b'FROM WORLD SEED CONGRESStois plantable. That makes LatAm one of the the Association of Official Seed CertifyingEarths most critical regions for increasing Agencies annual meeting, to the Seedsfood production, both in planted acres and in Canada meetings and a ton of meetings inproductivity per acre. We need LatAm to suc-between, Ive been on the road more thancessfully feed the world and, as we in the seed home for the last few months. One of the big- sector know, that starts with seed. Now, Im gest topics that keeps coming up in conversa- not suggesting companies jump on board out tions, whether Im in Rotterdam or Kansas Cityof feed-the-world altruism: Im saying theres or Edmonton, is Latin America. Im hearing aincredible business value for those who find ton of global enthusiasm for what LatAm canthe right partnerships and opportunities. deliver in contra-season production, of course,Let me be clear: LatAms growth wont all but also the many ways it is stepping intobe easy. LatAms market needs to mature. more and more of a leadership role in buildingFiguring out the right path forward will take innovation, enhancing global food security,effort, will and collaboration. There have BY SHAWN BROOK,addressing climate change and more.already been bumps in the road and there are president of Seed World Group Let me be totally honest, though: I hear, asgoing to be more ahead. Its critical to all of I know you do too, lingering concerns aboutour success that we as an Americas-wide seed LatAm from the global seed sectorsomesector come together to be part of LatAm based on legitimate uncertainty about thedeveloping a true South American presence. growing pains of the sector, more based onThats exactly why we need to gather in misunderstandings of where LatAms at todayBuenos Aires for the Seed Congress of the and how its place is changing in the globalAmericas Sept 30 to Oct 2. The Congress seed market. will bring together the movers and shakers of What Im consistently seeing from many,the Americas seed sector. While the major many conversations with South Americanscheduled parts of the agendathe key-companies is that the seed and seed servicenote speakers and learning sessionslook sector in Latin America is evolving in twolike a great lineup, the biggest benefit of the distinct ways. Some companies are facing theCongress will happen much more quietly: natural challenges of creating new businessthe handshakes over cerveza and the deals channels, particularly when expanding inter- made on the trading room that are only nationally or dealing with emerging regulatorypossible when the right people gather in the landscapes. Others are expanding impres- same place with the same ready-to-connect sively well. Brazil especially isnt just a countrymindset.to watch, its a country to get into businessThe seed sector is more integrated than with. Multiple Brazilian seed companies areever before. To build LatAm to its fullest knocking the ball out of the park in growth,potential depends on communicating, part-tech innovation and industry leadership.nering, and growing together around board According to the FAO, LatAm has theroom tables, across companies and between highest proportion of arable land in thecountries. Thats what SAAs Seed Congress world: nearly one third of the whole regionof the Americas aims to make happen.LATAMSEEDWORLD.COM /5'