkwithgeneticsIsittherelationshipwithchemicalsIsitbecauseweprotectgeneticsthroughpatentsAnywayyoulookatittheenvironmentinwhichweoperatehaschanged.Politiciansdonotmakeorchangelawsbecausetheyhaveaclearvisionofwhatisbestforsociety.Mostlawsaremadeorchangedbecauseavocalandactiveorsometimesmajoritysegmentofsocietyhasaskedforit.Theregulationswehavebeenworkingwithwillchangeandwehavetoworkhardtoensurethattherulesarenttobeturnedagainstourindustry.WehavediscussedforyearsthenewseedregulationsinEuropeaswellastheplanthealthandotherproposals.Westilldonotknowwhatthenewruleswillbeorwhatpoliticianswilldecidebutbasedonsocietyscurrentviewsaboutagricultureitislikelytheywillbelessthanfavourableforourindustry.Overtheyearsdiscussionshavebeenstartedonthetopicofbiodiversity.SpeakinghonestlyourindustryhaswaitedtoolongbeforetakingactionandIsometimeswonderwheretheseedindustrymightbetodayifwehadbeenmoreactive20yearsago.Butthatdidnthappenandtodaywefacethediscussionsonbiodiversityandalltheconsequencesofaccessandbenefitsharing.Non-orsemi-governmentorganisationswouldliketoforceustobehavecorrectlytowardlessdevelopedcountriesgoingsofarasgivingcompaniesarankingintheindustrybasedontheirtrackrecordconcerningaccesstoseedsforsmallfarmersindevelopingnations.Alltheseinfluencesanddemandsfromsocietyareunderstandable.Weshouldnotdismisstheattitudeofsociety.Wecanonlywonderwhysocietyhaschanged.Understandinghoweverthatthesesocietalchangesarethedrivingforcecompellingpoliticianstomakeneworchangeexistinglawslawsthatmightlimitourindustryscreativityandourfreedomforcreativity.Thoselimitationscanandoftendolimitourprogressinplantbreedingandgenetics.Geneticgaininwhateverformisrequiredtoincreasefoodproductionandtofeedthe7billionpeopleontheplanettodayandwillbeneededtofeedthe9bnpredictedtobealivein2050andthe11bnpredictedfortheyear2100.WhatcanwedotochangetheattitudeofsocietytowardsagricultureandtheseedindustryAttheveryleastweshouldnotfightagainsttheseattitudes.Weshouldstrivetounderstandthereasonsattherootoftheissueandfacilitateadialoguewithsocietyhelpingthemtounderstandwhyweneedtoavoidrestrictivelawsandregulations.Wemusttakestepstoprotectourfreedomitsthatfreedomthatallowsustodriveinnovationthroughcreativity.GerardBackxCEOHZPCHollandBVandpresidentoftheEuropeanSeedAssociationT DestonerFluidizedBedDryerColorSorterGravitySeparatorPrecisionSizerOliverManufacturingistheleadingUS-basedproviderofreliabledurableandeectiveseedprocessingequipment.OurlegendaryGravitySeparatorsDestonersPrecisionSizersandColorSortersarethemostinnovativeandautomatedseparationmachinesremovingimpuritiesandsubstandardordamagedproductwithextremeeaseandaccuracy.AndourFluidizedBedDryersquicklydryandseparatetreatedseedforoptimalappearanceandperformance.MeetourDirectorofSalesandMarketingJonMorelandattheEuropeanSeedAssociationMeeting.TolearnmoreaboutOliversfulllineofprocessingequipmentemailjonolivermanufacturing.comorvisitolivermanufacturing.com.OPTIMIZEYOURSEEDPRODUCTSANDPROFITS