b'Heres What the Experts Want to Change About LATAMs Seed SectorWe asked LATAMs national seed associations: if you had a magic wand and could change one thing about the seed sector, what would it be?Compiled by staffLATIN AMERICAS SEED SECTORfaces huge oppor- AMSAC: Mexican Seed Association tunities and daunting challenges ahead. Wouldnt lifeandMario Puente RayaExecutive Director: If I could change one businessbe so much easier if we had the power to wave athing about the seed sector, it would be to improve the general magic wand to fix some of the hurdles that stand in our sec- understanding of the complexity behind an improved seed and tors way? We reached out across Latin Americas national seedeverything involved in having quality seeds and the benefits associations to ask what single most important thing theydthey provide, such as granting pest-resistance to crops, higher change about their sector if they had the miraculous power toyields and increased productivity, better nutritional properties, change anything they wanted. Heres what we heard: and longer shelf life for food. In this scenario, everyone would understand that these improved features come from the seed.ABRASEM: Brazilian Seed and Seedling Association I would like for farmers and consumers to become aware of Ronaldo TronchaExecutive President: If I could wave a magicthe extensive research and development that goes into enhanc-wand and change one thing in the seed sector, I would put aning seed quality. In the same way that we recognize the continu-end to all kinds of seed piracy in Brazil and I would always haveous technological advancements behind smartphones, with new the best seeds to offer producers, with the highest technologymodels arriving each year to meet our needs and preferences, I and the highest productivity. want people to see that the same thing happens with seeds. The aim is also to provide seeds with better characteristics so that we can satisfy our tastes and needs with farm products.12/ SEEDWORLD.COMLATAM'