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SEEDWORLD.COMJanuary2015CANWEBUILDABETTERBEEPRIORITIESFOR2015INTHECLASSROOMBUSINESSCLIMATEMAINTAINSMARKETMOMENTUMPROUDLYINDEPENDENTCELEBRATING100YEARSOFGROWTHSECRETSMOSTINNOVATIVEPEOPLEOFTHESEEDWORLD.COM JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM1CONTENTSJANUARY201512LookingAheadDiscovertheprioritiesbusinessesaresettingaswemoveintothenewyear.SpotlightonSeedResearchConferenceIfyoucouldntmakeittoChicagofortheannualCSS2014SeedExpogetthehighlightshere.WaterproofingPlantsAricegenecouldonedayhelptoreducedamagetocornfromearlyseasonflooding.ProtectingPollinatorsCanresearchersandgeneticistsbuildabetterbeeTheCulturalGapWhenlookingtoexpandintointernationalmarketsculturalknowledgeprovescriticaltosuccess.SecretsoftheMostInnovativePeopleThisarticleisthefirstinasix-partseriesthatwillrecognize100individualswhohavebeentransformationalintheseedindustry.IntheClassroomCompanieshelpeducateyouthabouttheimportanceofplantscience.Features0610121618243416PHOTOLONNIEDUKA. 2SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015CONTENTSJANUARY2015InEveryIssueMaintainingMarketMomentumTheseedindustryremainsstrongandstable.InvestmentsinBiologicalsCompanieslargeandsmallhavebeenpouringresourcesintobiologicals.Ourteamprovidesanoverview.DataDeliversBenefitsResearchorganizationsandseedcompaniesusedatatoaddnewvalueforcustomersandenhancecropyields.TheNextYieldFrontierSeedsmaketheirwaytospaceforthepurposeofeducatingyouthandspacedeliversnewtechnologiestotheindustry.Featurescontinued44485054StrategyHelpfarmersevaluateseedtreatmentsastheymightbelookingtocutbackoninputcostsin2015.CrossPollinationRegulatoryRoundupWorldStatusIndustryNewsSince1915406062646670Columns203872StatusoftheIndependentsGregRuehleprovidesanupdateaboutthehealthoftheindependentseedindustry.InternationalAgriculturalDevelopmentDennisThompsonintroducesyoutothreepeoplewhoareworkingtoreducefoodinsecurity.GiantViewsMustangSeedsTerrySchultzshareshowprecisiontechnologyandbigdataarechangingtheseedindustry.PhotographybyTinaSmothersPhotographyHarryMyronWarrenandBrendaStineofIowa-basedStineSeedCompanyworktodeliverqualitycornandsoybeangeneticstohelpensurefarmersasuccessfulgrowingseason.OntheCover34WEBWHEREONTHEForbonuscontentandmoreinformationontheseissuescheckoutSeedWorld.com.Hereyoullfindvideosextraphotosandchartsandnotesfromourjournalists.BelowarejustafewhighlightsfromthisissueSeedWorld.comIfyouhaventalreadycheckoutournewwebsite.Wereupdatingitdailywithnewsfromthedayaddingvideosandinterestingarticlesabouttheseedindustry.Additionallyitsresponsivewhichmeansthedisplayisoptimizedforwhateverdeviceyouhappentobeusing.100YearsOfGrowth.comAspartofSeedWorldsCentennialCelebrationwevecreatedanewwebsitethathighlightspeopleeventsandmilestonesfromthepast100years.Wewantyoutoparticipatebysendingusphotoslettersormemorabiliathathighlightsyoursignificantachievementsorcompanymilestones.Pleasesenddigitalfilestonewsissuesink.com. 800-333-9048AdvantaUS.comUSAArgentinaIndiaThailandIndonesiaAustraliaWELCOMETOOURTESTPLOT2014AdvantaUSInc.ADV-13-002bSWTheonlywaytotackletheworldsfoodchallengeisbyusingaglobalperspective.ThatswhyAdvantahasdevelopedaworldwidenetworkofresearchersandtestfacilitiestoscourtheglobeforthebesttraitsandgermplasm.ThenwebringtheworldsmostexcitingplanttraitstoNorthAmericatohelpmaketheplanetsmostproductivegrowersevenbetter.WhenyoupartnerwithaglobalplayerlikeAdvantayouopenupawholeworldofpossibilitiesforyourseedofferings.CALLUSFORATOURNEARYOU800-333-9048 4SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015JANUARY2015THEINKERSMAINOFFICE1395-AS.ColumbiaRoadPMB360GrandForksND58201-9907SUBSCRIPTIONSSeedWorldispublishedsixtimesayear.NorthAmericansubscriptionratesareoneyearUSD70twoyearsUSD120.TheinternationalrateforoneyearisUSD200.Tosubscribepleaseemailsubscribeissuesink.com.WANTMORESEEDWORLDFollowusonlineatfacebook.comSeedWorldtwitter.comseedworldmagSeedWorld.com100YearsOfGrowth.comCIRCULATIONDeanFrenchdfrenchissuesink.comCONTRIBUTORSMariaBrownSandiKarstensLekanOguntoyinboGregRuehleMelissaShipmanTerrySchultzDennisThompsonBrianWallheimerEDITORIALBOARDR.B.HalabyAgriCapitalBettyJones-BlissPurdueUniversityJohnSchoeneckerHM.CLAUSEJimSchweigertGroAllianceTomWiltroutDowAgroSciencesKarenWithersPenningtonSeedRonWulfkuhleGreenLeafGeneticsPleaserecyclewherefacilitiesexist.Nopartofthismagazinemaybereproducedwithoutthewrittenpermissionofthepublisher.PrintedintheUnitedStates.Q.WHATONENEWSYEARSRESOLUTIONDOYOUWANTTOFOLLOWTHROUGHONIN20151.Iplantoaskclientstheiropiniononwhatwearedoingwellandwhatwearenot.2.MyNewYearsresolutionistokeeplearningaboutthefascinatingfieldofagriculture.3.Iplantoliveeverydaytothefullestandappreciatethepeopleinmylifedaily.4.In2015Ineedtorememberthatexerciseneedstobecomplementedbysmarteating.5.AlthoughIveneverbeenbigonNewYearsresolutionsinthepastIdesiretobecomemoreunderstandingandappreciativeofothersinthenewyear.PUBLISHERShawnBrooksbrookissuesink.comEDITORJulieDeeringjdeeringissuesink.comSTAFFEDITORSMarkHalsallLindsayHoffmanShannonSchindleMarcZienkiewiczMARKETINGCraigArmstrongcarmstrongissuesink.comBrendaEzinickibezinickiissuesink.comMaeganMarriottmmarriottissuesink.comSamMostafasmostafaissuesink.comHitenShahhshahissuesink.comCREATIVETheresaKurjewiczLesleyNakonechnyDIGITALKyleDratowanyJillHollosiCalebMacDonaldVinceMendellaLynneRoyAleaderinthedesignandmanufactureofpackagingautomationsystemsandequipment.Established1969.Refuge-in-BagSystems.Netandgrossweighapplications.Single-unitandbulkapplications.ElectronicBaggingScales.Netandgrossweighscales.Refuge-in-a-bagsystemsandSeedCalcenabledelectronics.BulkBagBoxDrumPacking.TaylorProductsIBC3000modulardesignallowscompleteflexibilityfromafree-standingmanualoperationtoafullyintegratedandautomatedsystemhandlingbagsdrumsandboxes.BAGGINGSOLUTIONSFORTHESEEDINDUSTRYELECTRONICBAGGINGSCALESBULKSTORAGEFILLINGREFUGE-IN-BAGSYSTEMSTollFree888.882.9567Phone620.421.5550Fax620.421.55312205JothiAve.ParsonsKansas67357ExperienceEngineeringandEquipmentinOneNeatPackage.LEARNMORETHEORIGINALVisitournewwebsiteatwww.taylorproducts.com OrganizersMainSponsor Goalsandprioritiesprovidedirectionandhelpleadtosuccess.JulieDeeringANOTEFROMTHEEDITORThistimeoftheyeartheresalwaysagreatdealofchat-teraboutnewyearsresolutions.About50percentofAmericansmakearesolutionforthenewyearhoweverpsychologistRichardWisemansaysthat88percentofthosepeoplewhosetresolutionsfail.Theproblemwithnewyearsresolutionsistheyreofteninoneyearandoutthenextandsomebigloftgoalwithoutactionablesteps.Astudyconductedonthe1979HarvardMBAprogramaskedstu-dentshaveyousetclearwrittengoalsforthefutureandmadeplanstoaccomplishthemTheresultonly3percenthadwrittengoalsandplans13percenthadgoalsbuttheywerentinwritingand84percenthadnogoalsatall.Tenyearslaterthesamegroupwasinterviewedagainandtheresultwasremarkable.The13percentwhohadgoalsbutdidnotwritethemdownwasearningtwicetheamountofthe84percentwhohadnogoals.The3percentwhohadwrittengoalswereearningonaverage10timesasmuchastheother97percentoftheclasscombined.WhydoIsharethisAsIwalkedthetradeshowfloorattheAmericanSeedTradeAssociationscornsorghumandsoybeanseedresearchconferenceIaskedtradeshowexhibitorsandattendeeswhattheirprioritieswerefortheyearahead.Iwassurprisedatthenumberofpeoplewhocouldntrespondordidnthaveclearsetpriorities.Itgoesbacktothatoldsayingifyoudontknowwhereyouregoinganyroadwillgetyouthere.AshleyFeinsteinfounderofKnowingYourWorthsaystherearefourimpor-tantstepsbusinesspeopleshouldtakeincreatingclearandmeasurablegoalsthatleadtosuccesscreateavisionmakeitmeasurablesetbenchmarksandcelebratesuc-cess.Whilethesestepsmightsoundsimpleittakescom-mitmentanddedicationtosucceed.JulieDeeringPLANNINGFORTHENEWYEAR50ofAmericansmakearesolution88ofthosewhosetresolutionsfail6SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015 JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM7SeedandgraincleanerSfortheworldCrippenNorthlandSuperiorSupplyCo.8-851LagimodiereBlvd.WinnipegMBPh204-925-6141www.northlandsuperior.comAirScreenCleanersIndentedCylinderLengthSeparatorGravitySeparatorWHOJOHNSCHOENECKERCHAIRMANORGANIZATIONAMERICANSEEDTRADEASSOCIATIONFormyyearaschairmanadvocacyhasbeenakeypriority.Forinstanceatourannualmeet-inginWashingtonD.C.inJunewellhaveadaywhereweStormtheHilltoadvocateforsomeoftheissuesthatareimportanttotheindustryTherearemanyprioritiesintheseedbusinessthesedays.OnethingthatsimportanttomeandtothebroaderindustryistheInternationalTreatyonPlantGeneticResourcesforFoodandAgriculture.Thisisaninternationaltreatythathastodowiththewildresourcesthatarevalu-abletoplantbreedersthatarefoundaroundtheworld.Theresatreatyinplace.ItalsointersectswiththeConventiononBiodiversitysotheressomeissuestherethatneedtobeworkedouttoreallygettheseresourcesinplayandmakethemavailabletobreederssowecanusethoseuniquegeneticstheymaycontaintobreedbettercropsandsolveproblems.OneofthethingsthatspartofitandpartofthemessagethatwebringtotheHillisthattheUnitedStateshasnotratifiedtheinternationaltreaty.Wethinkweshould.ItsverylowrisktoratifythetreatanditwouldbegoodtohavetheUnitedStatesatthetabletoadvocateforgoodpoliciestomakethebestuseoftheseresources.TheU.S.hasoneofthelargestplantgerm-plasmgenebanksintheworldanditsimpor-tantthatwemaintainthatleadershipthatwebeatthetabletohelpmakethisrunright.Thetermsofthetreatyastheystandnowarenotveryfriendlytobusinesstheyarenotverywork-able.Weneedtohelpsolvethoseproblemssothattheresafairsysteminplacethathelpstovalueandmaintaintheseresourcesbecausetheyjustdontexistontheirown.Theyneedtobenurturedkeptinsafeplacesandregeneratedsothatwecontinuetohavethoseresourcesavail-ableinthelongterm.Weneedtohaveasystemthatreallyworksforallthepartiesinvolvedsothatweasindustrycangooutandbringnewprod-uctstomarketandthenhelpcontributetothemaintenanceofthesegermplasmsupplies.ASTHESEEDINDUSTRYROUNDEDOUT2014ANDTURNSITSATTENTIONTOWARD2015SEEDWORLDASKSINDIVIDUALSWHOAREINORSUPPLYTHESEEDANDPLANTBREEDINGINDUSTRIESWHATTHEIRPRIORITIESAREFORTHEYEARAHEAD.RESPONSESRANGEFROMDOINGABETTERJOBADVOCATINGFORTHEINDUSTRYTOINCREASINGPENETRATIONINTOTHEMARKET.CHECKOUTWHATTHEYPLANTOFOCUSONANDACCOMPLISHINTHEYEARAHEAD. 8SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015WHOMIKEMCFATRICHDIRECTOROFSEEDSOLUTIONSBUSINESSMANAGEMENTCOMPANYBASFPRODUCTSEEDTREATMENTSANDSEEDCOATINGSWereleasedtwocoatingslastyearandwearelookingatbringingforwardanewonein2015.Wehaveanewseedcoatingsmaterialthatcanbeusedoncornandsoybeansthatlooksextremelypromisingintermsofitsagronomiccontribution.Wehavetheopportunitytotakealookandunderstandhowthatcoatinginteractswithaseedappliedfungicideandhowthatmayenhanceperformance.WearelookingatcontinuallyimprovingtheproductthatwehaveinthemarketplaceintheUnitedStatedcalledVaultHPforsoybeanwhichisacombinationofaninoculantandbio-fungicide.Againthiscomplimentsatraditionalseed-appliedfungicideandtheproductcanbeappliedbythedealer.Thosearetwoareasthatarequiteinteresting.Ultimatelyformetheabilitytosaytheapplicationofourseedtreatmentofferingsintotalitywithcoatingswithbiologicalswithtraditionalseed-appliedtechnologieshowcanwecomplementgeneticsandcontinuetounderstandtheirinteractionwithgeneticssuchthatwecreateasimilanceofatraitThatisveryexciting.Whatarethetoolsthatwehavetoreallymakeasubstantiallysimilarimpactnotcom-pletelybutasimilarimpactthatallowsflexibil-ityfortheseedcompanyorthedistributororthedealerorthegrowerThesetoolsthattrulycomplementthegeneticpackageandoptimizeperformanceandhelpfarmersdealwiththechallengesofdiseasesandinsectsandallthepeststhatweencounter.WHOMARCUSMEADOWS-SMITHCEOCOMPANYBIOCONSORTIAPRODUCTCONSORTIAOFMICROBIALSOneofourprioritiesfor2015isgettingfieldtrialsout.Thiswillbethesecondyearoffieldtrialsresultssowearemovingforward.Thisyear2014fieldtrialswerecornandwheat.Nextyear2015weexpandthattosoybeantomatoandleafyvegetablesplussomeothercropsthroughcollaborations.AlreadythisweekDec.8everyonewevemetwithhassaidtheywanttoputourprod-uctsintotheirfieldtrialstotest.Wearestartingtotalkaboutcollaborationswithbothbiotechcompaniesthatareinterestedinhowwecanimprovetheirgermplasmandtheirseedlinesandthenachemicalcompanythatwantstoknowhowwecanimprovethechemistrytheyputontheseed.Soitsreallynicethatwerecollaboratingwithbothsides.Ifwecanimprovetheseedandgermplasmwecanalsoshowthatwearecompatibleandcanimprovethechemistrythatsgoingontotheseedseedtreatmentchemistries.Wecontinuetobuildoutandimproveourscreen-ingprocesses.Wearegettingmuchmoresophisticatedinthewayweusemicrobiomedataaswellasourplantphysiologyandplantgeneticstools.Weverecruitedpeopleintothecompanywhohaveexpertiseinplantphysiol-ogyandplantgeneticmolecularbiologysowecanactuallystarttolookatwhattheplantisdoingatphysiologicalandgeneticlevels.Wemarrythatknowledgewithourunder-standingofthemicroorganismsthatarecolonizing.Basicallythewindowthatwehaveintowhatshappeningbetweentheplantsandthemicroorganismsismuchclearerthanwhatwevehad.Oneofourprioritiesistocontinuetoexpandourknowledgeinthatarea.Howcanwecomplementgeneticsandcontinuetounderstandseed-appliedtechnologiesinteractionwithgeneticssuchthatwecreateasimilanceofatraitMikeMcFatrichThismicroscopyshowstheformationofplantlife.PHOTOBIOCONSORTIA. JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM9WHOROBTIEMANDIRECTOROFSALESANDMARKETINGCOMPANYBUCKHORNPRODUCTBULKBOXESThemainpriorityBuckhornestablishesforthemarketsweservefortheagricultureandseedindustryaresafety.Ourproductspro-videsafeapplications.Theyprovideefficientandeffectiveapplications.Thenwelookfornewproductideasorsolutionprovidersforourendusers.Thesafetyaspectisfirstandforemostandthencoupledwiththatiseffi-ciency.Ifpeoplecanstoreanddispenseseedfasterthentheycanaccomplishwhateverthereistodoinlesstime.Sothatswhatweconcentrateon.WHOMARCOAZZARETTIPRODUCTMARKETINGMANAGERCOMPANYKEYTECHNOLOGYPRODUCTVEOGREENEARSORTERWeareworkingtocontinuetoextendthevaluethatthisopticalcornearsortingtechnol-ogybringstoprocessors.Itsatechnologythatsstillintheearlystagesofadoption.WearelookingtocontinuetopenetratemoreandmorehuskroomsgloballysointhebigseedcornproductionregionsinNorthAmericaSouthAmericaandEurope.ThewaywearedeliveringmorevaluethroughVeoisbyexpandingitsabilitynotjusttoaccuratelysortbasedonhuskcoveragebutthroughsoftwaredevelopment.Veoisveryintelligentinidentifyingandsortingoutwhatprocessorsdeemundesirabletypeofearsintheproductstreamsuchasdiseaseearsroguetypesearsthathaveinsufficientkernelcoverageormoldyears.Startingthisyearthemachinewillfeaturemoresoftwareintelligencetobeevenmoreaccurateinthetypeofselection.Wecontinuetoimprovemachineperformancebybeingabletoviewtheproductstreamfrom360degrees.Thereareopticalsensorsonbothsidestopandbottom.Wevealsoexpandedourproductrangewhichnowcomprisesthreesizesofmachinestomatchthethreetypicalhuskersizes16lane12laneandeightlane.WithVeoMaxwhichisaveryhighcapacitymachinecustomerswhoprefernottohaveaone-to-oneratioaftereachsortercanconsoli-datetheoutputtomultiplesourceinthehuskroom.ThisallowsuserstobringcornearstoasinglehighcapacitypointVeo.SWWHATINDUSTRYLEADERSARESAYINGABOUTTHECHALLENGESANDOPPORTUNITIESINTHESEEDSECTOR.SEEDWORLD.COMGIANT-VIEWSEXPLORETheGiantViewsoftheIndustryonlinevideoseriescoversawidevarietyoftimelytopicssuchasWHATSCOMINGDOWNTHEINDUSTRYPIPELINEINFORMATIONONRESEARCHBREAKTHROUGHSTRENDSAFFECTINGTHESEEDINDUSTRYViewtheinterviewsonlinetodayatseedworld.comgiant-views 10SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015NEARLY3000SEEDindustryprofes-sionalsfromaroundtheworldgatheredinChicagoduringthesecondweekofDecemberfortheAmericanSeedTradeAssociations69thCornSorghumSeedResearchConferenceand44thSoybeanSeedResearchConferenceandSeedExpo.Duringtheshowattendeesconductedbusinessmeetingstheassociationfocusedonpolicyandresearchersspotlightednewdevelopmentsandpro-videdupdatesontheirwork.Wehadalotofissuesimpactingtheseedindus-tryonthisyearsprogramsaysAndyLaVigneASTApresidentandCEO.Theresagreatdealofconversa-tionaboutintellectualpropertyandhowitimpactsourcompaniesabilitytoinvestindevelopingnewvarietiesandnewtechnologies.Seedtreatmentsandpollinatorsareakeyissueformembersaswellastheagriculturalcommunity.Thekeytomovingalltheseissuesforwardisinno-vation.Innovationintheseedindustrywasaresound-ingthemeduringtheshowandsomethingthatBillWhitacrepresidentandCEOofJ.R.SimplotCompanyspokeaboutduringtheopeninggeneralsession.AllthatweknowisthatchangeisgoingtohappeninthefutureWhitacresaysnotingthatitsimportanttobeapartofandsupportyourindustry.Headdsthatasbusinessesandasanindustryweshouldbeorgan-izedaroundtheopportunitiesavailable.TheopportunitythatweseeattheSimplotCompanyallmanifestsitselfinawordthewordisinnovationWhitacresays.Isubstitutethewordinnovationsometimeswithintellectualcuriositywherewelookatsomethingandgohmmmtheresgottobeabetterway.Ifouremployeesandcustom-erscanhavethosetypesofdiscussionsitsveryfree-ingandeffectiveforallofus.WhitacreexplainsthatatSimplothisteamtookonthisgrandexperiment.Wetook25percentoftheincentiveormeritcompensationandputitintoaninnovationcomponentforeveryemployeeinthecompanyhesays.Itsallowedustotakeaninnova-tivecompanyacompanythatsalwaysbeencreativeandcreatednewthingsanditsallowedustofocusoninnova-tionandrewardinnovation.Itsalsoallowedustostopandaskourselveswhatsinnovativeaboutwhatweredoingorarewejustperfectingthewheel.FrequentlyitsbothandthatsOK.Whitacresaysthatagricultureisatanintersection.Werebetweenstandardagriculturalproductionandtechnologyandthatintersec-tioniswheretheworldisgoingtohavetoplayhesays.Weregoingtohavetoplaynotjustonourowntermsbutweregoingtohavetoplayoneverybodyelsesterms.Wehaveopportunities.InnovationNeededFromWhitacresholisticper-spectivehesaysthetechnologyadvancementsthatagriculturehastomakearetremendousfromagronomicstogeneticsandfromplantbreedingtosustain-abilityandfoodprocessing.Theopportunitythatwehavewithfoodprocessingisliterallyoffthechartshesays.WhenallthesepiecesareputtogetherWhitacresayssimplystatedwehavetodomorewithless.DanBasseanagriculturaleconomistwithAgResourceCompanystartedhispresentationaroundthenotionoffarmersneed-ingtoproducemoreforagrowingglobalpopulationwhileusingfewerresources.Howeverhesaysthattheoutlookforagricultureespe-ciallywhenitcomestocommoditypricesisntsobright.HighlightsfromChicagoEachyeartheAmericanSeedTradeAssociationhostsitscornsorghumandsoybeanseedresearchconference.Incaseyoumissedithereareafewofthehighlights.JulieDeeringBillWhitacreJ.R.SimplotCompanypresidentCEODanBasseAgResourceCompanypresidentandfounderHighercommoditypriceshingeuponglobalcaloricintakerisingabovethe1.7annualgainthatsbeenrecognizedsince1990.PHOTOSJULIEDEERING JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM11InfactBassesaysthatcornpriceswontriseabove5perbushelforthenextseveralyearsunlessthereisasevereweatherevent.Duringhispresentationhehighlightedsixkeydriversthattheseedindustryneedstobeawareof.TheworldsbiofuelindustryismatureBassesaysnotingthattherearenonewcornbasedethanolplantsunderconstructionintheUnitedStatesortheEuropeanUnion.Ethanolconsump-tionhasreachedtheblendwall.Bassealsocallsattentiontothefactthatout-sideofChinasrecordlargedemandforsoybeanstheworldlacksabullishdemanddriver.Thisisamuchdifferentlandscapethanthepriorbullperiodfrom2006to2013hesays.AdditionallytheBlackSearegionwillremaintheworldslargestgrainexporterforbothqualityandquantityaccordingtoBasse.Hepredictstheworldwillrampupwheatandoilseedproduc-tionin2015amidthefallingpriceoffeed-grains.Farmprofitabilityiscurtailedasseedfertilizerandtransitcostsremainhighheexplains.WhenitcomestosoybeansBassesaysthatSouthAmericawillproducearecordlargecropin2015butwilldecreaseproductionofcornandwheat.WhilesupplyanddemandfactorsarealwaysatplayBasseaddsthatcurrencymustalsobetakenintoconsideration.ArisingU.S.dollarandfallingenergypricesargueagainstthebroadcommoditymarketin2015hesays.CrudeoilBasseexpectswillbottomoutin2016atabout40to45perbarrel.DuetothesefactorslistedaboveBassecau-tionsthatareadjustmentperiodliesaheadfortheworldsgrainandoilseedfarmersforthenextthreetofiveyearswithprofitsfarbelowwhatwasrealizedfrom2005to2013.ThismeansthatU.S.andworldgovernmentprogramsbecomeparamountforproducersBassesays.BetweenBassesdepressedoutlookforcom-moditiesandWhitacresintersectionitsmoreimportantthanevertoadvocateonbehalfoftheseedindustryandagricultureandthatsexactlywhatASTAmembersandstaffaresettingouttodoaccordingtoLaVigneandJohnSchoeneckerASTAchairman.AdvocacyisthethemethatIvebeenpromot-ingwithourmembersSchoeneckersays.ItssomethingthatwevebeendoingatASTAforanumberofyearsbutwearetryingtostepitupabitandreallydevelopourAgame.AspartofthateffortASTAunveiledresultsfromnewresearchthatevaluatedconsumerperceptionandappreciationofseedandseedimprovementsaswellasanewcommunicationsinitiativetohelpimproveconsumerconfidence.Theagricul-turalindustryrecognizesthesignificanceofseedinnovationandthatmanyofthethingsthatimproveourqualityoflifecanbetracedbacktoaseedLaVignesays.Butwhenwereachbeyondtheindustrywerealizewehaveworktodoineducatingpeopleaboutthevalueofseedandseedimprovements.SchoeneckeraddsthatadvocacyisoneofthereasonsthatthisyearsASTAAnnualConventionwillreturntoWashingtonD.C.June17-20.WellhaveadaywhereweStormtheHilltoadvocatefortheissuesthatareimportanttotheindustryhesays.SWWHEREONTHEWEBFormorecoveragefromASTAscornsorghumandsoybeanseedresearchconferencevisitSeedWorld.comCSS2014. 12SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015Whatresearcherslearnfromaspecificricegenecouldonedayhelptoreducecropdamagefromfloodingthatoccursafterplanting.MELISSASHIPMANisawriterbloggerandsocialmediaspecialist.ShegrewupnearSedaliaMissouriwhereherfamilyownsandmanagesalargecattleandgrainoperation.In2011shemovedtotheKansasCityareawithherhusbandandnowenjoyswritingaboutagriculture.Flood-ProofPlantsUNDERSTANDINGTHEGENETICSofvariousseedcharacteristicscanuncoveranewworldofpotentialforstress-tolerantcrops.Someofthebiggestadvancesonthisfrontinvolvethedevelopmentofflood-proofrice.Althoughtraditionalricevarie-tiesaregrowninwetpaddiestheplantisintolerantofcompletesub-mergenceformorethanfourdays.InareaswherefloodingiscommonsuchasBangladeshandIndiasubmergencecausesanestimatedannualeconomiclossofmorethan600millionaccordingtotheInternationalRiceResearchInstitute.Howeverinrecentyearsnewricevarietieshavebeendevelopedtocombattheseconditions.ThefirstoftheseSwarna-Sub1devel-opedbyDavidMackillaUniversityofCaliforniaDavisgeneticistandotherscientistsbegantobeusedbyricefarmersin2008.Nowmorethan10millionfarmershavegrownthisparticularricevarietyandhavebeenabletoavoidcompletecroplosseswhenmonsoonsandfloodsdumptoomuchwater.WhenfloodconditionsarenotpresentSwarna-Sub1performsthesameasthefirst-generationSwarnavariety.ThedevelopmentofSwarna-Sub1wasmadepossiblebyKenongXuwhoidentifiedasinglegeneonricechromosome9calledSUB1A.XuwasmentoredbyMackillwhenheworkedatIRRIandPamelaRonaldaUniversityofCaliforniaDavisprofessorofplantpathology.Thisparticulargeneandtheformthatenablessurvivalofmonsoonfloodsispresentinsometraditionalricevarietiesgrowninflood-proneareasofIndiaandBangladesh.TodayJuliaBailey-SerresaUniversityofCaliforniaRiversideprofessorofgeneticsisworkingwithothercolleaguesattheCenterforPlantCellBiologyandIRRItolearnmoreabouthowthisgeneworksaswellashowitcanbeappliedtootheragriculturalissues.TheyarecallingitthenextGreenRevolutionBailey-Serressays.Itsremarkabletheimpactthishasinhelpingfarmerswhogrowriceinflood-proneareaswhichisabout35percentofallriceproduction.TheprimaryfocusofBailey-Serresworkistodefinethespecificmechanismsofconductingsig-nalsthatarecriticaltotheplantsresponsewhenfacedwithlessthanPHOTOLONNIEDUKA.JuliaBailey-SerresaUniversityofCaliforniaRiversideresearcherworkstounderstandwhataspecificgenedoesatacellularlevelwhenstressed. Getreadytogrowmore.TechnologyiGETInducedGeneExpressionTriggersUSA877.617.2461ABM1st.comTMSELECTIONSTMSMARTAdvancedBiologicalMarketingNetContents10Oz.284gramsTreatsupto200x140KunitssoybeanseedTMShakewellbeforemeasurementanduse.Measuringcupprovided.PATENTPENDINGTheNEXTgenerationABMhasyoucoveredwithafulllineofseedinoculantproducts.BiologicalEnhancementsforAgriculturalCropsAnAmericanCompanyProducingGlobalResultsforAgriculture. 14SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015optimalgrowingconditions.Thereasonwerestudyingthisisbecausethepar-ticulargenehasalreadybeenidentifiedandbredintofarmer-preferredvarietiesinadditiontoSwarnashesays.Butgenesdontworkinavacuum.Wewanttounderstandwhatthisgenedoesatacellularlevelinvariousstagesoftheplantwhenitisinstressnotjustduringafloodbutafteraflood.ForexampleBailey-Serresteamworkstobetterunderstandwhathap-pensatamolecularlevelwhencellsaredeprivedofoxygenduringfloods.Wehaveuncoveredlowoxygen-sensingandresponsemechanismsthatenablesur-vivalforashortperiodofoxygendepriva-tionshesays.Theteamhasalsofoundotherbenefi-cialapplicationsforthisgene.TheSUB1Agenewontcompletelypro-tectaplantfromdroughtbutthesamegenethatallowstheplanttotoleratesub-mergencehasbeenshowntoactivateinsituationswheretheplantiswithoutwater.Theplantwillstillsufferfromthedroughtbutitwillrecoverbetterthanvari-etieswithoutthegeneBailey-Serressays.Duringtheproductionofricetheseedisgerminatedandtheseedlingsarethentransplantedtowetpaddies.BecauseofthisIRRIistryingtoformulatericevarietiesthatwillgerminatesuccess-fullyfromseedwhilesubmergedyetstillmaintaintheirabilitytogodormantwhensubmergedlaterasaseedling.Eliminatingthisstepwouldmaketheplantingprocessmuchmoreefficient.Thisisanespeciallydifficultproject.Bailey-Serressaysthechallengecomesfromattemptingtocreateaseedthatwillgerminateandgrowrapidlywhileunderwaterbutthengodormantwhensubmergedasanolderplanttwocon-tradictinggoals.Youreaskingtheplanttodooppos-ingthingsoneearlyonandonelaterinitslifecycleshesays.Itsverytrickybutitseemsliketherearegeneticsolutionsthatsanareawereworkingon.Findingasolutionforrapidgermina-tionthatisindependentanddoesntoverlapinfunctionwithSUB1Agenewillgivefarmersabetterchancetoestablisharicecropbydirectseedingthatcanalsoenduresubmergencelaterinlife.IntheU.S.thesedevelopmentsinricearentnecessarilybeingusedbecauseResearchersaretryingtoformulatericevarietiesthatwillgerminatefromseedwhilesubmergedyetstillmaintaintheirabilitytogodormantlaterasaseedling.35ofallriceisgrowninflood-proneareas.600millionistheestimatedeconomiclosseachyearinBangladeshandIndiaasaresultoffloodsinriceproducingareas.2.9millionriceacreswereplantedintheUnitedStatesin2014.BYTHENUMBERSmostAmerican-grownriceisfarmedincontrolledenvironmentswithirrigationsystemsbuiltonmoderntechnology.HoweverBailey-SerressaysthatnonegativeeffectsfromaddingtheSUB1AgenetoU.S.-grownriceareknown.EvenifitsnotexactlyneededheretherecouldonlybepositivestoaddingthisgenetothevarietiesgrownintheUnitedStatesshesays.Imnotsayingtherearentnegativeswejusthaventfoundanyyet.AndBailey-Serressaysthetechnol-ogydoesntmaketheseedsmoreexpen-sivebecausetherearenolicensingfees.ItwasntdevelopedwiththeintentionofcommercialgainsotherearentreallyanyrestrictionstomovingthegenearoundintonewvarietiesshesaysnotingthatasanadvantageofworkingwithIRRI.Consideringthewiderangeofplantstressesfacedbyfarmersrangingfromfloodstodroughtsdiseaseandotherconcernsthepotentialapplicationsforbetterunderstandingthestress-responsegenecharacteristicsseemendlessespeciallywhenexpandingtheresearchoutsideofrice.ForexampleBailey-SerressaystheU.S.facesextensivedamageeachyeartocornseedlingsthatarefloodedoutearlyintheseason.Maizedoeshorriblywhensubmergeditdieswithintwoorthreedaysshesays.Currentlyresearchersarelearningabouthowspecifictraitsofageneallowaplanttosurvivesubmergenceforanextendednumberofdays.HoweverBailey-Serressaystherearenoresearchprojectsto-datedevotedtotransitioningthosegenestocorn.Typicallyfundingandsupportforseeddevelopmentprojectscomesdirectlyfromseedcompaniesthatwanttooffertheircustomersabetter-performingseed.Butwhenearlycorncropsarefloodedoutinsurancecompaniesoftenpayfarmerstoreplantusingnewseedwhichcouldincreaseseedsales.Thiscycledoesntcreatethenecessarymotivationforseedcompaniestofundtheresearchtodevelopsubmergence-tolerantcorn.Floodingcostsalotindamageandlostcropseachyearsothebiggestques-tioniswhywearentworkingonthisintheUnitedStatesBailey-Serressays.Perhapsthisisanopportunity.Ithinktheworkwevedoneinunder-standingtheSUB1Agenecouldbeofvalueinhelpingdevelopsubmergence-tolerantmaize.InthemeantimeBailey-Serresbelievesitsimportantforresearcherstounderstandasmuchaspossibleaboutthegene.Thelong-termgoalistoincreasecroptoleranceforagriculturalstress-trig-gerscombinethosestresstolerancestodevelophardiervarietiesandtocontributetothegeneralunderstandingoflow-oxy-genandgeneregulationinplantcells.Whenaparticularsolutionisdeployedwewanttounderstandhowandwhyitworksshesays.Thiswillallowustousethosebenefitstotheirfullpotential.SW JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM15MS-MBAINFOODANDAGRIBUSINESSMANAGEMENTChoosingagraduateschoolistoughbutthequalityofourprogrammakesiteasy.In27monthsyoucanearnanMBAfromtheIndianaUniversityKelleySchoolofBusinessandanMSinagriculturaleconomicsfromPurdueUniversity.YOURDECISION.JANAHAGEMANCLASSOF201285ONLINE2DEGREESNOTHESISORDISSERTATION5ONE-WEEKRESIDENCIES27MONTHSNO.12GLOBALLYFORGRADUATEEDUCATIONINAGRIBUSINESSANDFOODINDUSTRYMANAGEMENTAGRIBUSINESS.PURDUE.EDUDEGREESEAEOUContactLuannaDeMay765494-4270luannapurdue.edu Inmanymanagementaspectshoneybeesareconsideredtobesimilartotraditionallivestocksuchaspigssheepandcattlehoweverthatisnotthecasewhenitcomestoreproductionandgenetics.ItsreallyquitedifferentsaysAdrianDuehlaBayerCropScienceBiologicsseniorscientistinWestSacramentoCalifornia.Duehlwhoworkstodiscovernewmicroorganism-basedbiopesti-cidestocontrolinsectsbelievesthatinthelong-termbeeswillbeabletotakecareofthemselvesbuttheyneedsomehelpintheshortterm.BecausebeesaresocomplexbreedersarenotnecessarilylookingforaspecificmutationbutforwholehivebehaviororasuiteofdifferentgenesDuehlsays.ForexampleresearchersattheU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureareworkingtohelpbeesbettercopewiththeVarroamite.TheycaneitherbreedbeestobemoretoleranttotheVarroamiteortheycanbreedbeesthathaveVarroasensitivehygienecharacteristics.Thesehygienecharacteris-ticsarebehaviorbasedbasicallymeaningthatthebeesremovelarvaeinfestedwithmitesfromthehive.ButDuehlsaysthatresearch-erscantbreedforbothresistancemechanismsatthesametimetheymustchooseone.InthisinstanceUSDAresearcherschosetofocusonhygienecharacteristics.TomParisianaVacavilleCaliforniabeekeeperandcofounderofHoneyBeeGeneticsreferstothesecharacteristicsasCanwebuildabetterbeethatisdesignedtowithstandstressorssuchastheVarroamiteAmericanfoulbroodNosemaceranaeandevenextremeweatherconditionsthroughgeneticsprotectingpollinatorsSupportedbyQUICKFACTAqueenbeewillmatewith15dronesduringamatingflightonceinherlifetime.BUILDINGABETTERBEEhousecleaningwherethebeeswillcleanthemitesoffofthem-selvesandeachotherandalsocleanoutunhealthylarvae.HoneyBeeGeneticsisastockbreedingbusinesslocatedneartheUniversityofCaliforniaDavis.Parisianmanagestheday-to-dayaspectsofthepackagebeeandqueenproductionaswellasanactivepollinationserviceinCaliforniasCentralValley.Heknowstheimportanceofhavinghealthybees.CleaningHousePriortojoiningBayerin2012DuehlcollaboratedwiththeUSDAsHoneyBeeBreedingGeneticsandPhysiologyResearchUnitinBatonRougeLouisianawhileworkingattheCMAVEchemistryunitinGainesvilleFloridaasaresearchentomologist.16SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015Inbreedingabetterbeeresearchersselectbeeswithdesirablebehaviors. DuringhistimeatUSDAsAgriculturalResearchServiceDuehlwasworkingtotryandidentifyachemicalscentreleasedbyunhealthylarvaethatcausesbeestocleanoutacell.TherearebeesthatuncapcellssmellanddependingonifthecelllarvaeishealthythebeeswilleitherleaveitorcleanitoutDuehlsays.Wewantedtodeveloptoolstoenableindividualswithgreatersensitivitytothesmelltobeidentifiedtospeedupthebreedingprocess.Howevertheseeffortsdidntprovetobefruitful.WecouldntdoitbecausewelackedthesensitivitytodifferentiatethechemicalsreleasedDuehlsays.Todaythereareanumberofdiffer-entlaboratoriesworkingtobreedbeesthathaveVarroacontroltraits.AttheUniversityofMinnesotaresearchersareworkingtofindbeesthatpulloutunhealthylarvae.InBatonRougescien-tistsarefocusedontheVarroamite.AdditionallythereareRussianbeesthatareknowntobemoreresistanttomites.ThesestrainsarestartingtobeusedcommerciallybuttohavelocallyefficientfullyresistantstrainsisstillinthefutureDuehlsays.HoneyBeeGeneticsoffersRussianCarniolanbeeswhichcomefromstockbroughtinfromYugoslavia.Parisianexplainsthatin1993HoneyBeeGeneticspartneredwithUSDAtobreedaYugoCarniolanstockusinginstrumentalinseminationartificialinsemination.FiveyearslaterasecondgroupwasimportedfromEasternRussia.ParisiansaysthatbymovingtoanareawheremitesexisteditsbelievedCarniolanbeeshavebeenparasitizedbymitesforover100years.ThisgentlegrayblackbeehasshownexcellentresistancetoVarroaandtrachealmitesParisiansays.Thismeanstheyshouldnotrequireasmuchmitetreatmentasotherbeelines.Thesebeesoverwinterverywellandbuildupfast.BeekeepersactivelyworktobreedanumberofthesegeneticsintotheirownstockwhilekeepingthegeneticsthatthriveintheirlocalregionDuehlsays.ForexamplethegeneticsneededforbeestosurviveinMinnesotaaredifferentthanthatofBatonRougehesays.TheBirdsandTheBeesHoneybeeshaveahaplodiploidsexsystemwhichmeansthatiftheeggisfertilizeditsafemalebeeandifitsunfertilizeditsamalebee.Manytimesdronescanshowuncommonmutationsbecausetheyonlyhaveonesetofchro-mosomesinsteadoftwoDuehlsays.QueenhoneybeestakealongtimetobreedDuehlsaysexplainingthatonceinherlifetimeaqueenbeefliesouttowhatisknownasadroneaggregationareaandMEETTHEFATHEROFHONEYBEEGENETICSIn2003HarryHydeLaidlawJr.whohaddevotedhislifetoimprovingbeehealthpassedawayattheageof96.ThroughouthiscareerLaidlawworkedfortheLouisianaDepartmentofAgriculturetheU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureSouthernStatesBeeCultureFieldLaboratoryandtheUSDABeeResearchLab.Additionallyheservedasthearmyschiefentomologist.HeevenestablishedahoneybeebreedingprogramfortheEgyptianMinistryofAgriculture.In1947LaidlawjoinedtheUniversityofCaliforniaDavisDepartmentofEntomologywhereheworkedfor27yearsasateacherresearcherandpublisher.Laidlawaccordingtohisfamilyconductedhisfirstexperimentwithbeematingattheageof6.HislifetimeofresearchhelpedbeesresistanumberofdeadlydiseasesaswellastheVarroamite.AccordingtoBayersAdrianDuehlaseniorscientistinBayerBiologicalsLaidlawadvancedthescienceofbeematingandbreedingsothatscientistscaneffectivelyraiselinesofbeesthatareabletoresistenvironmentalchallenges.Allofthishelpedhimearnhistitleasthefatherofhoneybeegeneticshesays.JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM17mateswithapproximately15drones.SothequeenhasgeneticsofmanydifferentdronesDuehlsays.Thismeansthatthebeesinthehiveareactuallyhalfsiblingsinsteadoffullsiblings.BeekeepershaveatoughjobDuehlsays.Theyfaceanumberofnewprob-lemsthatdidntnecessarilyexist20yearsagoNosemaceranaetheVarroamiteanddeformedwingvirus.Hesaysotherminorpestssuchasthesmallhivebeetleinwarmmoistregionsareanadditionalchallenge.Inthelong-termbeekeepersbelievebreedingresistancetothesepressuresistheroadtosuccessbuttheshort-termisverychallenging.Beekeepersneedaccesstoasmanytoolsaspossible.Beebreedingisaclassicalartandscience.Weneedtobreedbeesthataregoodpollinatorsproducelotsofhoneyarenotoverlyaggressivetowardbee-keepersandhaveresistancetoVarroamiteandotherpests.SW 18SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015EXPANDINGINTOAmarketoutsideyourcountrysborderscanbeasourceofanxietyandrightlyso.Sellingseedabroadcomeswithrisksandchallenges.TheNo.1mistakeseedcompaniesmakeisgoingtoofastandnotfullyconsideringallthefactorsandtherisksinvolvedsaysDeanCaveyVerdantPartnersmanagingpartner.AgoodbusinessplanisessentialCaveysays.Trustisalsohuge.Youhavetobeabletoretainpeoplewithwhomyouhaveaveryhighleveloftrust.Thatmightbethemostimportantfactorfindingtherightpersonororganizationyouwanttodobusinesswithsoyoucanbettermanagetherisks.With35yearsofexperienceintheglobalseedhorticultureandagribusinessindustriesCaveyhasprovidedadvicetocountlessseedcompaniesreadytotaketheplungeintoforeignmarkets.Hesayswonder-fulbenefitsawaitthosewhodobutthosebenefitscantberealizedunlessyousuccessfullynavigatetheturbulentwatersoftheinternationalmarketplace.CulturaldifferencesbetweencountriesCaveysaysareoftenoverlooked.ForexamplealotofpeoplelumpArgentinaandBraziltogetherandsayOKthosearethetwobigagriculturalmarketsinSouthAmericaandthinkofthemasthesamehesays.Nothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth.BraziliansspeakPortugueseandArgentinesspeakSpanish.Notonlyaretherelanguagedifferencesbutalsotheirbusinessethicsdiffer.Politicsandeconom-icsplayamajorroleinestablishingapresenceinanewcountryormarketCaveysays.SuccessHingesUponExperienceAspresidentofGoldenValleySeedaCaliforniaveg-etableseedcompanyNassifBurkhuchknowstherisksinvolvedinenteringinternationalmarketsespeciallyonesindevelopingcountries.BurkhuchhasoverseensalestotheMiddleEastNorthAfricaandCentralandSouthAmericas.BurkhuchwhohailsfromLebanonsaysithelpstohavepersonalexperiencewithotherlanguagesandculturesorsomeoneonstaffwhodoes.AlotofNorthAfricancountriesforexampleareFrench-andSpanish-speakinghesays.Ifyoudonthaveanyonewhospeaksthosetwolanguagesitshard.ApartofGoldenValleySeedssuccessisattributabletoBurkhuchsabilitytospeakFrenchSpanishItalianandArabic.CultureimpactsseedsalesinmanydifferentwaystothepointwhereAmericancompaniesareoftenatadisadvantagewhensellingtodevelopingnationsBurkhuchsays.Pricehagglingisaculturalmainstayinmanypartsoftheworld.YouhavetoknowthatwhateverthepricemightbeitsneverthefinalonehesaysnotingthatAmericancompaniesingeneraldontlikethat.CulturalDifferencesMakeExpansionaChallengeWhenitcomestoexpandingininternationalmarketsexperienceandagoodbusinessplancanmeanthedifferencebetweenfailureandsuccess.MarcZienkiewiczCulturecanimpactseedsalesinmanydifferentwaystothepointwhereAmericancompaniesareoftenatadisadvantagewhentryingtoselltodevelopingnationsexplainsNassifBurkhuchpresidentofCaliforniasGoldenValleySeeds.TheNo.1mistakeseedcompaniesmakeisgoingtoofastandnotfullyconsideringallthefactorsandtherisksinvolvedsaysDeanCaveymanagingpartnerforVerdantPartners.AccordingtoCaveysmallerseedcompaniestendtohaveahardertimeexpandingintointerna-tionalmarkets.Withoutthatback-groundininternationalsalesthatlargercompaniestendtohaveitsharderforasmallercompanytogointoanewmarkettodayhesays.ButBurkhuchbelievessmallercompanieshaveaninherentadvan-tage.LargeAmericancompaniesarebeginningtoforgetaboutbreedingtothespecificneedsandwantsofpeopleinotherpartsoftheworldhesays.Notalotofcompaniesarewillingtogrowmulti-plevarietiesfromsmalltoextralarge.Forcompanieslikeourswecancapitalizeonthat.SW Drive-overHopperConventionalAugerConventionalAuger-FeterlOriginalBacksaverAuger-FeterlOriginal1214BacksaverAuger-FeterlOriginal12BacksaverAuger101316UtilityAugerUnloadingAugerRollermillHammermillGrainVac-PTOModelGrainVac-DieselModelGrainCleanerCrucialdetailsconnectingyourcombinetothemarketVisitwww.farm-king.comtofndadealernearyou.2014BuhlerTradingInc.infobuhler.comwww.farm-king.comHigherinputcostsandtightermarginsrequireacompletegrainmanagementsystemtomakeyouroperationasproftableaspossible.ThecompletelineoFarmKinggrainhandlingequipmentensuresyougettopdollaroryourcrop.WithdecadesograinhandlingexperienceFarmKingoerseverythingyouneedtogetyourgraintomarketateritleavesthecombine.www.farm-king.comGrainCart-10601360 20SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015MARKTWAINISquotedashavingsaidtherumorsofmydeathhavebeengreatlyexag-gerated.Rapidconsolidationintheseedindustryduringthepasttwodecadescouldcausesomeregionalindependentseedcompaniestofeelthesameway.HoweverImproudtoreportthatregionalindependentseedbrandsarealiveandwellacrosstheUnitedStatesandinternationally.Thetotalnumberofseedbrandspeakedinthemid1900sandthenreachedall-timelowsinthelate90safterchemicalcompa-niesrecognizedtheirfuturehingedonowninggermplasmandtheabilitytomarketproductsdirectlytofarmers.Astheseseedcompanieswereacquiredmarketsharebeganshiftingfromlocalandregionalownershiptonationally-focusedcompanies.Theuntoldstoryliesintherecentpastasmarketsharerepre-sentedbyregionalindependently-ownedseedbrandshasreturnedtopreviouslevelsandcollectivelywouldrepresentthethirdlargestseedbrandintheUnitedStates.Theseregionalseedbrandshaveremainedindependentbychoiceandfarmersappreciatetheseadditionaloptionsintheseedmar-ketplace.Aslandequipmentandotherinputcostshaveincreasedseedperformanceismoreimportantthanever.Competitiveyieldshavebecometablestakesinthispokergameandweedandinsect-resist-ancearethefirstante.Consideringtheconsolidationofgermplasmandmarketshareintheseedindustryhowdoregionalcompa-niesremainsooptimisticGREGRUEHLEIndependentProfessionalSeedAssociationCEORegionalindependentseedcompaniesarethriving.Onecouldpointtoanumberoffactorsimpactingregionalseedbrandstoday.Forinstancemoreprevalentout-licensingopportuni-tiesexisttodaythanintherecentpastcreatingunheardofcompe-titionforspaceinseedproductguides.Alsohigh-performingbiotechpackagesareenteringthemarketplaceandprovidingnewchoicesforgrowers.Weedresist-ancechallengeshavecausedaresurgenceinnon-traitedseedinmanypartsofthecountrybutwith-outhavingtocompromiseonyield.Avarietyofseedtreatmentprod-uctsbothchemicalandbiologicalhelpprotecttheinvestmentinseedperformanceandviability.Germplasmbiotechnologyandseedtreatmentsarethesetoolsaloneenoughtohelpregionalindependently-ownedseedbrandsbeviableinacompetitivemarket-placeTheycertainlyhelpbutasPaulHarveyusedtosayherestherestofthestory.UniqueGeneticCombinationsRegionalseedcompaniescanselectgermplasmcombinationsfromnofewerthansixdifferentgeneticsuppliersandmakecombi-nationsamongthosesuppliersthatareuniqueinthemarketplace.LocalProductsGeneticstraitsandseedtreat-mentsthataretailoredtotheuniqueagronomicneedsofafarmratherthanbroadlydesignedtofitfromseatoshiningseahelpdif-ferentiateregionalseedcompanies.Withagriculturesinherentrisksitsmoreimportantthanevertominimizethoseriskswithproductstailoredtoaddressyouruniqueagronomicchallenges.CustomerServiceThesesamecompanieslivewherefarmersliveareaccessibleandsupportwhatsimportanttothem.Whilecustomerservicemightsoundpasstosomeagricultureremainsahandshakebusiness.ResponsivenessMeetingacustomersproductneedsisagiventhesedays.Responsivesuppliersalsohelpcus-tomersmeettheirgoalsthroughagronomicresearchtheuseofnewtechnologiesandotherser-vicesbecomingmoreprevalentinagriculture.Mostoftodaysregionalindependentseedbrandshaveremainedindependentbychoice.Indoingsotheycontributetothenumberofchoicesavailableforgrowersacrossthecountry.SWINDEPENDENTBYCHOICECompetitiveyieldshavebecometablestakesinthispokergameandweed-andinsect-resistancearethefirstante.GregRuehleTherumorsofmydeathhavebeengreatlyexaggerated.MarkTwain POLYMERSCOLORANTSSeedcoatingpolymersthatprovideasmoothevencoveragekeepingyourprotswiththeseednotinthebag.ManycoloroeringsaswellasUNICOATNUDEwhichgivesthecoatedproductanaturalseedappearance.Customblendingproductsforspecializedcustomerrequirements.SystemsEquipmentOver30yearsofexperiencewithequipmentdesignmanufacturingandinstallationoneverycontinentontheglobe.Wehavedoneevery-thingfromthesmallestlaboratorysystemtocompletelarge-scaleseedcoatingplants.DaveWaldoc503-507-3499.p503-838-6568edaveuniversalcoating.netwww.ucoatsystems.com3150CCSRotaryCoatingSystemUNICOATCoveringYourSeedCoatingNeeds.AdvancedBaggingSystemsDealerforSuperabsorbentpolymerallowstheseedlingtosurviveforlongerperiodsbetweenwaterapplicationevents.Thiscoatingprovidesasmoothevencoatsignicantlyreducingdusto. Whileitscriticaltolookaheaditsalsoimportanttorememberourhistoryandreflectupontheprogressthatsbeenmade.Discoverthefacesbehindthatprogressandtodaysseedindustry.JulieDeeringMarkHalsallLindsayHoffmanBrianWallheimerMarcZienkiewiczSECRETSOFTHESEEDINDUSTRYSMOSTINNOVATIVE24SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015FOUNDERSSERIESPART1OF6 Harryhopestorevolutionizehowcornisgrownandtherebydoubleworldcornoutput.Hehasbredcorntogrowatahigherdensitywithshorterplantsandleavesthatattractmoresunlight.Additionallythiscorncanbeplantedinnarrowerrowssignificantlyincreasingyields.ThatsbringingaverynewtwisttohybridcornproductionwhichisalotoffunMyronsays.Itsnotsimplytakingcornhybridsandplantingthemthicker.Itsactuallychangingthegeneticstoworkinthatenvironment.AccordingtoForbesStineSeedCompanyisAmericaslargestpri-vately-ownedseedcompanyandthefourthlargestseedcompanyoverall.JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM25AsaplantbreederandentrepreneurHarryStineofStineSeedhasexcelledatdeliveringadvancedsoybeangeneticstoU.S.farmers.Itsnotsimplytakingcornhybridsandplantingthemthicker.Itsactuallychangingthegeneticstoworkinthatenvironment.MyronStineTOSAYTHATtheseedindustryhasexperiencedchangesincetheinceptionofSeedWorldisagrossunderstatement.Onehundredyearsagotherewerenocomputersnobiotechnologynobioinformat-icsnosensorsforsortingandcertainlynoInternet.Infactagreatdealoftheworkdoneintheseedindustrywasstilldonebyhandandthehomegarden-ingsectoraccountedforamuchlargershareofthemarketthanitdoestoday.Thisarticleisthefirstinaseriesthatlookstorec-ognizeinnoparticularorder100individualswhohavetrulybeentransformationalintheseedindustry.Theyhaveprovidedleadershipduringtryingtimesinsighttocomplexissuesandacommitmenttosomethinglargerthanself.The100foundersoftheseedindustrythatwevechosentorepresentthedramaticchangesduringthepastcenturyhaveallleftatremendousmarkbeitinplantbreedingtechnologybusinessorthepolicyarenathatimpactstheseedindustry.Asagrouptheyrepresenttheindustrysdiversityandhailfromallovertheworld.Weknowtheprogressandadvancementsrealizedtodayhavenotbeenaccomplishedbyjust100people.Ithasrequiredhundredsofthousandsofdedicatedindividualsthroughoutthisrichandhighlytexturedindustryaswellasthecreativitydriveandfortitudeofpeoplelikeyou.Sothinkofthislistonlyasabeginningandfeelfreetocontributethenamesofindividualswhomyouthinkhavelefttheirmarkontheindustrytonewsissuesink.com.HarryStineStineSeedCompanywhichHarrysfatheroriginallyfoundedinthe1950sasStineSeedFarmanditsaffili-atesnowownmorethan800patentsatleast750ofwhicharedirectlyrelatedtosoybeans.HarryStinegrewupontheseedfarmoutsideofDesMoinesIowa.Hebegandabblinginseedbreedinginthe1960sandafterrealizingthepotentialofafuturetherehebeganasoybeanbreedingprogramwhichhadpreviouslyonlybeendonebyuniversities.By1973StineandBillEbyformedMidwestOilseedswhichtodayisthesoybeangeneticslicensingcompanyofchoice.SincethenStinequietlybuiltsomeofthemostgeneticallyrobustandhighest-yieldingsoybeanseedsintheindustry.Hewasoneofthefirsttopatentthegeneticsofthesoybeanintheearly1990sandasabusinessmannegotiateddealslicens-ingthegeneticstocompaniessuchasMonsantoandDuPont.AlsoduringthattimeStinebegansellingcornandsoftredwinterwheat.TodayStineSeedemploysnearly400peoplein16statesincludingthreeofhischildrenBrendaMyronandWarren.TheStinesdevelopcorngeneticsandbiotechnologytraitsfortheseedindustry.OnthecornsideStinehasanumberofnewhigh-yieldgeneticsunderdevelopment. B.R.BarwaleAsayoungmaninthe1950sB.R.BarwalelookedaroundrecentlyindependentIndiaandsawsmallfarmersjustlikehimtendingtheirfewacres.Heliketheothershopedthecropwouldproduceenoughtosellbutoftentherewasntevenenoughtofeedthefarmershousehold.Butthatisntallhesaw.Barwalesawopportunitynotonlyforhimselfbutforthecountlessmenandwomentoilingintheirfields.Whenhegotaholdofsomehigh-yieldingokraseedinthelate1950shewasimpressedanddecidedthatheshouldgrowthecropforseedsandsellthematreasonablepricestootherfarmers.SeeinghownewhybridscouldtransformthelivesofsomeofthepoorestpeopleinhiscountryBarwalefoundedMaharashtraHybridSeedsCompanyknownasMahycoandinvestedhimselfinthecauseofrevolutionizingIndiasseedindustrybranchingouttoothercrops.By1964Barwalewassellingseedsacrossthecountryspecifi-callytosmallerfarmsatlowprices.Hespenttimeworkingwithilliter-atefarmerstodemonstratenewhybridtechnologiesandhelpedthemfinanceinvestmentstogrowtheiroperations.SoonMahycowasstartingitsownresearchprogramseventuallyopeningtheMahycoLifeSciencesResearchCentertopushAsiasadvancementofseedresearch.Morethan50yearsafterBarwalesoldhisfirstbatchofokraseedstohisneighborshiscom-panycontractswithmorethan100000growers.SincethenseeddistributioninIndiahasgrown40-fold.In1998BarwalereceivedtheWorldFoodPrizeawardandinvestedthatmoneyintoresearchforhybridricevarieties.Barwalefirmlybelievesthatfeedingandcaringforthepeople26SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015Ideaswontkeep.Somethingmustbedoneaboutthem.AlfredNorthWhiteheadCultivatorsoftheeartharethemostvaluablecitizens.Theyarethemostvigorousthemostindependentthemostvirtuousandtheyaretiedtotheircountryandweddedtoitslibertyandinterestsbythemostlastingbonds.ThomasJeffersonThesecretofimprovedplantbreedingapartfromscienticknowledgeislove.LutherBurbank ernstseed.comsalesernstseed.com800-873-3321NativeseedsforPollinatorHabitatRestorationReclamationSustainableLandscapesConservationBiomassofIndiaisGodsworkasheoncetoldBusinessweek.YuanLongpingKnowntheFatherofHybridRiceYuanLongpinghasmanyawardstohiscredit.ThemostnotableistheWorldFoodPrizehereceivedin2004forhisbreakthroughachievementindevelopingthegeneticmaterialsandtechnologiesessentialforbreedinghigh-yieldinghybridricevarieties.BorninBeijingChinain1930Yuanisrecognizedasthefirstscientisttosuccess-fullyaltertheself-pollinatingcharacteristicsofriceandfacilitatethelarge-scalepro-ductionofhybridricewhichhas20percentmoreyieldthaneliteinbredvarieties.Yuanbeganhislifelongworkinagriculturein1953aftercompletingagronomystudiesatSouthwesternAgriculturalCollegeinChongqingChina.Hebeganresearchondevelopinghybridricein1964atatimewhenitwaswidelyacceptedthathybridvigororhetero-siscouldnotbebredinaself-pollinatedcropsuchasrice.NeverthelessYuanfirmlybelievedthatheterosisisauniversalphenomenonandcouldbeappliedtoricecrops.Hewasabletobreedauniquesetofgenetictoolsthatenabledthedevelop-mentofhybridriceandhisnewvarietieswereputintocommercialproductioninChinain1976.Yuanhascontinuedhisscientificexplorationintonewapproachestoenhancetheheterosislevelandtosimplifythemethodologyforhybridricebreeding.HehasledaprojecttodevelopasuperhybridricewhichhasanadditionalyieldincreaseoftheUnitedNationsallowinghimtomovetotheUnitedKingdomtostudyatBirminghamUniversity.DespitehiswhitecollarbackgroundandencouragementfromfamilytobecomeapriestJonespursuedthefieldofagriculture.In1979hereceivedamastersdegreeandin1983adoctorateinplantbiology.Therestastheysayishistory.JonesbeganhiscareerasaricebreederwiththeWestAfricaRiceDevelopmentAgencyWARDAoneoftheinterna-tionalresearchcenterssponsoredbytheConsultativeGrouponInternationalAgriculturalResearch.The1985riceriotsinSierraLeonecatalyzedbyashortageofricestrengthenedJonesresolvetobecomeariceresearcher.In1991JoneswasappointedheadofWARDAsUplandRiceBreedingProgramthenlocatedinCtedIvoire.HewasamongthefirstagriculturalscientiststounderstandthatAfricaneededtodoitsownresearchanddeveloptechnol-ogiesadaptedtoitsspecificconditions.HewasalsoamongthefirsttorealizethevalueofAfricasindigenousricespeciesasarichreservoirofgenesforresistancetoseverallocalstresses.In1994JonesandhisteamsucceededforthefirsttimeinproducingfertileprogeniesNewRiceforAfricalaterdubbedNERICAbycrossinganAsianOryzasativaricespecieswithanAfricanO.glaberrimaricespecies.Crossingdifferentspeciesisnotoriouslydifficultbecauseofthehighprobabilityofsterilityintheoffspring.WiththeabilitytoresistweedssurvivedroughtsandthriveonpoorsoilsgainedfromitsAfricanparentthepopularJANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM27potentialof20percent.Yuansnewhybridricetech-nologyhasnotonlypro-videdtremendousbenefitsforChinabutalsohasbeenenthusiasticallyadoptedinothercountries.SinceChinesehybridricewasintroducedtotheworldin1979YuanandhisresearchassociateshavetraveledtoIndiaVietnamMyanmarBangladeshSriLankaandtheUnitedStatestoprovideadviceandconsultationtoriceresearchpersonnel.Yuanslegacyistrulyglobalinscope.Hisresearchinstitutehastrainedmorethan3000scientistsfrommore50countriesandfarmersaroundtheworldcontinuetobenefitfromhistechniqueswiththespreadandadoptionofhybridricethroughoutAsiaAfricaandtheAmericas.MontyJonesFromhisearlydaysinSierraLeoneMontyJonesdreamedofhelpingfeedtheworld.AftercompletinghisprimaryeducationJonesreceivedafellowshipfromtheFoodandAgricultureOrganizationBreedingtheNERICAricevarietiesMontyJonesputriceresearchinAfricaonthemap.PHOTOTHEWORLDFOODPRIZE. 28SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015www.biodiagnostics.net715-426-0246507HighlandDriveRiverFallsWI54022Productintegrityisthemostimportantthingyoucanoerintodaysultra-competitiveseedindustry.Thatswhyourprocessesordeliveringaccuratedataareunsurpassedwhetheryouneedtoknowaboutgeneticandtraitpuritygerminationvigorseedtreatmentloadingratesoradventitiouspresence.WithproprietaryservicesliketheSuperColdTestandtestingpackageslikePure-ProductionBioDiagnosticsdeliversconfdenceefcientlyandcompetitivelyorunmatchedvalue.THERESNEVERASEEDOFDOUBT.WHENYOUVALUEACCURACYABOVEALLELSEPutyourseedtestingconcernstorest.Contactustoday.NERICAvarietiesoutper-formeditsparents.ThankstoNERICAsabilitytoincreasefarmersharvestsby25to250percentAfricawascatapultedalmostover-nightfromrelativeobscurityamongtheinternationalriceresearchanddevelopmentcommunityintothelimelight.ForhisworkJoneswasawardedtheWorldFoodPrizein2004theUnitedNationsFoodandAgriculturalOrganizationsInternationalYearofRice.Somesmall-scaleproduc-ersaresolackinginresourcesthattheyaremerelyscratch-ingalivingfromday-to-dayandcannotproducemarket-ablesurplusesJonessays.Theyneedacashinjectionandoftenreadilyavailableinnovationstobreakoutofthepovertytrapandhavethemeanstostophavingtominetheirlandandinvestinimprovements.AgricultureisAfricasdominantindustrysoitfollowsthatthecommercialbankshaveahugeopportunityandresponsibilityinassistingthedevelopment.JoneswasappointedtheexecutivesecretaryoftheForumforAgriculturalResearchinAfricabasedinGhana.AtFARAheoverseesadvocacyandcoordinationeffortsinsupportofregionalresearch.BecauseofhismanyfirstsandcontinueddedicationTimemagazinenamedJonesasoneoftheworldsmostinfluentialpeoplein2007.HenryBeachellThereisalotapersoncandoafterretirementbutitsrarethatthoseaccomplishmentsincludefeedingbillionsofpeopleacrosstheworld.HenryBeachelldidjustthatwithhisIR8riceavarietythatrespondedwelltofertilizerswasresistanttopestsandpro-ducedmorethandoubletheamountofricethattraditionalplantswereyielding.TodaymostofthericegrownintheworldcomesfromplantsthatbuiltonBeachellsworkbuttheWorldFoodPrizelaureateneverevenplannedtoworkonrice.AfterfinishingdegreesattheUniversityofNebraskaandKansasStateUniversityBeachellintendedtodevotehiscareertowardresearchingwheat.ButhewasofferedajobwiththeU.S.DepartmentofAgriculturetostudyriceanoccurrencethatbillionsofpeoplemightbethankfulfor.From1931to1963BeachellsworkgreatlyimprovedricevarietiesintheUnitedStates.AfterheretiredBeachellwenttoAgricultureisAfricasdominantindustrysoitfollowsthatthecommercialbankshaveahugeopportunityandresponsibilityinassistingthedevelopment.MontyJones JOINUSINTAMPAorASTAsastestgrowingeventoeringunrivalednetworkingandeducationalopportunitiesortheglobalvegetableandfowerseedindustry.RegisterTodaywww.amseed.org 30SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015workattheInternationalRiceResearchInstituteinthePhilippineswherehisbreakthroughIR8ricevarietyrevolution-izedthecropinthe1960s.IR8wasshortsturdyandmoreresist-anttothepeststhatplaguedtraditionalvarieties.Insteadof1to2tonsofgrainperhectaregrowersstartedaveraging4or5tons.Somesawasmuchas10tons.ButBeachellwasntfinished.IR8wasstillsusceptibletocertainpestsanditwasconsideredaninferiorcookingrice.BeachelltookmanycolleaguesunderhiswingincludingGurdevKhushwithwhomBeachellsharedthe1996WorldFoodPrize.KhushsolvedmanyofIR8sproblemswithIR36whichgrewevenfasterandproducedgrainthatwasdesir-abletoconsumers.BeachellworkedallhislifeconsultingwithRice-Tecthefirstcompanytocom-mercializehybridriceseedintheUnitedStates.Helivedtoseehis100thbirthdaydyingin2006inhisTexashome.GurdevKhushWhilehisnamemayhavepassedthelipsofmanyhislifesworkpassedthelipsofalmosthalfmankindsharesRonaldCantrellformerdirectorgeneralofIRRIinsummingupthecontributionsofGurdevKhush.Inthe1960sricegrowerswerepro-ducingabout250tonsofthegrainstapleeachyearbutitwasntenough.ThepopulationsofsoutheastAsiawereandstillarebooming.Andfoodproductionwasntkeepingupwiththedemand.ItwasaboutthattimethatGurdevKhushwashiredattheInternationalRiceResearchInstitute.KhushthesonofawheatfarmerinnorthernIndiawaspushedtowardeducationbyhisfather.HegraduatedfromPunjabAgriculturalUniversitytraveledtoEnglandandworkedinafactorytosaveuptoattendtheUniversityofCaliforniaDaviswhereheworkedontomatogenetics.KhushwasheadofplantbreedingatIRRIwithinfiveyearsofbeinghiredandwasmentoredbyHenryBeachell.KhushbuiltoffBeachellssignatureaccomplishmentahigh-producingvari-etyofricecalledIR8whichhadsignifi-cantlyimprovedcropproductionandprotection.ThroughhisworkIR36wasborn.IR36isconsideredthemostwidelyWhilehisnamemayhavepassedthelipsofmanyhislifesworkpassedthelipsofalmosthalfofmankind.RonaldCantrellBuildingoffofHenryBeachellsIR8ricevarietyGurdevKhushreleasedIR36knownasthemostwidelycultivatedfoodcropintheworld.HenryBeachellpioneeredplantbreedinginricedevelopingIR8andhelpingtofeedbillionsofpeopleacrosstheworld.PHOTOTHEWORLDFOODPRIZE.PHOTOTHEWORLDFOODPRIZE. thesortofthingyouhavetoseetobelieveCIMBRIASEACOLORSORTERSAtBratneyCompanieswestrivetointegratenewtechnologiesthathelpourcustomersproducethehighestqualityproductsandattainthegreatestproductionrates.CimbriaSEAColorSortersarethelatestsolutionweareproudtooffer.State-of-the-artopto-electronictechnologiesprovidethehighestaccuracyensuringthegreatestpurityofproduct.Thissortofthingcantransformyouroperation.IntegratingInnovationIntoAgricultureCONTACTUSTODAYFORFULLSPECSANDPRICING.3400109thStreetDesMoinesIA50322800-247-6755www.bratney.com 32SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015WHEREONTHEWEBThisarticlewillcontinuetounfoldthrough2015socheckoutthelatestadditionstoourFoundersoftheSeedIndustrylistat100YearsOfGrowth.com.plantedfoodcropintheworld.Inthe50yearssinceitscreationriceproductionincreasedfrom257milliontonsto686milliontonsperyear.TheshortersturdierplantKhushdevelopedisresistanttomorepestsandproducesagrainthatisdesirabletoconsumersincreasingprof-itsforgrowers.IR36hasbeenbuiltuponseveraltimesincludingIR72whichbecamethehighest-yieldingricecropintheworldintheearly1990s.Afterhis2002retirementfromIRRIKhushbecameanadjunctfacultymemberatUC-Davistocontinuetrainingfuturescientists.KhushisconsideredoneofthefathersoftheGreenRevolutionaseriesofresearchdevelopmentsthatsignificantlyincreasedfoodproductionespeciallyinsomeofthepoorestcoun-triesintheworld.SurinderVasalBreedingandadvancingqualityproteinmaizeQPMtoimproveproductivityandnutritioninmalnourishedandpov-erty-strickenareasworldwidehasbeenSurinderVasalsmissionsince1959.ItwasthenthatIndiasVasallaunchedhiscareerasaresearcherfortheDepartmentofAgricultureinHimachalPradeshandlaterworkedasamaizebreederatHimachalAgriculturalCollege.VasaltookuphisfirstassignmentoutsideIndiain1967workingwiththeRockefellerFoundationinThailandresearchingmaizeinclosecollaborationwiththeNationalCornandSorghumResearchCenterofKasetsartUniversity.HereVasalwasconfrontedbyaprob-lemconventionalmaizeisapoor-qualityfoodstapleoftenleadingtomalnutrition.CombiningcerealchemistryandplantbreedingtechniquesVasalworkedwithcolleagueEvangelinaVillegastocom-bineconventionalmaizewithgeneticmodifiers.Throughoutthe1970stheyproducedandanalyzedgermplasmatanastonishingratesometimesprocessingupto25000samplesayear.Bythemid-1980stheteamhadproducedaQPMgermplasmwithhardkernelcharacter-isticsandtastesimilartothetraditionalgrainandwithmuchhighernutritionalcontent.Vasalwasrecognizedwiththe2000WorldFoodPrizeforhiseffortsboostingthenutritionalcontentofmaize.From1985to1996VasalwentontocoordinateInternationalMaizeandWheatImprovementCentersCIMMYTgermplasmprogramandLowlandTropicalMaizeProgramwhichintroducedthefirstsetof58tropicaland42subtropicallines.Anotheradditional62tropicalwhiteandyellowlinesweredevelopedinthe1990s.Takingonanewrolein1997VasalbeganleadingCIMMYTsAsianRegionalMaizePrograminThailand.HehasstrengthenedregionalhybridresearchactivitiesandcoordinatestheTropicalAsianMaizeNetwork.MaizeisperhapsoneofafewcropsofferingsomanyoptionsintheproductionofawidevarietyofmaizehybridsVasalsaysexplainingitsunlimitedpotential.Besidesawiderangeofprogenitorscanbeusedinforminghybridsofbothconventionalandnon-conventionaltypes.EvangelinaVillegasEvangelinaVillegasaccomplishmentsaremanybutshesper-hapsbestknownforbeingthefirstwomanawardedtheWorldFoodPrize.ShewashonoredforhergroundbreakingworkdoneincollaborationwithSurinderVasalonthedevelop-mentofqualityproteinmaizeQPM.BorninMexicoCityshebeganhercareerin1950asaresearcheratMexicosNationalInstituteofNutritionandattheSpecialStudiesOfficewhichwascosponsoredbytheRockefellerFoundationandtheMexicanSecretaryofAgricultureandLivestockandlaterwasconvertedintotheInternationalMaizeandWheatImprovementCenterCIMMYT.ItwasthereshemetVasal.VillegaswasinchargeofthelabinvestigatingproteinqualityandVasalwasaplantbreederassignedtoworkondevelopingQPManewkindofmodi-fiedmaizewithfarbetternutritionalqualitythanconventionalmaizewhichoftenleadstomalnutritionindevelopingnations.AlongwithVasalVillegasdevelopedaQPMgermplasmwithmuchhighernutritionalvaluethanconventionalmaize.Finallyintheearly1990sCIMMYTgainedtheinternationalsup-portandfundingtopromotetheQPMmaizevarietyinAfrica.SincethenQPMhasalsosavedlivesinChinaMexicoandCentralAmerica.In2000formerMexicanpresidentErnestoZedillopre-sentedVillegaswiththe2000WomanoftheYearAwardsponsoredbytheMexicanWomensAssociation.WhatIwouldliketodowiththisprizeismaketheworldmoreawareofwhatwehavedevelopedVillegassays.BecauseformethegreatesthonorasaMexicanwouldbetoseethefieldsofMexicooverflowingwithQPMmaize.SWWorkingtoreducemalnutritionthroughplantbreedingEvangelinaVillegasalongwithSurinderVasaldevelopedqualityproteinmaize.PHOTOTHEWORLDFOODPRIZE. Thefirstandonlytrainingcompanytoconductoptimizedseedtraiteducationstewardshipandcompliancetrainingforseedcompaniesdealersgrowersandfieldspecialists.Withmultipletrainingservices10yearsindustryexperienceandcustomizedtrainingtechnologySTEPhasdevelopedtrainingresearchandcompliancepartnershipswithkeyseedindustrycompanies.Thesepartnershipsaredrivingbreakthroughdiscoveriesintraittechnologycomplianceandstewardshiptraining.Tapintoourexperienceandexpertiseanduseourservicestodevelopatrainingprogramforyourcompanyorsupportanalreadyexistingprogram.OursupportservicesincludeTargetedSeedDealernetworktrainingandeducationOn-FarmAssessmentsOn-siteGrowerEducationTraitRoyaltyintegrityIntellectualPropertytrainingProgramIntegrityandComplianceAndmoreBenefitfromoveradecadeofouruniqueAgIndustryexperienceandsupportservices...LetuscustomizeaprogramthatfitsyourSeedTraitandProductStewardshipneeds.Contactustodayat1-877-330-STEP-7837oremailusatcontacts-t-e-p.orgforaconsultationandneedsassessment.WewouldlovetodiscusshowSTEPcansupportyourcompanysAgIndustryefforts. 34SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015LOSINGGENERATIONSOFFARMERSISNTJUSTAPROBLEMFORSMALLTOWNSANDFAMILYOPERATIONSITSALSOACHALLENGEFORTHEINDUSTRIESCHARGEDWITHFEEDINGTHEEXPLODINGPOPULATION.TOMEETTHENEEDSOFMOREANDMOREPEOPLEINMOREDIVERSECLIMATESAGRICULTURENEEDSWELL-EDUCATEDENTREPRENEURIALTALENT.Enterseedcompanieswhicharetakingonsomeoftheresponsibilityforeducatingthenextgenerationsoffoodproducers.MichelleBookDuPontPioneerdirectorofcommunityandacademicrelationssaysthecompanyusesanacademicoutreachapplicationcalledMyAmericanFarmdevelopedbytheAmericanFarmBureauFoundationtoteachyoungpeopleaboutfarmingandfoodsupplychains.MyAmericanFarmwasdesignedtobeafunonlineapplicationthatparentsandteach-erscanuseinandoutoftheclassroomBookexplains.TodaywearesoremovedfromtheactualgrowingofourfoodthatmanypeopledontevenrealizewheretheirfoodcomesfromBooksays.Parentscanusetab-letsandsmartphonestoaccesstheappwhileteacherscandownloaditonlineanduseitintheclassroom.TheappistargetedtowardK-12students.BooksaysPioneersacademicoutreachgoalsaretoengagemorestudentsinscienceandtomakesurethepublicsknowledgeofagscienceisaccurate.Thehopeistoexposestudentsinter-estedinsciencetofoodproduction.SproutingKnowledgeCompaniesdedicateresourcestohelpeducateyouthabouttheimportanceofscienceandtechnologyaswellastheopportunitieswithinagriculture.SandiKarstensAspartofDowAgroSciencesSTEMeducationinitiativethecompanyhoststheCoolGreenToolBiotechSeedFestivaleachyear.ThefestivalisdesignedtosparkstudentsinterestinscienceandinspirethemtopursueSTEM-relatededucationsandcareers. BULKSEEDSYSTEMSWith30yearsofexperiencedesigningandmanufacturingseedhandlingsystemsConvey-Allisthelogicalchoiceforyourbulkseedsite.Whetheryourequireanindividualcomponentoracompletesystemforyouroutsidestorageyardorinsideyourplantoursystemsaredesignedtohandledelicateseedsandreducecrosscontamination.WithConvey-AllyougetthepeaceofmindthatallourproductsincludeCompletecustomdesignfabricationinstallationandaftersalesservicesIn-plantandstorageyardsystemsCapacitiestomatchyourexactrequirementsSeedtreatingandothersystemsarecompatibleandcanbeincorporatedIdealforbulkseedplantsfromConvey-AllIndustriesInc.RECEIVEACOMPLIMENTARYSEEDHANDLINGINFORMATIONPACKAGECall1-800-418-9461orregisteratWWW.CONVEY-ALL.COMwww.convey-all.com 36SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015Wearetryingtogrowamoreagscience-literatepopulationandwantstudentstobeopentotheideaandpossibilityofagsciencecareersBooksays.TheMyAmericanFarmappispartoftheMyAmericanFarmonlineeducationprogramthatteacheskidsaboutmathsocialstudieslanguageartsandscienceinthecontextofagricultureandfoodproduction.Thesitealsohostseducationalresourcesforteachersthataremappedtocorecurriculum.WeareproudtopartnerwiththeAmericanFarmBureauFoundationforAgricultureonthisimportantinitiativetohelpimproveagriculturalliteracyforkidsBooksays.Ourgoalisforallchildrenparticularlythoseinthepre-kindergartentosixthgradeagegrouptohaveanopportunitytolearnaboutagricultureinafunandinteractiveway.BringingSciencetoLifeAnotherMyAmericanFarmactivityPioneerunveiledataFarmProgressshowwasGardeninaGlove.Theprojectinvolvedtakingafoodservicegloveandplacingacottonballandaseedinthefivefingertips.Afterwateringtomakethecottonballsmoiststudentscantapethegloveinawindoworplaceitinasunnylocationandwatchthefiveseedsgrow.Theprojecthasvaluablelessons.SomeoftheseyoungpeoplehaveneverseenanythinggrowBooksays.Theyveneverplantedany-thing.Sheaddsthatatoneschooltherewerestudentswhodidntrealizethereisjustoneearofcornoneachplantnordidtheyrealizeitwasgrowingrightbehindtheirhouseorhowmuchcornitactuallytakestomakeaboxofcereal.SofarDuPontPioneerisputtingconsiderablefinancialresourcesbehinditsageducationinitia-tives.Since2010thecompanyhascontributedmorethan1milliontoAmericanFarmBureauFoundationtosupportMyAmericanFarmdevel-opmentaswellas500000toFFAeveryyear.PlansincludelaunchinganotherpartnershipwiththeAmericanFarmBureauFederationthatfeaturesanagriculturalliteracydatabase.Thisdatabasewouldallowaccesstoavarietyofagscience-relatedmaterials.Pioneeralsoencouragesitsemployeestobeagscienceambassadors.Booksaystheygetmanyrequestsfromteachersandextracurricularactivityleadersinthecommunityaskingformoreinforma-tionaroundscienceandforspeakers.Wearetryingtomakethiseasyforouremployeesandretireestoparticipateshesays.DuPontPioneerisnttheonlyindustrygiantgettingbehindageducation.ThroughitsCorporateCitizenshipeffortsDowAgroScienceshasconductedsciencetechnologyengineer-MyAmericanFarmaninitiativeoftheAmericanFarmBureauFederationprovideseducationalag-relatedgamesandactivitiesforstudentsandfamiliesaswellascurriculumforeducators.190000isthenumberofstudentsDowAgroSciencesisontracktoimpactbytheendof2015.70istheapproximatenumberofSTEM-relatedeventsDowAgroScienceshostseachyear.1millionistheamountofmoneyDuPontPioneerhascommittedinsupportingtheMyAmericanFarmInitiative.500000istheamountPioneergivestoFFAeachyear.FoodserviceglovesfilledcottonballsandseedshanginthewindowofthisNashvilleTennesseeclassroomaspartofMyAmericanFarmsGardeninaGloveproject. JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM37ingandmathorSTEMprogrammingfornearlyadecadesaysDavidSousaDowAgroSciencespublicaffairsmanager.WerefocusedprimarilyontheneedsofmiddleschoolhighschoolandundergraduateuniversitystudentsSousasays.Weactivelysupportedu-cationalinstitutionsprogrammingandcommunityactivitiesthatservetoidentifynurtureandprovideincentivesinthedevelopmentoftomorrowsscien-tiststechniciansengineersandmathematicians.HesaystheyworktoincreasestudentandpublicawarenessofthesignificanceofSTEMineverydaylifeandasacareerandenhancetherecruitingandretainingofqualifiedSTEMteachers.TheprogrammingtakesplaceinmuseumsfairsschoolslibrariesandatDowAgroSciencesheadquartersinIndianapolisIndianawhichhostsabout70STEM-relatedeventseachyear.Itssci-enceambassadorsandotheremployeestypicallyconductandparticipateintheseevents.Sousasaysinatypicalyearmorethan4000peopletourDowsGlobalresearchanddevelop-mentheadquarters.Ateacherorstudentwilloftenremarkhowthecurriculumtheyreteachingorlearninghasapracticalapplicationinthework-placethathelpsbridgethegapbetweentheoryandpracticehesays.Globallyin2013theemployeesofDowAgroSciencesinvestedmorethan16000hourstosupport13000STEMstudentsandteachers.Bytheendof2015DowAgroSciencesisontargettoimpactmorethan4200teachersand190000studentsglobally.OurhopeisthatoureffortsinspireandnurturestudentstopursueeducationsandcareersinSTEM-relatedfieldsandtostrengthentheconfi-denceofSTEMteachersandencouragethemtoremainintheteachingprofessionSousasays.WearefortunatetohavemanystoriesofworkingwithstudentsandteacherswhenweseetheireyeslightupbecausetheymadeaconnectionfromtheirexperiencesclassroomorhometotheSTEM-relatedactivityathand.Futureplansincludefullyimplementingthe2012-2015CorporateCitizenshipplancon-tinuingtosupportandamplifytheeffortsofthedozensofSTEM-relatedorganizationsthatDowAgroSciencesisengagedwithandtofurtherharnessandapplythepassionsandinterestsitsemployeeshaveforSTEMeducationtoreachmorestudentsandteachers.In2012DowAgroSciencescollaboratedwithleadingeducationalinstitutionsandorganizationstodevelopaunifiedstrategicinitiativetosupportSTEMteachersandstudents.Togetheritestab-lishedaframeworkthataddressesgapsintheprofessionaldevelopmentofteachersandstudentperformance.SWOurgoalisforallchildrenparticularlythoseinthepre-kindergartentosixthgradeagegrouptohaveanopportunitytolearnaboutagricultureinafunandinteractiveway.MichelleBookUSCLLC.866-703-7472www.USCLLC.comUSCsTSConveyorcombinesthegentlenessoftheSSConveyorwiththetraditionalstabilityofatube-styleconveyorINTRODUCINGTHETSCONVEYORLINETubeConveyorsDesignedwithSeedinMindGentlenessofUSCsSSConveyorTraditionalstabilityoftube-styleconveyorNopinchpointsprotectsseedSamebeltwidth-increasedcapacitiesIndustry-leading3-yearbeltwarrantyAndsomuchmoreTS2500ConveyorWATCHMOREABOUTTHETSCONVEYOR 38SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015practices.Whenprojectfundsareexhaustedthestaffassumeunpaidvolunteerrolesandkeepworking.AnotherfriendisAnne.UponenteringtheministrysheembracedamissionaryassignmentinWestAfrica.DuringthecivilwarwithongoingfightingattheUnitedMethodistGantaMissionStationwheresheservedashospitaladministratorshedecidedtoevacuate.BackintheUnitedStatesAnnecontinuedministrybypas-toringchurchesinIndianauntilherretirement.ThenitwasbacktoAfricawhereshemanagesaNorthCarolinaUnitedMethodistcongregationsLiberiaSelf-RelianceInitiativeLSRIprogram.LSRIprovidesagriculturaltrainingandbusinessopportunitiesforfarmersoutsideofthecapitalcityMonrovia.LSRITrainingCenterstaffteachfarmershowtoimplementdripirrigationonsmallpatchesofland.Staffdesignandinstallsystemsonfarmersfieldsandteachthemhowtouseit.Thewaterreservoirforeachrunofdriptapeisanelevated5-gallonplasticbucket.Thestaffcalibratesthelengthofdriptapethenumberandspacingofoutletholesneededinthetapeplusthequantityofwaterrequiredtodeliveradequatewatertoeachcrop.Polebeanscabbagemaizewater-melonandarangeoflocalcropsaregrown.StaffmembersalsoprovideExtension-likeservicesinthecommunityandhavebeenworkingwithschools.Avarietyoffreshproducecanbegrownonschoolproperty.Childrenbenefitfromeatingwholesomefoods.Thekidsalsolearnbydoingfirstgrowingfoodundersupervisionatschool.Latertheyknowhowtodosoathomeandhelpfeedtheirfamilies.Thispracti-calvocationaltrainingimpartslifeskillstothestudents.AnnehasalsodevelopedcollaborationswithinthecommunitythatinonecaseplacedtheLSRIinbusi-nesswithanentrepreneurtomanufacturehighqualitypoultryfeedatthetrainingcenter.Localpoultryfarm-ersgainedgreateraccesstohighqualitychickenfeedandcommunitymaizefarmersbenefitedfromcreationofalocalmarketthatbuystheircorn.ThecontributionsofpeoplelikeMiattaAloysiusandAnnemightappearsmallyettheseeffortsimpactthelivesoflocalfamiliesandcommunities.Ordinarypeoplecanmakeextraordinarycontributionstoreducefoodinsecurity.SWNOTALLSTORIESareasdramaticasthatofMiattaSirleafAloysiusTambaorAnneKumehinpost-warLiberia.Whileverydifferenttheyshareacommitmenttoreducingfoodinsecurity.FleeingrepeatedlyintotheforesttryingonceagaintosimplyescapethevengeanceofrebelfighterswhenvehiclesroarintothevillagewascommonplaceforMs.Miatta.Peepingthroughtheforestfoliageuntilindescrib-ableatrocitiesendedandsoldiersonceagainwithdrew.Survivinganine-monthsiegeandsimplypickingthingsfromtheforestfloortohaveanythingtoeat.Whilethemenwereatwar.Miattaalongwiththeotherable-bodiedwomencaredfortheelderlyinfantsandthosechildrentooyoungtoserveasachildsoldier.Shesoughtonlysustenanceandthestrengthneces-sarytohelpburythedailydeadandsurvival.FoodinsecurityexperiencedasachildandlaterduringthewaryearsleftanindeliblemarkonMiattawhohastotallydedicatedherlifetohelpingothersdealwithfoodinsecurityimprovinghealthandeducatinganewgeneration.SisterMiattaassheisaffectionatelyknownworksdailyonbehalfoffaith-basedChurchAidIncorporatedCAIaLiberianNGOorganizedfol-lowingthemostrecentcivilwar.AnInterdisciplinaryApproachTalllankycongenialAloysiusisathirty-somethingagriculturalcollegegraduateandasocialentrepreneur.HispersonalstrategytocontributetotherebuildingofhisnationwastocreateaLiberianNGOfocuseduponredevelopingtheagriculturalsector.Thusthischaris-maticyoungmanfoundedGreenCoastAgriculturalProgramcommonlyknownasG-CAP.Hehasassembledastaffofabout30like-mindedhighlytrainedandmotivatedyoungwomenandmen.Manyhavetechnicalagriculturaldegreesbuthehasalsodrawnuponthosehavingcredentialsinhumannutritionandfamilylifestudiestoroundouttheteam.Theydesperatelywanttoimprovethelivesoffuturegenerations.ThehighlevelofrespectgiventotheG-CAPteambycountrymenisevidencedbyhowwelltheyarereceivedinvillagesandonfarms.G-CAPhasbeenawardedUSAIDandotherdevelop-mentcontractspartneringtoimprovefoodproductionDENNISTHOMPSONisdedicatedtodeliveringsolutionsandempoweringpeopleandorganiza-tionstosolvecomplexproblemsrelatedtointernationalagricul-turaldevelopmentandglobalfoodsecurity.HiscareerexperienceandinternationalcredentialsincludeExtensioneduca-tionagronomyandadministration.FromOrdinarytoExtraordinaryINTERNATIONALAGRICULTURALDEVELOPMENT StgSeed.HethyGi.PETKUS.ThenewOptoselectorOS900Qualitydeliveredbyaninnovativeself-learningcombinationoftrueRGBcolourandgeometricrecognitiontechnologies.www.petkus.mInnovaTIonTEcHnoloGYEnGInEErInGSErvIcEAvailableinNorthAmerica THEREWASAtimethatfarmerswouldwaitfortheirfieldstoreallydryoutandforsoiltemperaturestobeabitmorehospitablebeforesowingseeds.Afieldmightbetilledtwoorthreetimesbeforeaseedeverhitthesoil.Thosepracticesstifledfungiinsectsandotherdiseasepressures.Thereisareasonthosewerestandardpracticesforsomanyyears.Howeverinthepastfewdecadesfarmershavelearnedthatgettingseedintothegroundearlieressentiallyextendingthegrowingseasonwillboostyield.Inanindustrywherepricesareanythingbutguaranteedgettinganextrabushelortwofromanacremaybemorecanmakeabigdifference.Accordingtoa2010paperfromIowaStateUniversityAgronomyExtensiontheaveragebeginningcornplantingdateinIowahasmovednearlytwoweeksearliersincethe1970sandearly1980s.UsingdatafromtheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculturesNationalAgriculturalStatisticsServicetheauthorsfoundthatbackthentheaveragebeginningplantingdatewaslateAprilApril21orsointhelate1970sandApril28intheearly1980s.From2000to2009theaveragecornplantingdatewasApril14.Theresearchshowedthatgrowersmanagingmoreacreagehadtostartear-lieranditwascommonknowledgethatConrmingSeedOrdersSTRATEGYAfeaturedsegmentdesignedtosharebusiness-criticalinformationtoseed-sellingprofessionals.VisitSeedWorld.comtodownloadthisdepartmentandothertoolstohelpyousellseedtofarmers.HelpFarmersEvaluateSeedTreatmentsFarmersmightbeaskingmorequestionsthisyearabouttheneedforseedtreatments.Discoverhowseedtreatmentshaveevolvedduringthepast20yearsandwhatcanbeexpectedinthefuture.40SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015Asfarmingpracticesmovedtowardearlierplantingandreducedplantingthevalueofseedtreatmentshasincreased.PHOTOSBASF. Strategyproducersfacealargeryieldreductionbyplantingtoolateratherthantooearly.NowassoonasthefieldisdrytheywanttogetitinthegroundbecausetheyreworriedaboutthegroundgettingwetsaysRodMcLeodregionaltechni-calmanagerforNorthAmericanseedtreatmentatFMCAgriculturalSolutions.Peoplearereallyplantingearlierandearlierandexposingtheseedtoharsherenvironments.Andtillagepracticeshavechangedconsiderablyinrecentyearsaswellespeciallyasfarmersworktoslowero-sionfrombothwindandwater.Moreandmorefieldseveryyearreceivedreducedtillageornotillageatall.A2010EconomicInformationBulletinfromtheUSDAsEconomicResearchserviceshowedthatno-tillpracticeswereincreasingforallmajorcropsintheUnitedStates.In2001about16percentofallcornacreagewasno-till.By2005itwas23.5percentandexpectedtocontinuerisingtocloseto30percentin2009.From2003to2007cottonplantedinno-tillfieldsroseabout5percentto20.7percent.No-tillpracticesinsoybeanfieldsrosemorethan10percentfrom2002to2006to45.3percent.Howeverallthesechangesmeanttohelpimproveyieldandenvironmen-talstewardshipcomeatacost.Coolerwettersoilsmakefieldsmorehospitabletoaslateofsoil-bornepathogensfungiandpests.Reducedtillagekeepsthehabitatsofthesepestsfungianddis-easesundisturbed.Soasthesepracticeshavetakenholdsohasthetreatmentofseedstocombattheadverseconditions.YoudontknowwhatscomingatyousaysDaleIrelandgonetoafungicideinsecticidenow.Asfarmsgetlargerinsizeseedtreatmentsarelow-costandefficientandtherewillbemorefocusonthem.Bythetimeitgetsintothegroundabout80percentofthesoybeanseedistreated.Therestisleftuntreatedforanumberofreasons.Somemightbeplantedlaterintheseasonwhendiseasepressuresarelower.Sometimesgrowersleaveaportionoftheirseeduntreatedincasetheydonotplantit.Untreatedseedcanbemarketedasgrainatalocaleleva-torbutagrowerwouldneedtopayforproperdisposalofunusedtreatedseed.Otherthanthatseedtreatmentspe-cialistssaythereisjustnoreasonnottotreatseedthesedays.Itsmoothsoutthebumps.ItslikeasafetynetsaysKevinBrostglobaldirec-torofseedtreatmentatFMCAgriculturalSolutions.Youcannotpredictcondi-tions.Everyyearisdifferent.Inmostfieldsthereisawidevariabilityingrowingenvironment.Seedtreatmentisthebestwaytoensurestandestablishmentandmaximizethatstand.Brostsaysgrowersareawarethatseedtreatmentsarebeneficialbuthesaysthereisstillalotofeducationthattechnicalproductleadforcornandsoy-beanseedcareatSyngenta.Aseedhasthemostyieldpotentialbeforeyouunzipthatbagandyourseedisinyourplanter.Withseedtreatmentsyouretryingtoprotectthatyieldpotential.BuildingBetterSeedsSeedtreatmentsarenothingnewbuttheyhavecomealongwaysincethe1930swhenmercurywasusedtostaveoffseed-bornediseases.Mercurytreat-mentsstoppedinthe1970swhenhealthissuesbecameclear.Todayitscommonforseedstobetreatedwithatleastafungicide.Infactmosthybridcornwhichmakesup97percentofthecropeachyearistreatedbeforeitgetstoagrowershands.Howeverotherseedsspecificallysoy-beansarentautomaticallytreated.About20percentofthesoybeanseedeachyearistreatedbytheseedproducerbuttherestisshippedtodistributorsuntreated.Somewillbetreatedbythedistributorbutsomewillbesoldtogrowerswhowillhavetheirowntreatmentsaddedeitherbythedistributororsomeonelocally.FundamentallypeoplegenerallystartwithafungicideIrelandsays.MosthaveJANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM41Peoplearereallyplantingearlierandearlierandexposingtheseedtoharsherenvironments.RodMcLeod 42SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015couldhelpthemmakegooddecisionsfortheircrops.SometimesyouopenthebagandseepinkseedandsaythismustbegoodBrostsays.Buttheresmoretoitthanthat.Differentregionswillharbordifferentpestsorpathogens.Evenwithinafewmilessoiltypescouldbedifferentchang-ingthetypeoffungicideorpesticidenec-essarytoprotectseeds.Growerscantakecurrentsoiltemperaturesmoisturelevelsandotherfactorsintoaccountwhendecidingwhattheydlikeontheirseeds.ByhavingacomprehensiveseedtreatmentonthoseseedsthegreateryourchancesofastrongstandbeingestablishedIrelandsays.Andwhileholdingoffdiseasefungiandpestsisimportantthereareahostofothertreatmentsthatcannotonlyprotectplantsbutboosttheirgrowingpotential.Nowweretalkingaboutenhanc-ingthegeneticsoftheplantsaysMikeMcFatrichBASFglobalbusinessdirec-torforseedsolutions.Wevegonefromjustgettingtheseedoutofthegroundtohavinghealthyseedlingstohavinghealthyplants.Theadditionofbiologicalcomponentscanincreasethelengthofprotectionforplants.Someseedtreatmentsaddbeneficialbacteriathathaveasymbioticrelationshipwithplants.Thoserhizobiabacteriawhichcancomplementaseed-appliedbiofungicideprovidenitrogentotheplantinexchangeforaplacetothriveonorintheplantsroots.Manycompaniesarelookingformorewaystocomplementaplantsgeneticssothatseedtreatmentscanenhanceaplantstraitsthatmightboosthealthresultingingreateryield.Weretalkingaboutoptimizingtreat-mentsthatweputonseedssothatwecandomorewithlessMcFatrichsays.Wehaveamoralobligationtoworktowardfeeding9billionpeopleby2050.Ontopofthatobligationmanygrow-ersaretakingmeasurestoimprovetheenvironmentalfootprintoftheirland.Tillagepracticesareapartofthatbutsoareseedtreatmentswhichrequirefarlessofanactiveingredientthanbroad-castsprayswouldonafield.Thoselarge-dosespraysareoftentoolateIrelandsaysnotingthattheyareappliedafteraproblemhasbeendetected.Thatmeansyieldhasalreadybeenhurt.TheressuchasmallamountofactiveingredientswithseedtreatmentsanditssoefficientwhencomparedtobroadcastspraysonafieldIrelandsays.Brostagrees.Asatoolforcroppro-ductionseedtreatmentsarefascinatinghesays.Ifyouweretospreadthechemi-calswereusingasseedtreatmentsasafoliarapplicationonplantsyoudneedmultipletimesthedose.Andmanydiseasesthatariseinearlycropdevelopmentcantbecontrolledbyspraying.YoudontreallyhaveanyotheroptionstocontrolforthosebesidesseedtreatmentsaysFMCsMcLeod.Thereisnorescueforthose.Oncetheyretheretheplantisdead.Withseedtreatmentyourecontrollingitbeforeyougetthatdamage.CostAndBenefitsEvenwiththeirefficienciesthereisacosttohavingseedtreated.Thequestioniswhetherthereturnonthatinvestmentisworthit.AUniversityofWisconsin-Madisonpaperfromearly2014lookedattherisksandprofitabilityofusingseedtreatmentsforsoybeansbasedonseedingrates.Accordingtotheauthorsafungicideinsecticideseedtreatmentreducedeco-nomicriskandincreasedprofitacrossanarrayofenvironmentsseedingratesandgrainsaleprices.Thestudyalsoshowedthattorealizethelowestriskandhighestprofitboostwiththefungicidepesticidecombinationseedingratesshouldbeloweredtotheeconomicallyoptimalseedingratebasedonsaleprice.Inotherwordsitmightbe20ofsoybeanseedistreatedbytheseedproducereachyear.80ofsoybeanseedistreatedbeforeitisplanted.QUICKFACTSByhavingacomprehensiveseedtreatmentonthoseseedsthegreateryourchancesofastrongstandbeingestablished.DaleIreland JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM43bettertoplantfewerseedsperacre.Inthetestsplanting16percentfewerofthefungicideinsecticidecombinationseedsdidbetterthanthefungicideonlyoruntreatedseeds.Brostsaysthecostformanyseedtreatmentsislessthanabushelperacre.Butthereturnismuchgreater.Withsoy-beansheestimatesareturnofthree-plusbushelsperacre.Withcornhesaysitcanbeashighas10-plusbushelsperacre.Itshouldbemuchmorecommon-placethanitis.ItistheleastexpensivethingyoucandotoprotectyourcropandincreaseyouryieldBrostsays.Thereshouldbenoreasontonottreat.Thequestionsshouldbewhattotreatwith.Asolidunderstandingofyourseedsgenet-icsstrengthsandweaknessesalongwithyourfieldsituationisnecessarytochoosethemostsuitableseedtreatment.TheFutureExpertsseeanumberofdirectionsforseedtreatmentsinthecomingyears.Moreeffectivefungicidepesticidecom-binationsarebeingtestedallthetimeespeciallywithnewbiologicaltreatmentssuchasbiofungicideorsystemreachwhichsomebiologicalseedtreatmentsprovideinducingtheplanttotriggerandenhancesomeofitsownabilitytoresistsomelevelofdiseaseinfection.Weareworkingtobebetterabletofine-tuneandcomplementthegeneticpackageMcFatrichsays.Thatmightincludehelpingplantsdealwithabioticstressessuchasheatdroughtornutrientdeficiencies.Irelandsaysnematicidesarealsostart-ingtocatchtheeyesofsomegrowersespeciallythosewhodealwithsoybeancystnematodessmallroundwormpara-sitesthatattacktherootsofsoybeans.ThenematicidesarethebiggestgrowthareawereseeingwithgrowerswhowantprotectionfortheircropsIrelandsays.SWManycompaniesarelookingformorewaystocomplementaplantsgeneticssothatseedtreatmentscanenhanceaplantstraits. 44SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015DESPITEAFEWDIPSobserverssaytheU.S.andinternationalseedmarketsremainstronggoinginto2015andthatthefuturelookspromising.TheseedindustrytodayisverysoundandgrowinginmanywayssaysThomasBudHughesapartnerwithVerdantPartnersL.L.C.Improvedseedproductsarebeingdeliveredtofarmersfasterthaneverbefore.Thelevelofinvestmentinresearchanddevelopmentrateofannualyieldgainsandoverallcropandseedvaluesareallatrecordlevels.Addingallthisontopofagrowingglobalpopulationandthepressuretomaintainthatgrowthwhilesustainingtheenvironmentcreatesexcitementcompetitioninvestmentandchangeintheseedindustry.TrayThomasthefoundingpartnerofTheContextNetworkagrees.FoodsuppliesareaveragerightnowbutnotexceptionallyhighwhileproductionisexceptionallygoodThomasexplains.Weareseeingmoreextremeandirregu-larweatherpatterns.Thatwillkeeppricesandvolatilityup.WhengoingbythenumbersJohnMcDougalldirectorofcropprotectionandseedsatPhillipsMcDougallsaysitsevidentexpansionhasslowedsomewhat.In2013theglobalseedmarketgrewby5percentaidedbygrowthintheGMtraitsectorMcDougallsays.HowevertheimpactofreducedmaizeareasintheUnitedStatesandBrazilislikelytohavereducedmarketgrowthtoaratecloserto1percentto3percentin2014.MaintainingMarketMomentumThomassaysaslightdownturnintheindustryisinevitable.Wevehadunprecedentedgrowthandprofitabilityhesays.Thatpacecantcontinueforeverbutoveralltheindustrylooksgoodandisonetoinvestinandfindemploymentin.CommodityPricesHurtMarketValuesAnalystssaytheresnodoubtthatlowercommoditypriceshaveimpactedvalueswithintheseedmarketparticularlywhenitcomestocorn.McDougallsaysthattheU.S.seedcornsectoristhelargestglobalmarketintermsofvalue.SubsequentlycompaniesnoticedwhenU.S.farmersplantedabout4percentfewercornacresin2014replacingthemwithsoybeans.TheLatinAmerica20142015seasonwhichbeginswithplantinginOctoberhasseenasimilartrendMcDougallsaysexplainingthattheBraziliansoybeanareawasprojectedupby3.4percentwhilecornisforecastdown2.7percent.Hughessayscommoditypricesalwaysmatterbutplentyofotherfactorsinfluencethebottomlinetoo.Seedcompaniesbegintoplantheirinventoriesmorethanayearbeforetheyaresoldhesays.Soshiftsinplantingintentionswhetherinflu-encedbycommoditypricestraitadoptionorjustvarietyorhybridselectionallplayaroleininventorymanagementaprincipaldriverofprofits.Thesemarketdynamicsvarybycropandcountrybutthesesamefactorsinfluenceeveryone.AreChangesEatingAwayatGrowerChoiceCriticsofthecurrentplantbreedingsystemsaymoreneedstobedonetosupportpubliccultivardevelopment.Findingsfromthe2014SummitonSeedsandBreedsfor21stCenturyAgriculturereleasedbytheRuralAdvancementFoundationInternational-USAinNovemberpointtoa33percentdecreaseinpublicplantbreedingprogramsacrosstheUnitedStates.Thomassaysthatmightbeafaircriticismbutitsinevitablewithinacapitalisticsocietytoseethestatureofpublicsystemsdiminish.Itdependswhatthegoalofthepublicsystemishesays.IfitsdevelopingnewtechnologyandideasforthingsnotcommerciallyviableyetthentheresstillagoodroleforSeedindustryanalystssaythebusinessclimateremainsstrongandstable.MariaBrownTrayThomasTheContextNetworkfoundingpartnersaystheindustryoutlookisgood.JohnMcDougalldirectorofcropprotectionandseedatPhillipsMcDougall NeedaQuickandSmoothDeliveryWeveGotYouCovered.CompleteStorageandHandlingSolutionsUnderOneRoof.WithdemandforonfarmseedandfuelstorageatanalltimehighMeridiansdiverselineofqualityproductsandservicescanhelpwithyourneeds.Formoreinformationviewourvideosmeridianmfg.comvideos-usorcall800437-2334www.meridianmfg.com2014MeridianManufacturingInc.RegisteredTrademarksUsedUnderLicense.THESEEDSTORAGEHANDLINGEXPERTS.Clicktoviewourvideos. 46SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015WhereSeedsGoToChill.Havingseedsreadyorplantingsyear-roundrequirescompleteprotectionromuctuationsintemperatureandhumidity.BMILTechnologieshasyourturnkeystoragesolutionatalowcapitalinvestmentandoperatingcost.FeaturingthepatentedFrioVerdererigerationsystemsandDZ-2000DesiccantDehumidiferAgLockerintroducesanidealclimate-controlledcoldroomthatprovidesConsistentlowtemperatureandhumidityconditionsLightweightpanelsandoamorastinsulatedunitinstallationOperator-riendlycontrolsoreasymonitoringSignifcantenergysavingsovertraditionalrerigerationsystemsDeliverseedsandagriculturalproductsthatbringnewpeaksoproft.LetBMILgetyourAgLockerupandrunningandturnyourconceptsintoaordablereality.252727-09944915ArendellStreet313MoreheadCityNC28557bmilbmil.comwww.bmil.comwww.aglocker.comthepublicsector.Inanindustrythatscommerciallyviablethepublicinstitu-tionbecomeslessrelevantespeciallyinareassuchascornbreedingandethanoltechnology.HughesnotesGovernmentsaroundtheworldhavelongsupportedbreedingprogramsforthepublicdomainbutusingtaxpayermoniestosupportagricul-turalresearchprogramsthatareseentoprimarilybenefitfarmershasforthemostpartresultedinmountingcriticismanddecreasedfundingyearafteryear.Insteadofapublicversusprivatescenarioitmakesmorebusinesssensetopursuepublic-privatepartnershipsHughesadds.FewerpublicbreedingprogramscoupledwithahighlyconsolidatedseedindustrylimitsgrowerchoicesaytheauthorsoftheSeedsandBreedsSummitproceedings.TheyreportthattheTop10seedcompaniesintheworldcontrol94percentofthemarket.FarmersmighthavefeweroptionstodaybutThomasbelievesthequalityfoundwithinthatlistisgreatlyimproved.McDougallsaysagreaterbusinessconcentrationcanbefoundelsewhereinagribusiness.DespitethetrendinconsolidationtheseedindustryisnotasconsolidatedastheagrichemicalsectorMcDougallsays.Paradoxicallyitcanbearguedthatthegrow-erschoiceisgrowingasthenumberandcomplexityofstackedtraitvarietiesofcropsisincreasing.Hughesnotesthatwhiletheglobalseedcornindustryisheavilyconsolidatedothersegmentsduetomarketsizeorotherinfluencesremainmorefragmented.Rapidlyconsolidatedseg-mentsgenerallyoffermoreproductchoicestogrowersbecausetherearemoreresourcesgoingintoresearchanddevelopmentwhileslowerconsolidationgenerallymeansmoreseedbrandstochoosefrombecausetheyarestillheavilyinfluencedbyregionalcompaniesHughesexplains.Bothwayscreategroweroptionsbutindifferentways.WhereIstheIndustryHeadedWithagreatdealofpotentialonthehorizonprognosticatorshavealotofchoicethemselveswhenitcomestoidentifyingtrendsthatpromisetoinfluencethemarketinthelongterm.McDougallexpectscompanieswillcontinuesignificantresearchinvestmentsintonewtraittechnologies.Thesetechnologieshesayswillfocusonfactorsthatfundamentallyaffectcropyieldincludingtraitstargetedatdroughttolerancenitrogenassimila-tionandotherabioticstresses.Hughesbelievesthatresearchtargetedatgettingthemostoutofseedsgeneticpotentialwillalsosteercompanyagendasinthecomingyears.Recentimprovementsincropgeneticshavebeenphenomenalhesays.HoweverwestillseethattheeventualsuccessoftheseproductsliesinselectingtherightThomasBudHughespartneratVerdantPartnersL.L.C.TheTop10seedcompaniesintheworldcontrol94ofthemarket. JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM47HelpingYouCreateBetterScienceResearchChambersNowFeaturingtheRe-DesignedIntellusUltraControlSystemPlantTissueCultureSeedGerminationReach-InPlantGrowthArabidopsisChamberFindoutmorerequestaquoteatwww.percival-scientifc.comcultivarfortherightfieldmakingtherightproductionmanage-mentdecisionsonthefarmandourluckinrealizedweatherandotherenvironmentalinfluences.Westillseetremendousinvestmentsbygeneticsuppliersbutthereisalsoaddedempha-sisoncropsensorsbigdataclimatemonitoringandmodelingandsimilartypetechnologiesandinformationtools.AddressingChallengesAllindicatorspointtotheneedtocontinuerampingupfoodproductionaroundtheglobe.Theseedindustryhasmadegreatstridesbuttheyllbechallengedtokeepwiththepace.GraindemandisincreasinggloballyreflectingagrowingworldpopulationincreasedconsumptionofmeatindevelopingcountriesreducedarableareaincreasedeconomicwealthingrainimportingcountriesandcropuseforbiofuelsMcDougallsays.Higheryieldswillbeneededtomeetthisdemand.Thomasbelievesaparticularchallengeforfarmersinthefieldpestresistancewilltestthemettleofseedcompaniestoo.Tocombatthesedestructivecreaturessuchascornrootwormgrowersneedtherighttools.Wevebeensayingforthepast20yearsthattheseedandagrichemicalindustriesareintertwinedandnowwithresist-anceissuesthatsevenmoreimportantThomassays.Strikingtherightbalancebetweentheindustriesandhowtheyworktogetherwillbeimportant.Outsideofthefieldmoreworkneedstobedoneconnect-ingtheindustrywiththegeneralpublic.TheoneareathatIbelievewillneedthemostworkisimprovingtherelationshipthattheseedindustryandagricultureingeneralhaswiththeendconsumerofourcropsHughessays.Itisnotenoughtoproducethesafestmostabundantandmosteconomicalfoodintheworldconsumersmusthaveconfidencethattheycantrustustodothesamewhilebeinggoodstewardsofthelandsothatthereisnohesitationputtingfoodonthedinnerplatesoftheirchildrenfamilyandfriends.Thomasbelievesthatalackofappropriatelyskilledhumancapitalwillimpacttheseedindustryaswell.ItsdifficulttofindenoughagronomistsandITpeopleespeciallyatthegroundlevelwhoarecomfortableworking12andmorehoursadayforfourtofiveweeksinthespringandfallwithlesstododuringtheothermonthsheexplains.AgricultureisacomplicatedbusinessandagcompaniesarenotconsideredassexyasotherindustriessuchasGoogleAppleorGarmin.Whenagriculturehastocompetewiththosecompaniesthatstough.Progresshasbeenmadeinthisareabuttheproblemsnotgoingaway.SWItisnotenoughtoproducethesafestmostabundantandmosteconomicalfoodintheworldconsumersmusthaveconfidencethattheycantrustustodothesamewhilebeinggoodstewardsofthelandsothatthereisnohesitationputtingfoodonthedinnerplatesoftheirchildrenfamilyandfriends.ThomasBudHughes 48SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015Thisarticleispartofaseriesdesignedtoexploretheworldofbiologicalsfromtheverybasicsofwhatabiologicalisorisnottohowtheyareregulatedandfromtodaysmarketplacetotheirroleinthefutureofagriculture.DiscovertheworldofbiologicalsatSeedWorld.combiologicalbreakdown.BIOLOGICALBREAKDOWNTHENEXTYIELDFRONTIERTheseedindustryhasmadesignificantinvestmentsintotheresearchanddevelopmentofbiologicalsbeitthroughacquisitionsortheirownresearchteams.Herewehighlightsomeoftheinvestmentsthathavebeenmaderecognizethebrandsandsomeofthepeoplewithin.1.Morethan700productsusedinmorethan130countries.2.MonsantosagriculturalbiologicalplatformfeaturesBioDirecttechnology.3.Aglobalinoculantcompanywithmorethan70employeesacrossNorthAmericainresearchmanufacturingmarketingandmanagementandinitsjoint-ventureoperationsinAustralia.4.AninnovatorintheuseofmicrobesforagricultureAgBiomeconsid-erstheparticipationofthesestrategicinvestorsinthecompanys17.5millionSeriesAroundarareandpowerfulassemblyofthebestmindsintheagbiologicalspace.MONSANTOAGRADISNOVOZYMESAGBIOMESYNGENTABIOAGALLIANCETJTECHNOLOGIESEMDMERCKCROPBIOSCIENCEINCPHILOMBIOSPARTIALOWNERSHIPPARTNERSHIPCOLLABORATIONFULLOWNERSHIPBIOCONSORTIABAYERCROPSCIENCEOTTERCAPITALKHOSLAVENTURESAGRAQUESTPOLARISPARTNERSARCHVENTUREPARTNERSHARRISHARRISINNOTECHADVISORSBIODISCOVERYLTD.5.HeadquarteredinDavisCaliforniaAgraQuestaglobalsupplierofbiologicalpestmanagementsolutionsbasedonnaturalmicroorganismswasfoundedin1995byPamMarrone.6.AgraQuesthadproductbrandsSerenadeRhapsodySonataandBalladfungicidesandRequieminsecticides.ThroughtheacquisitionBayerCropScienceintegratedAgraQuestsstate-of-the-artbiopesticidesproductionfacilityinTlaxcalaMexicoaswellasthecompanysresearchanddevelopmentsiteinDavisCalifornia.2013December2013300millionstrategicpartnership20102007June2013July2012forUS425millionplusmilestonepayments13421514561312 JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM497.BeckerUnderwoodwasfoundedin1982andwasexpectedtogenerate240millioninannualsalesforthe201112fiscalyear.8.In2006PamMarronefoundedMarroneBioInnovationsMBItodiscoveranddevelopeffec-tiveandenvironmentallyresponsiblebiologi-cally-basedproductsforpestmanagementandplanthealth.9.MBIandtheItalianbiostimulantsfirmValagroagreedtocollaborateonthediscoveryanddevelopmentofbiopesticidesandotherbioac-tives.10.MBIandtheDutchlifesciencesfirmDSMFoodSpecialtiessignedacollaborativeagreementinvolvingearly-stageresearchofseveralbiologi-calactiveingredients.11.MBIandIsraeliplantbiotechnologyfirmEvogenereachedamulti-yearagreementaimedatthejointdiscoveryofnewmodesofbiologicalactionforinsectpestcontrol.12.Establishedin2014astheparentcompanytoNewZealand-basedsubsidiaryBioDiscoveryLimitedwhichwasfoundedin1994byPeterWigleyandAndrewBroadwell.13.In2009BioDiscoverymadeabreakthroughdiscoveryofarapidplant-microbeselectionprocess.14.In2010KhoslaVenturesinvestedinthecom-panyandspentfiveyearsworkingontheresearchanddevelopmentplatform.15.In2014thecompanymadethedecisiontoglo-balizeasBioConsortiaraising15millionfromKhoslaVenturesandOtterCapitalandestab-lishingtheirheadquartersandlabsinDavisCaliforniawhereMarcusMeadows-SmithservesasCEO.16.AdvancedBiologicalMarketingABMwasfoundedbyfarmersagronomistsadagricul-turalconsultantstobetheleadingdevelopermanufactureranddistributorofagriculturalbiologicalsthatincreaseyieldsandimprovefarmproductivitywhilesimultaneouslyinteract-ingwiththeenvironmentinapositivemanner.DanCustisservesasCEOandDonBlandservesaspresident.17.In2014ABMenteredintoanagreementwithINCOTECtocombineABMsinoculantswithINCOTECsseedcoatingtechnologies.BASFBECKERUNDERWOODMARRONEBIOEVOGENEVALAGRODSMFOODSPECIALTIESXITEBIOTECHNOLOGIESADVANCEDBIOLOGICALMARKETINGINCOTECLALLEMANDPLANTCAREBRETTYOUNGSeptember20121.02billion20147810119181617201918.XiteBioTechnologiesisengagedinmicrobialtechnologyandagriculturalinputsinCanadatheUnitedStatesEuropeandSouthAmerica.Foundedin2010byManasBanerjeeXiteBiomarketsSoyRhizoandPeasRhizo.19.InMarch2014LallemandPlantCareacquiredtheintellectualprop-ertyrightsandassociatedassetsrelatedtotheNorthAmericanbiologicalproductsportfolioofBrettYoungincludingtheBioBoostlineofproducts.20.ThetwocompaniesarecollaboratingtoextendthecurrentrangeofbiologicalproductsdistributedbyBrettYoungthroughnewsolu-tionsdevelopedbyLallemand.SW 50SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015THEWORLDSGLOBALpopulationisprojectedtoballoonfrom7.2billionto9.6billionby2050accordingtotheUnitedNations.MuchofthatgrowthwilltakeplaceindevelopingcountrieswithabouthalfofthegrowthoccurringontheAfricancontinentaccordingtotheUnitedNations.Indiaspopulationisexpectedtoriseto1.45millionandsurpassChinaastheworldsmostpopulousnation.Lifeexpectancyindevelopedanddevelopingcountriesisalsoexpectedtogoupincreasingto76by2045.Fewsectorswillfeeltheimpactofthisgrowthliketheagriculturalindustry.Expertssaythatinordertofeedtheworldspopulationby2050andguaranteefoodsecurityfoodproducerswillhavetoincreasepro-ductionby60percentorperhapsevendoubleit.Itisaherculeantaskthatwillrequireamarriageofinnovationtechnologyandaskillfulandsmarteruseofdatabyagribusinessesincludingseedcompanies.Ifweregoingtodoublefoodproductionby2050wearegoingtohavetogetalotbetteratproductiv-ityanddoublingproductionsaysSamFiorellochiefoperatingofficerattheDonaldDanforthPlantScienceCenteranindependentnonprofitresearchorgani-zationinSt.LouisMissouri.Wearefacedwiththedoublingofagriculturalproductivity.Theonlywaytomakesurewegetthereistogetmorecropsperunit.Weneedtoekeoutasmuchoutputaspossible.OneofthekeystoboostingproductivitysaysFiorelloisfortheagriculturalindustrytoanalyzedatamorequicklyandefficiently.Severalexpertssayadata-drivenapproachtofarmingcanhelpproducersboostproductionandrevenueswhiledrivingdowninputexpenses.Throughtheyearsseveralnonprofitsresearchinstitutesanduniversitieshavewadedintothebusinessofminingdata.Bigagriculturalcompaniestrafficindatasuchasweatherstatistics.Theyanalyzesatelliteinformationtohelpprovidefarmmanagementadvice.Manyselldataservicestohelpfarmersmakemoreinformedman-agementdecisionssuchaswhichseedstoplantandthebesttimetoapplyfertilizerandpesticide.ForexampleMonsantousesatechnologythatanalyzesmillionsofseedsbyfeedingthemthroughamachine.Theseanalysesyieldinformationthathasthepotentialtoenhancetheproductivityandbottomlinesofproducersinclud-ingseedperformanceinspecificpartsofthefield.FiorellosaystheDanforthcenterputstechnologyadvancestoworkinthedevelopedworldaswellasindevelopingcountriesandregions.Forexampleitisanalyzinglargeamountsofdataandusingthatdatatomakecropssuchascassavaastapleinsub-SaharanAfricamorediseaseresistance.Researchforproducingmorediseaseresistancecassavaissup-portedbytheBillandMelindaGatesFoundation.CassavagrowsinmarginalsoilsanditlastsforyearssaysFiorello.Howeverheexplainsthatthecrophasbeensusceptibletoaplantvirusanditdeliversemptycalories.ButratherthantryandconvinceNigerianvillagersthatitsnotgoodforthemFiorellosteamtakesthedataandusesittobetterunderstandtheplantsoitcanembedresistancetothevirus.TECHDATAPROFITCompaniesaredeployingnewprecisiontechnologiestocollectmoredataandhelpfarmersmakebetterbusinessdecisions.LekanOguntoyinboGlobalpopulationisprojectedtoballoonfrom7.2billionto9.6billionby2050.Lifeexpectancyisexpectedtogoupto76by2045.Ifweregoingtodoublefoodproductionby2050wearegoingtohavetogetalotbetteratproductivityanddoublingproduction.SamFiorello LocateSeedWorldVolume1Issue1REWARD2500Thisisyourmissionshouldyouchoosetoacceptityouarerequiredtocall1-877-710-3222immediately.TipsfortherecoveryofthislostcopyofSeedWorldcanbesenttomarketingseedworld.com. 52SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015ContactusTodayAskforErickat800-992-2824ext111erickks-ka.comwww.krautersolutions.comYourSeedisinGoodHandsClimate-ControlledStorageGrowthChambersNewRetrofttedSystemsOurpatent-pendingKrauterSolutionsIndoingsotheDanforthPlantScienceCenterpartnerswiththeWorldBankandthenationalagriculturallabsinKenyaUgandaandNigeria.Wetakethelatesttechnol-ogythatmillionsandmillionsofdollarshasbeenspentonanduseittohelpthepoorestofthepoorFiorelloshares.Weuseittohelpsolvetheproblemsofhundredsofmil-lionsofpeoplehesays.Thisdatagenerationhasresultedinthecreationofgenomicselectionwhichusesastatisticalmodeltopredicthowaplantwillperformpriortofieldtesting.CornellUniversitywithsupportfromtheBillandMelindaGatesFoundationhassetupa25.2millionNextGenCassavaProject.Thisprojectaimstoimprovecassavavarietiesthroughgenomicselection.Thegrowingimportanceofdatainfarmingandseedpro-theinformationcouldbeusedbythecompaniestofurtherthecompaniesowncommer-cialinterestsorperhapsevenaccessedbyuninvitedgovern-mentagencies.Stillifsetupcorrectlytheexchangeofdatabetweenfarmersandseedcompaniescouldboostproductionandfarmrevenueswhilehelp-ingseedcompaniesprovidestrongermorereliablecus-tomerservice.RonMilbyexecutivedirectorofagronomymar-ketingforGrowmarkInc.aBloomingtonIllinois-basedfarmcooperativesaystech-nologyanddatacollectionareevolvingsteadilytoapointwheremoreonfarmresearchisimminent.WewillbeabletodomoreresearchonthefarmandgetmoreimmediateresultsMilbysays.Wereallinitforthefarmer.Ifwecanthavethefarmerproducingmorewearespinningourwheels.Hereareafewwaysthatseedcompaniescanusedatatobetterservetheircustom-erswhileleadingtoamutuallybeneficialrelationship.BolsterVarietyTrialsReplicatedvarietytrialswhiletimeconsumingandsome-timescostlyaregoodforcredibility.Theyarealsogreattestimonialstoshowfarmerswhenmakingseedrecom-mendations.ductionleadstoaheightenedpartnershipbetweenthetwo.Butsomefarmersgroupshaveraisedconcernsabouthowthisrelationshipwouldplayoutforproducers.Theyworrythatthedatamightbeusedtobenefitthecompaniesratherthanthefarmers.Accordingtoa2013AmericanFarmBureauFederationsurveynineoutof10farmerssaidtheywerenotsurehowthedatacollectedonthemwasbeingusedandthreeoutoffourworriedthatAsfarasgeneralinfor-mationoutthereoneofthemostefficientplacestogoistoyourlocaluniversitysaysGaylonMorganaTexasAMUniversityprofessorandExtensioncottonagronomist.Thosetrialsarereplicatedvarietytrialshesays.Onewheatuniformvarietytrialwedidwasconductedin25-pluslocationsacrossTexas.Incottonwedo45acrossthestate.Morganexplainsthatthecottonbreedersconductedanothereightto10officialvari-etytrialssubsidizedbyCottonIncorporated.Assoonaswegettheinformationprocessedweputitonthewebsiteandsendanannouncementtoseedcompaniesandproduc-ershesays.SeedMatrixalsocompilesvarietyinformation.Itgoesthroughuniversitywebsitesextractsinformationandcompilesitintoasystemthatallowsuserstodogeographiccomparisonsofvarieties.ItsaverypowerfultoolMorgansays.Severalcompa-niesuseit.Youcancompareyourvarietiesagainstthoseofcompetitors.ForseedcompaniesthatwanttoseehowvarietiesmeasureupSeedMatrixwillsortthetop10percentthemiddlequartileandthebottomquartile.TeamUpConsiderteamingupwithcompetitorstogetbetterresultsforproducers.Somesaythatasdataminingincreasesinstaturewithintheagricultureindus-tryitwillbedifficultforsomesegmentsoftheindustryincludingseedcompaniestosailaloneonresearch.Themodelwereseeingisonewesawinthephar-maceuticalindustryFiorelloexplains.TheproblemsareWeusedatatohelpsolvetheproblemsofhundredsofmillionsofpeople.SamFiorello JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM53toobigforanyonecompanyevenforagiantcompany.Moreandmoreseedcom-paniesarelookingtopartnerwithorganizationssuchastheDanforthPlantScienceCenterandotherinstitutesanduni-versities.Inthepharmaceuti-calindustrythePfizersandtheMercksaredoinglessandlessresearchontheirown.Fiorellosaysthatthesecompaniesareleveragingtheirdistributionnetworks.Whentheyarefightingthingslikevirusesandnewdiseasestheyhavetoconstantlyworktostayaheadhesays.UseObjectiveDataThemostimportantcom-ponentfromaconsumerstandpointistouseasmuchobjectivedataaspossiblesaysForrestSmiththeDanL.DuncanendoweddirectoroftheSouthTexasNativesandTexasNativeSeedsProjectswhicharepartoftheCaesarKlebergWildlifeResearchInstitute.Consumerswillbemorelikelytotrustdatathatismoreobjectiveandthatisfromsomeonewhoisnotinvolvedfinanciallyinthatproduct.Oftentimestheconsumeristryingtoevaluatetwoproducts.Bothmightmakesubstantialclaimsbuttheresbeenverylittlecomparativetrial.Thereareprobably70to80nativeseedvarietiesdevelopedbydifferentseedcompaniesbutnobodyhadeverbroughtthemtogetherandcompared.Smithsaystrialslikethatcanshedlightandhelpguideseedcompaniestosuccessintheend.Themoreobjectivetheinformationthebetteroffeverybodyishesays.FocusOnQualityAnotherfootnoteisseedcompaniesneedtolookatthequalityoftheinformationtheyregetting.Manytimesdataisprovidedfromnon-replicatedtrialswhichmeanswithoutstandarderrors.Abignumberwithoutsupportinginformationabouthowthedatawascollectedcouldbemisleadingandunclear.Objectivityandaccu-racyareveryimportant.IncreaseEaseofUseWereaheadofthecurveofinourabilitytogatherdataFiorellosays.Thechallengeistoputitinaformeasyenoughforfarmerstounderstand.Wecouldhaveasituationwheretheyaredrowningindatabutthirstyforinformation.ThequestionishowdoyoumakeitsocompaniessharethedataandhaveeaseofuseIfnotyoucouldhaveaworldwhereyouregenerat-ingdataandnotmakinganysenseofit.Fiorelloexplainsthatthedatabeingacquirednowisbeingpushedveryquicklyintobreedingprogramstohelpacceleratenewlines.Seedcompaniesarealreadyusingmassiveamountsofdata.Oneexampleisinbreedingprograms.Wevegottogetbetterabouttheeaseofusingitinthefieldheshares.MorganaddsThecom-paniesrealizethevalueingettinggoodinformationtoproducers.Itbehoovesusalltogetthebestinformationtoproducerswhetheronyieldorqualityorboth.BuildTrustGrowmarksMilbysaysthatinadditiontousingthedatatogetresultsforcustomersitisimportanttobuildtrust.DataownershipanddatauseishugeandofcourseaccessMilbysays.Sincewearefarmerownedwetakethestancethatthefarmerownsthedata.Wetendtosidewiththefarmer.Alotoftimeswehavethattrustedrelationshipwithfarmers.Milbysaysitscriticalthattheyworktokeepthattrust.Afarmerwilltrustalocalseedsalespersonbeforeacom-panyhesays.Asthepersonworkingwiththefarmerwemustbeabletoarticulatewhatwearecollectingandhowthisdatawillbeusedhesays.Wealsoneedtotakethenecessarystepstoensurethedatadoesntendupinthewronghands.Fiorellosaysrapidtech-nologicaladvancesareonthehorizonanddatawillplayakeyroleinensuringtheireffectiveness.Wewillseedronesandotherdevicesgoingoverfarmfieldsacquiringdataandpushingthemtoacentralpro-cessingsystemFiorellosays.Field-basedphenotypingwillhelpfarmersquicklyassesswhatshappeningintheirfields.Itwillsendasignalandthefarmercandeploytractor.Wereonthecuspofthat.Itsallaboutthedataacquiringitmanipulatingitandusingit.SWWereallinitforthefarmer.Ifwecanthavethefarmerproducingmorewearespinningourwheels.RonMilby 54SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015OUTERSPACEANDseedsarenotoftenthoughtofasgoinghand-in-handbutnewtechnologiesdevelopedforspaceexplorationareincreasinglyhavinganimportantinfluenceonagricul-tureanditsindustries.HowsoonhumanswillcolonizeMarsisdebatablesaysRobertFerlaUniversityofFloridaprofessorintheHorticulturalSciencesDepartment.SpacebiologyisoneofFerlsresearchinterestsandwhilecolonizingtheredplanetmightbeawaysoffhesayshumanswillbethereonedayandwellbefarmingtherewhenwedo.WhenhumansmoveinanysignificantwaywehavetotakeouragriculturewithusFerlsays.Itissimplyanecessityinprovidingsupportforproductivehumanlife.Havingplantsaroundratherthanexistinginanartificialsterileenvironmentmakesalotofdifferenceforthehumananimal.RetiredastronautRobertThirskagrees.ThirskholdstheCanadianrecordsforthelongestspaceflight187days20hoursandthemosttimespentinspace204days18hours.Livingaboardaspacecraftisnotlikestayingatafive-starhotelhesays.Itisfunctionalandrustic.Mostofmycrewsfoodwasfreeze-driedorthermal-stabilized.Whilethepre-packagedprocessedfoodweatewasnutritiousitwasnotahome-cookedmeal.Duringoursix-monthstayaboardtheInternationalSpaceStationmycrewlookedforwardtothearrivalofcargovehicles.Thegroundpersonnelwouldloadfreshfruitandveg-etablesastheyclosedthevehiclehatchesjustbeforelaunch.Theyknewhowmuchwemissedfreshfood.Thirsksharesthattheplantsalsoprovidepsychologicalsupportforthecrew.DuringmyexpeditionIparticu-larlyenjoyedperformingbiologyexperi-mentshesays.Inastarksubmarine-likeenvironmentcaringforplantsandani-malsservedasmyemotionalconnectionwithlifeonEarth.IimaginethatfuturecrewswillenjoytendinggardensaboardaspacecraftonitswaytoMarsorontheplanetarysurface.MikeDixonwhoisthedirectoroftheControlledEnvironmentSystemsResearchFacilityattheUniversityofGuelphisoptimisticthatwellgettoMarsinthenext15or20yearsandthemorefarmingknowledgewehavewhenwegettherethebetter.DixoncollaboratedwithThirsktohelpcreatetheTomatosphereprogramwhichexposestomatoseedstospacecondi-tionstoseeiftheywillgerminateafter-ward.TheseedsarethensenttoschoolsTheFinalFrontierResearchinspacebringshomerealbenefitstoagricultureandtheseedindustry.Explorethepossibilities.MarcZienkiewiczsostudentscantryandgrowthemandimmersethemselvesfirsthandinthecauseofspaceexploration.Since2000whenwestartedthismorethan3millionstudentsinCanadahaveparticipatedDixonsays.In2013wedidgetintospaceandChrisHadfieldbroughttheseedsbackandtheyrebeingdistributedrightnowtomorethan18000classrooms.Hadfieldisthenow-retiredCanadianastronautwhowasthefirstCanadiantowalkinspaceandwentontobecomethecommanderoftheInternationalSpaceStation.GettingthenextgenerationinterestedinspaceanditsrelationtoagricultureisvitalDixonnotes.Doingsowillnotonlygetyoungpeopleinvolvedinagriculturehereonourhomeplanetbutwillulti-matelyensureabrightfutureforCanadasinvolvementinspaceexplorationhesays.Ivestoodinfrontofaclassroomof10-year-oldsandtoldthemthehorticul-turalspecialistwhowillbeonthefirsttriptoMarsisinGrade3rightnowDixonshares.Youcouldhearapindropinthatroom.MostrecentlytheFirst-theSeedFoundationanot-for-profitorganizationestablishedin2008bytheAmericanSeedTradeAssociationtoinformtodaysconsumersandtomorrowsworkforce JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM55abouttheimportanceoftheseedindustrysignedontotheTomatosphereprogramasprogramadministratorintheUnitedStates.First-theSeedFoundationrepresent-ativeAnnJorssexplainsthatclassroomsaresenttwopackagesofseeds.Theclassgrowsouttheseedsandrecordsandsubmitstheirresultsonline.OncetheresultsaresubmittedonlinetheystudentswilllearnwhichsetofseedswereinspaceandexposedtodifferentstressesJorsssaysnotingthatsup-portersofFirst-theSeedFoundationarethrilledtobeapartoftheprogram.ColonizingMarsAnewcollaborationbetweenSyngentaandPlantLabwhichisbasedintheNetherlandsaimstohelpbringevenmoreplantpotentialtolifeforgrow-ersaccordingtoSyngenta.PlantLabstechnologyhasevencaughttheeyeoftheMarsOneprojectthebrainchildofDutchentrepreneurBasLandorp.The6-billionprojectisintendedtoonedaycreateahumancolonyonMars.PlantLabscorebusinessisplantgrowthincontrolledenvironmentswithoutdaylightusingauniqueandpatentedcombinationofclimatecontrolandLEDsystemsbasedonmathemati-calmodels.PlantLabsknow-howandtechnologyhaveawiderangeofapplica-tionsincludingplantbreedingandurbanhorticulture.TheagreementwithPlantLabwillallowustodiscovernewwaystomakeastep-changeforgrowersexplainsRobertBerendesSyngentaheadofbusi-nessdevelopment.Ultimatelyithelpsusbuildadeeperunderstandingofhowtogrowmorefromless.Thedataweveseensofararecompelling.Dixonisntsurprisedthatsuchinitia-tivesarebeingundertakenandnotestheyoftenleadtoradicalchangesinthewayhumansconductthemselvesintheagriculturalrealm.Theresearchfacil-ityregularlycollaborateswithindustrytheCanadianSpaceAgencyandspaceagencypartnersaroundtheworldinclud-ingtheU.S.NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministrationNASA.Researchprojectsarecarriedoutwithonelong-termgoalinmindsendinghumanbeingstootherplanets.ResearchdoneattheGuelphfacilityhashadenormoustechnologicalimplica-tionsforagricultureformanyyearseventhoughthepublicoftendoesntrealizeit.Thefacilitysmostsuccessfulcommercial-izationofitsresearchhasbeeninbiologi-calfiltrationofindoorairtocombatsickbuildingsyndromeDixonnotes.Thesensortechnologiesweredevel-opingforrecyclingwaterthosearethesortsofthingsthatcomeoutofhereroutinelyandgetintegratedintocommonpracticesinthegreenhouseindustryDixonsays.Virtuallyeveryagriculturaljurisdictionintheworldislegislatedtomitigateitsrunoffparticularlyfertilizerspesticideresiduesandthatsortofthing.Thatwillbetomorrowsleadingstoryfinallysolvingthatenvironmentcontrolissuethatwillhelpusmaintainenviron-mentalqualityrelatedtoagriculturalactivitiesaroundtheworldThefacilityattheUniversityofGuelphiscomprisedof24sealedenvironmentchambersincluding14variable-pressureplantgrowthhypobaricchamberscapa-bleofsustainingavacuum.StaffhaveTheUniversityofGuelphdesignedandmanufacturedmulti-stageplantgrowthchambers.PHOTONASA.PHOTOUNIVERSITYOFGUELPH.ChrisHadfieldthefirstCanadiantowalkinspaceholdsabagoftomatoseedsaboardtheInternationalSpaceStationin2013.TheseedsweresenttotheISSaspartoftheTomatosphereprogramwhichexposestomatoseedstospaceconditionstoseeiftheywillgerminateafterward.Theseedsarethensenttoschoolswherestudentscangrowthemandimmersethemselvesfirsthandinthecauseofspaceexploration. 56SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015extensiveexperienceinthefieldsofplantphysiologyenvironmentanalysisandsensortechnology.Itsalldesignedtohelphumansgrowplantsinadverseconditionsincludingconditionswithnosoilnonaturallightandverylittleavail-ablewater.SpaceTechnologyinActionAttheAlbertaAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentCropDiversificationCentreinBrooksAlbertaresearchersaredeter-miningwhetheraeroponicproductionofseedpotatoesrepresentsthefuturefortheseedpotatoindustry.PotatoresearchscientistMicheleKonschuhisleadingtheevaluationofacommercialaeroponicproductionsystemforseedpotatoes.Thetechnol-ogybeingstudiedistheVitalFarmsPotatoIncubatorPIP-200anaeroponicseedpotatoproductionsystemfromNorthBrightTechnologiesinChicago.Thesystemisdesignedtooptimizetheyieldandqualityofseedpotatomini-tubers.Konschuhandherteamarehar-vestingtheirfourthroundoftubersfromtheirgreenhouse.Thetubersaregrownsuspendedinairandfedthroughmisting.ItsatechnologythathasitscontemporaryrootsinspaceexplorationsaysPeterVanderZaagofOntariosSunrisePotatoStorage.VanderZaagservesontheboardoftrusteesoftheInternationalPotatoCenterCIPwhichworkstoachievefoodsecuritywell-beingandgenderequityinrootandtuberfarmingandfoodsystemsinthedevelopingworld.HehastakenakeeninterestinaeroponicpotatoproductionsinceheusedtoworkasaCIPscientistanduniversityprofes-sorinAsia.OneofhisformergraduatestudentsledaChineseprojectthatusedaeroponictechnologytogrowmini-tubersafteradevastatingearthquakeinChinasSichuanprovincein2008.NASAbackinthe1980swantedtohavepeoplelivingonMarsandthemoonexplainsVanderZaag.Theirresearchfocusedonhowwecouldgetplantstogrowinair.ThistranslatedintomanyscientiststhinkingabouthowtheycouldapplythistogrowingplantshereonEarthwherewehavetodealwithpathogenswhicharedetrimentaltomanycropsincludingpotatoes.Konschuhhopesthetechnologywillallowresearcherstogrowsignificantlymoreseedpotatoesthaniscurrentlypossibleusingtraditionalgreenhousemethods.InaregulargreenhousewegetanaverageofonetofivetubersperplantinpottingmixKonschuhsays.Intheaeroponicsystemwereaimingtoget10timesmorethanthat.Seeingsuchpracticalearthlyappli-cationsoftechnologydesignedforusebyastronautsalwaysbringasmiletoDixonsface.EverythingwedoisdevotedtothattechnicalmissionofgoingtothemoonorMarsandgrow-ingplantsforhumanlifesupportDixonsays.Thatsthetechnicalpullbutthedriveristhetechnologytransferopportunitiesandcommercializationopportunitiesforourindustrypartnersinterrestrialagri-food.TechnologyTransferDixonpointsoutthattheresearchisanecessityifhumansaregoingtomakeittoMarsbythe2030samissionNASAisalreadyplanning.WiththeagencyPHOTOUNIVERSITYOFGUELPH.laser-focusedonapathtoMarsworktodevelopthetechnologiesastronautsonedaywillusetoliveandworkonMarshasalreadybegunNASAreports.ThattechnologyincludesavarietyofdevicesalreadydevelopedbyDixonandhisteamsuchasnewsensortechnolo-giesnovelresearchlightingsystemsincludingLEDlightsthatarefivetimesmoreintensethanthesunenviron-mentalcontrolalgorithmsdisinfectionprotocolsthatdontleavetoxicresiduesandatmospheremanagement.Thelistisvirtuallyendless.Suchtechnologiesareripeforuseintheagricultureindustry.DixonandhisstaffhavepartneredwithSyngentatocreatecontrolled-environ-mentchamberscurrentlyinuseinNorthCarolinahenotes.Syngentaalongwithmanyotherseedandagriculturalbusinesseshavetakenakeeninterestinevaluatingplantresponsestoarangeofstressfulcondi-tionsthatwillbecomemoreimportantasclimatechangealtersgrowingconditionsonEarthandtheworldpopulationisexpectedtohit9billionby2050.SWMicheleKonschuhshowsofftheresultsofherteamsexperimentswithanaeroponicpotatogrowingsystem. EAEOU28thASTAMANAGEMENTACADEMYBeyondsurface-leveltrainingParticipateinamanagementeducationseminarcreatedspecifcallyoryouaseedindustryproessional.Surroundedbyyourpeersyouwilldiscusswhatkeyactorsaredrivingtheindustryandlearntheconceptsandtoolsyouwillneedtobeasuccessulleader.March262015PurdueUniversityWestLafayetteInd.agribusiness.purdue.eduseminars-and-eventsastaContactAissaGood765496-3884aissapurdue.eduCenterforFoodandAgriculturalBusiness 58SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015UNIVERSITYOFFLORIDAprofessorintheHorticulturalandSciencesDepartmentandchairmanoftheInstituteofFoodandAgriculturalSciencescallsontheindustrytodoabetterjobcommuni-catingabouttheimportanceofscience.Howdowebalanceaverynegativemessageandastigmatizationthatiscomingfromactivistswhoeitherdontlikecompaniesordontlikenewtech-nologiesasksKevinFolta.Asscientistsandasindustrywevestayedquiet.Nowitstimeforustostartcommunicating.Intellingtheseedindustryandagri-culturestoryFoltasaysitsimportantWhiletheseedindustrymovesfullsteamaheadconsumersarepullingbackandquestioningtechnologiesandatbigacost.JulieDeeringtobecomethemedia.GetinvolvedonTwitterblogandwriteaboutyourper-spectivetoshowpeoplethatthisisntjustaboutlumpyratsandgraphswithlinesonthemhesays.Thisisaboutpeople.Thisisabouttheenvironment.Andthisisaboutchangechangesthatwecanmakebutarenotbecauseoffear.Foltasaysthatsomeofthesetech-nologieswouldallowfarmerstofarmwithlessofanenvironmentalimpactwhichishuge.Butitsnotjustabouttheenviron-mentitsaboutlives.Goldenricewhichhasbeenbredtobemorenutritioushasbeenrejectedbygroupsaroundtheworldouroffear.YetFoltasaysthisisthetypeoftechnologythatcansavelives.InfactFoltasaysthatbecauseofthelackofacceptanceandimplementationofgoldenriceanestimated1.4millionhumanlifeyearshavebeenlost.Thereareothercoststoohesays.FarmerscouldbesavingmoneyintheiroperationsFoltaadds.Allofthesethingsdonthappenbecauseofthepush-backofthistechnology.HoweverFoltafindshopeinyouth.Todaysyouthareonfirehesays.Youngkidslovetechnologyandtheyarereadytoimplementit.Theyarealsocon-cernedaboutthedevelopingworld.FoltaregularlyspeakswithstudentsinFloridaclassroomsaboutscienceagricul-tureandhelpingtofeedtheworld.LastweekIspoketothirdgradersandIaskedwhataresomeofthethingsthatyoucandotoservepeopleinotherpartsoftheworldwhoareverypoorandhowcanyouhelpthemusingscience.Itsaboutgettingkidsexcitedaboutscienceandshowingthemthecoolthingsthattheycandohesays.WhataretheproblemsthattheyreconcernedaboutHowcanwesolveitwithscienceTheyareverycomfortablewiththiskindoftechnology.Foltaexplainsthatfarmersphysiciansanddieticianshavethemostcredibilitywiththepublic.Theyarelikedandtheyneedtoleveragethatinordertogettheirmessageouthesays.InstartingtotellthestoryFoltasaysthatwhileyourworkplacemightnotbethatexcitingtoyoubecauseyouseeitallthetimeitsexcitingandforeigntoothers.Youseeiteverydayhesays.Itswork.Itswhatyouarefamiliarwith.Buttotherestofuswhoarejustconsumingfoodandseeingitfromtheoutsidewedontknowwhatsinsidethatbubbleorblackbox.SWCommunicationisCritical 60SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015Exploringideasandviewsonallaspectsoftheseedindustry.HM.CLAUSECREATESAGREENGREENHOUSEHM.CLAUSEInc.aleaderinthedevelopmentproductionandsaleofvegetableseedsannouncedthatitsrecentlycompletedstate-of-the-artgreenhousefacilityhasqualifiedformorethan25000inenergyrebatesfromPacificGasandElectricCompanyPGE.LincolnMoehleHM.CLAUSEdirectorofglobalresearchanddevelopmentoperationsandtheprojectscoordinatormetearlyonintheprocesswithenergyefficiencyengineersfromPGEtodiscussgreendesignoptions.FromtheoutsetwewantedtoincorporateequipmentandmaterialsinthedesignofourDavisCaliforniagreenhousethatcouldprovidethekindofcontrolledenvironmentrequiredbyourveryspecializedresearchprograminthemostenergyefficientwaypossibleMoehleexplains.Thenewgreenhouseusesenergyefficientglazingontheroofandwallsandheatcurtainsthroughoutthe14200-square-footfacility.ByworkingcloselywiththegreenhouseproviderandthelocalPGErepresentativeMoehlesaysthattheywereabletooptimizethedesignforefficiency.Weusedstate-of-the-arthybridcoolingsystemsdevelopedinHollandenergyefficientmotorsandcontrolsystemsplushigh-efficiencyglazingmaterialstoaccomplishourgoalMoehlesays.TheannualenergysavingsisestimatedbyPGEtobemorethan22500thermsandmorethan24700kilowatthourskWh.Inadditionthegreenhouseisprojectedtorelieveapproximately6.6kWhofelectricloadoffthegrid.TheelementsincorporatedintheconstructionofthegreenhousemetthecriteriaforPGEsSavingsbyDesignprogramwhichprovidesincentivesforimplementingenergyefficiencymeasuresthatultimatelyreduceenergycoststhroughoutthelifetimeofnewconstructionprojectsWeviewthisasawin-winsituationallaroundforourcompanyPGEandtheenvironmentMoehlesays.Arebatecheckintheamountof25426waspresentedbyPGEandacceptedbyLincolnMoehleatthe96thAnnualMeetingoftheCaliforniaFarmBureauFederationinAnaheimCalifornia.INNOVATIVEVARIETIESWITHADYNAMICPROCESSLIKETHISCONNECTTHEDOTSANDFOSTERADEEPERENGAGEMENTINDEVELOPINGTHEFOODSYSTEMOFTHEFUTURE.TomStearnsHighMowingOrganicSeedsCOLLABORATIONYIELDSNEWORGANICSWEETCORNVARIETYWhoGetsKissedisthefirstinaseriesoforganicopen-pollinatedsweetcornbeingdevelopedthroughaplant-breedingprojectledbyresearchersattheUniversityofWisconsinMadisonandtheOrganicSeedAlliance.WithyellowandwhitekernelsWhoGetsKissedisnamedafteragameplayedatoldcornhuskingbeeswhencommunitiesgatheredtohuskcornanddance.WhoGetsKissedwasnotonlybredunderorganicfarmingconditionsbutorganicfarmerswereequalpartnersinthebreedingeffortsaysMicaelaColleyOSAexecutivedirector.MinnesotafarmerMartinDiffleycouldntfindanorganicsweetcornvarietywithadequatevigorthattoleratedhisfarmscoolsoils.HeapproachedJohnNavazioOSAsseniorscientistatthetimewhoputhimintouchwithUW-MadisonsweetcornbreederBillTracywhowasalreadyselectingforcoolsoilemergenceinsweetcornandacollaborationemerged.Afternearlysevenyearsofworktheprojecthasledtoaflavorfulvarietythatyieldswelltoleratescoolsoilsandisresistanttocommonrustandcornsmut.MostofthesweetcornvarietiesthatdemonstratesimilartraitsarehybridssaysgraduatestudentAdrienneSheltonamemberofTracyslab.Hybridsaredevelopedtobegeneticallyuniformwheretheearsarethesamecolorandsamesizeandtheymatureatthesametime.WhoGetsKissedhassimilartraitsbutwasdevelopedfororganicgrowerswhoappreciateamorediverseopen-pollinatedsweetcorn.ThisprojectwasfundedinpartbytheOrganicFarmingResearchFoundationandtheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculturesOrganicAgricultureResearchandExtensionInitiative. 81ofAmericansareonline.56ofthepopulationhasasmartphonewithwebsearchingcapabilities.70ofallresearchbeginsonlinewheninvestinginanewproductorservice.20ofglobalvideotrafccomesfromtheUnitedStates.YouTubeisthesecondmostusedsearchengine.Globallyover6billionhoursofvideoarewatchedeachmonthonline.90ofonlineshoppersclaimthatvideoishelpfulwhenmakingapurchasingdecision.ONLINEVIDEOSOCIALMEDIAFacebookhasmorethan1.28billionmonthlyusers.1in5pageviewsonlineintheU.S.occuronFacebook.Twitterhasover982millionregisteredusers.LinkedInhasover300millionusers.DESKTOPTABLETContactustodayforyourfreemarketinganalysis1-877-710-3222marketingissuesink.comseedworld.comadvertiseCONVEYYOURMESSAGETOTHEAMERICANSEEDINDUSTRYWHENYOUADVERTISEDIGITALLYWITHBANNERADVERTISINGE-NEWSLETTERSEMAILMARKETINGSPONSOREDCONTENTSOCIALMEDIAMARKETINGVIDEOOPPORTUNITIESWEBSITEMARKETINGANDDESIGNTARGETEDDIGITALDISPLAYMARKETINGCUSTOMDIGITALMARKETINGSTRATEGIES.COM 62SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015NATIONALMONSANTOANDWHEATFARMERSSETTLEAfteranumberoflawsuitsrelatedtotheMay2013discoveryofgenetically-modifiedwheatonafarmineasternOregonandtempo-rarylimitsoncertainexportsofsoftwhitewheatMonsantoCompanyhasenteredintoasettlementagreementwithsoftwhitewheatfarmersinthePacificNorthwest.UnderthesettlementandwithoutanyadmissionofliabilityMonsantowillpay250000towheatgrow-ersassociationsofwhich100000willgototheNationalWheatFoundationand50000eachtotheWashingtonAssociationofWheatGrowerstheOregonWheatGrowersLeagueandREGULATORYROUNDUPKeepingyouinformedoflegislativeandregulatorychangesatthestatenationalandinternationallevelsfromlawsuitstoapprovalstootherregulatoryissuesaffectingyourbusiness.theIdahoGrainProducersAssociation.Monsantowillalsopay2.1millionintoasettlementfundwhichwillbedesignatedtopayWashingtonOregonandIdahofarmerswhosoldsoftwhitewheatbetweenMay30andNov.302013.Ratherthanpayingthecostsofprotractedlitiga-tionthisagreementputsthatmoneytoworkinresearchanddevelopmenteffortsforthewheatindustrysaysKyleMcClainMonsantochieflitiga-tioncounsel.ABMFILESFORPATENTAdvancedBiologicalMarketinghasfiledapatentonFocusedMicrobialDiversityFMDatechniqueusedtoresearchanddevelopmicrobialsinABMproducts.TheFMDplatformallowsABMtoscreenawidearrayofmicrobialstrainsinthelabforspecifictraitsandcharac-teristicsthatbenefittheplantwithoutengaginginmassivefieldtrialssaysDanCustisCEOofABM.ABMusesgenomictech-nologiesandhighthroughputphenotypingtoidentifyelitestrainsforitsFMDplatform.Genesandgenesequencesareidentifiedthatarepredic-tiveofexceptionalperfor-manceinthefieldandusedtoassemblestrainconsortiaprovidingbroadspectrumbenefits.INTERNATIONALEUPROVISIONALLYAGREESONGMOsIamgladtoannouncethattheEuropeanParliamentandCouncilhavereachedapro-visionalpoliticalagreementonthedraftlegislationonGMOcultivationsaidVytenisAndriukaitistheEuropeancommissionerforHealthandFoodSafetyinearlyDecember.Theproposalwillgivememberstatesthepos-sibilitytorestrictorprohibitthecultivationofGMOsontheirterritorywithoutaffect-ingtheEUriskassessment.Ifconfirmedthisagree-mentwouldmeetmembersstatescallssince2009tohavethefinalsayonwhetherornotGMOscanbecul-tivatedintheirterritory.AndriukaitissaysthathefullytruststhatthisagreementinprinciplewillbeformallyendorsedinthecomingweeksbytheEuropeanParliamentandCouncil.SW AGRAIndustries1211WWaterStreetMerrillWI54452800-842-8033www.AgraInd.comAbility.Reliability.TMAGRAIndustriesAgProcessingandBio-EnergySystemsAGRAspecializesinthecompleteseedplantfacility.WemanufactureequipmenttohelpyouateverystepoftheprocessfromourmaterialhandlingsystemstoourpatentedGEN-ELbucketelevatorstoourhigh-capacityhuskchoppersystemstooursingle-passdouble-passandcombinationseedcorndryers.Everythingwedoistailoredtotakeyouefcientlyfromstarttonishthroughtheentireseedproductionprocess.Fromreceivingtohusk-sortandchoppingtodryingshellingbulkstorageload-outsizingbaggingandwarehousestorageAGRAhasacustom-designedsolutiontomeetyourneeds.DesignEngineeringSteelFabricationMillwrightErectionEquipmentInstallationProjectManagementConstructionManagementProjectAssuranceSolutionsTurnkeyfromtheGroundUpSpecializedinSeedSpecializedindesign-buildseedconditioningplantsgrain-handlingequipmentandbulkstoragefacilities.Committedtomeetingeachofourcustomersspecicneedswiththeultimategoalofensuringqualityandefciency.AGRAistheseedindustrystopchoiceforgeneralcontractors.excellenceinTurnkeyAGRAIndustries 64SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015STATUSCANADADuringthelastweekofNovemberthegovernmentofOntarioproposedregula-tionstocurtailtheuseofneonicotinoidseedtreat-mentsoncornandsoybeanseedsby80percent.OntariosMinistryofAgricultureFoodandRuralAffairsproposedathree-pointstrategytohelpensurehealthyecosystemsandaproductiveagriculturalsectorwhilereducingthedownwardtrendofhoney-beesandotherpollinators.Thestrategyincludesan80percentreductioninacreageplantedwithneonicotinoidtreatedcornandsoybeanseedby2017limitingthenumberofhoneybeesthatdieduringthewinterby15percentby2020anddevelopingacomprehensiveactionplanforpollinatorhealth.AccordingtotheministryitwillworkwithstakeholdersonaproposaltoreducetheuseofneonicotinoidtreatedseedsandhopestohavenewrulesinplacebyJuly1.Asofnowthismeansstartingin2016farmersinOntariowhowanttouseneonicotinoidtreatedseedmusttakeanintegratedpestmanagementcourseprovethatheorsheisimplement-ingtheintegratedpestworldSTATUSAlookatseedindustrydevelopmentsaroundtheglobe.Anumberofcountriesfaceoppositionbythepublictowardseedandseed-appliedtechnologies.TwosuchcountriesincludeCanadaandGhana.MeanwhilePakistanispleasedtohaveleadershipattheregionalseedassociation.FarmKinghasbeenaleaderingrainhandlingfordecadesandisproudtointroduceaprovenlineofon-farmseedhandlingsolutionsfortheseedindustry.managementstrategiesanddemonstratethatinsectpressureonthefarmisatathresholdthatwarrantstheuseoftheseseedtreatments.Itispossibleforneonicoti-noidstorunofffromfieldstonearbywaterbodieswheretheycancauseharmtoaquaticinsectsandaffecttheanimalsthatfeedonthoseinsectsaccordingtoagovernmentnewsrelease.ThisisaslipperyslopesaysDaveBautepresidentoftheCanadianSeedTradeAssociation.Thesadtruthisthereisnotsciencethatsupportsthekindofknee-jerkreactiontheprovinceistakingBauteaddsnotingthatthisonlycreatesunnecessaryburdenfortheprovincesseedindustryandthreatenstheeconomicsofgrowingcornandsoybeansinCentralCanada.STATUSGHANATraditionalwomenleadersopposetheuseofgeneti-callymodifiedorganismsinGhana.Thetraditionalleadersrepresentingallthe45traditionalsubdivisionsintheregionthreatenedtoembarkonseriesofdem-onstrationsiftheircalltorejectthePlantBreedersRightsbillwhichiscompliantwiththeInternationalUnionfortheProtectionofNewVarietiesofPlantsisignored.TheysaytheintroductionofthePlantBreedersbillinitscurrentformwillposeathreattopublichealthfoodsecurityandtheindepend-enceofsmallfarmers.QueenmothersintheBrong-AhaforegionofGhanahaveunanimouslycalledonthecountrysparliamenttorejectthePlantBleedersBill.ThepresidentoftheQueenMothersAssociationofBrong-AhafoRegionNanaAbenaBoatemaaIspokeatatwo-dayworkshopfortraditionalwomenleadersinEnvironmentalManagementthroughImprovedHygieneandEcologicalSanitation.Theworkshopwasorgan-izedbytheCentreforIndigenousKnowledgeandOrganisationalDevelopmentincollaborationwithKonradAdenauerStiftung.Boatemaasaystheassocia-tionsupportsthepositionoftheRegionalHouseofChiefswhichissuedacommunica-tionJuly92014advisingParliamenttorejectthebill.BoatemaawhoisalsothequeenmotherofOdomaseNo.1andnationalpresidentoftheAssociationofWomenTraditionalLeadersindicatedthatmembersoftheorgani-zationwoulddoeverythingpossibletoresistthepassageofthebillastheyarepre-paredtomovetoParliament JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM65www.farm-king.comBroughttoyoubytoengagetheMPstowith-drawthebill.SeveralothergroupshaveopposedtheintroductionofthePlantBreedersBillonsimilargrounds.TheConventionPeoplesPartyCPPFoodSovereigntyGhanaTheCoalitionofGhanaFarmersAssociationMovementforFarmersRightAgainstGMOGhanaNationalHouseofChiefsBrongAhafoTraditionalChiefsandmanyothercivilsocietiesinthecountryareamongthemanygroupsthathaveopposedthebillsintroduction.FoodSovereigntyGhanareportsthatinabillitwouldliketoseeaclearstatementoffarmersrightsandtheabsenceofanyformofcrimi-nalizationoffarmerssuchasthatinClause58ofthePlantBreedersBill.Expertssaymorethan166countriesincludingGhanasleadingtradingpartnertheEuropeanUnionEUhaveofficiallybannedgeneticallymodifiedfoodsmakingitevenmoredisadvantageousforGhanatoembracethetechnology.STATUSNEWZEALANDAttheturnofthe20thcenturyAkaroacocksfootasoughtafterhardygrasswasoneofthemostsignifi-cantindustriesinCanterburymakinganeconomiccon-tributionofmorethan10millionannually.Akaroacocksfootbecamethepremiumcocksfootgrassseedbygivingamoreper-manentpasturewithbetteryear-roundgrowththanthecompetingcocksfootgrassesofthedaysayshistoricalgeographerVaughanWood.Thepayoffwaspotentiallyaverylong-termoneforthosechoosingit.Consumerswereamenabletochoosingqualityovercost.ItwasoneoftheworldsmostsoughtaftergrassesaccordingtoWood.TodaytheindustryhasentirelydisappearedfromNewZealandsBanksPeninsulahowevernewercocksfootcultivarsarestillusedforcommercialseedproductioninNewZealand.InhisnewbookAkaroaCocksfootKingofgrassesWoodexplorestheinter-nationalcocksfootseedmarketsinthelate19thandearly20thcenturies.Healsoexplainsthesignificanceofthisplantitshistoryandwhythegrassmadeaglobalimpact.STATUSPAKISTANDuringthe20thGeneralAssemblyoftheAsiaPacificSeedAssociationwhichwasheldinMacauChinathe13-memberexecutivecom-mitteeunanimouslyelectedPakistansTahirSaleemidirectorofHajiSonstoitsranks.SaleemisayshiselectiontotheAsiaPacificSeedAssociationsexecutivecom-mitteewillhelptoensurethatPakistanplaysanactiveroleintheregionalseedassociation.HajiSonsisafamily-ownedcompanythatgotitsstartin1955throughfarming.Accordingtothecompanyitsadoptionofpartialtocompletemechanizationandnewtechnologyinfarminghasbeenkeytotheirsuc-cess.In1984HajiSonsbegandistributingpesticidesseedsandfertilizer.Todaythecompanyisafull-serviceretailerforlocalfarmerswithmultiplelocations.Establishedin1994inThailandtheAsiaPacificSeedAssociationalsoknownasAPSAaimstofacilitatepoliciesamongmembercountriesonissuessuchasplantbreedersrightsseedtestingseedqualityandpro-ductionimprovements.Theassociationcomprisesmorethan1500membersfrom46countries.ThroughitsworkthebroadermissionofAPSAistohelpaddressfoodsecu-rityissues.SW 66SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015TheUniversityofMissouriandtheDonaldDanforthPlantScienceCenterhaveenteredintoanagree-mentwhichwilldirectlylinkthestrengthsofourtwoinstitutionsandmoveustowardourmutualgoalsoffeedingthehungryoftheworldandeducatingthenextgen-erationaboutplantsciencesaysUniversityofMissouriChancellorBowenLoftin.FourresearcherswithexpertiseintheplantandcropscienceswillbehiredofwhichtwowillbehousedattheDanforthcenterandtwoattheuniversity.Thehireswillhavejointappoint-mentsatbothinstitutionsandwillhavetenureattheuniversity.EuropeanconsultingfirmStewardRedqueenreleasedanewreportWhobenefitsfromintellectualpropertyrightsforagriculturalinnovationThereportfoundthatOguraanoilseedrapehybridiza-tiontechnologydevelopedbytheFrenchNationalInstituteforAgriculturalResearchcreated1.2billionintotaleconomicbenefitsduringits20-yearpatentlifewith960millionaccruingdownstreamtofarmersandconsumers.TheINDUSTRYNEWSDeliveringthepeopleindustrybusinessandproductnewsyouneedtoknow.Submissionsarewelcome.Emailusatnewsissuesink.com.Aninternationalstudyhasconcludedthatgeneticallymodifiedcropsaregoodfortheeconomyandreducetheamountofpesti-cidesusedinagriculture.ThestudyfundedbytheGermanFederalMinistryofEconomicCooperationandDevelopmentandtheEuropeanUnionsSeventhFrameworkProgramFOODSECUREisthelargestrevieweverconductedontheimpactofGMcropsonfarming.PublishedinPlosOnethemeta-analysisfoundthatGMcropsareapromisingtechnology.AccordingtotheauthorsGMcropshavereducedchemicalpesticideuseby37percentincreasedcropyieldsby22percentandincreasedfarmerprofitsby68percent.AuthorsMatinQaimandWilhelmKlumperbothofGermanysGottingenUniversityhopetheirresearchwillhelpbuildpublictrustforGMtechnology.studyconfirmswhatinnovatorshavebeentellingusforquitesometimerobustintellectualpropertyprotectionsareessentialfordevelopingnewtechnolo-giessaysDeniseDewarCropLifeInternationalexecutivedirectorofplantbiotechnology.GlobalIndustryAnalystsInc.releasedSeedsAGlobalStrategicBusinessReport.Accordingtothereporttheglobalseedmarketisforecasttoexceed112billionby2020.Thisexpansionisdrivenbyagrowingpopulationanincreasingfocusonfoodsecurityandrobustdemandforgeneticallymodifiedseedsindevelopingcountries.TraditionalseedscompriseamajorshareofthemarketwhileGMseedconsti-tutesthefastestgrowingmarket.TheAsia-Pacificregionrepresentsthelargestandfastestgrowingmarketwithacompoundannualgrowthrateof12.6percent.Grainseedsandhorticultureseedsdomi-nateglobalseedsales.Cornisthemostimportantmarketsupportedbyincreasingdemandforethanol.AnewreportAgriculturalInoculantsMarketbyTypeSourceModeofApplicationCropTypeandGeographyGlobalTrendsForecaststo2019byMarketsandMarketsprojectstheagricul-turalinoculantsmarkettoreach398.56millionby2019withacompoundannualgrowthrateof9.5percent.LatinAmericaisexpectedtoemergeasthefastestgrowingregionwithaCAGRof10percent.Growthoftheinocu-lantsmarkethasbeentriggeredbyincreasingcostofanddemandforfertilizersandpesticidesandanincreasingawarenessaboutorganicfarmingpractices.Eventhoughtherearenumberofproductsavailableinthemarkettheinoculantsmarketisunder-exploredreporttheauthors.TheNationalInstituteofFoodandAgriculturehasawardedmorethan6.5millioningrantstoimproveplanthealthproductionandproducts.Astheworldspop-ulationincreasesplantsplayavitalroleinthesuccessofthenationalandglobaleconomysaysSonnyRamaswamyNIFAdirector.Itis JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM67imperativethatwestudyplantbreedingandnutrientutilizationinordertohaveasafeandsecurefoodsupplyinthefuture.Thefundedplantbreedingprojectsfocusonimprovingcropyieldefficiencyqualityandadaptationtodiverseagriculturalsys-tems.Photosyntheticandnutrientutilizationprojectswillfocusonincreasingplantproductivityandimprovingnutrientuptakeassimilationaccumulationandutilization.JohnFellersaU.S.DepartmentofAgriculturemolecularbiolo-gistandHaroldTrickaKansasStateUniversityplantgeneti-cisthavedevelopedapatent-pendinggeneticengineeringtechnologythatbuildsresistancetocertainvirusesinthewheatplant.WheatstreakmosaicvirusisoneofthemostdevastatingviruseswehaveTricksays.Inadditiontothatwehaveotherdiseasestriticummosaicvirusandsoil-bornemosaicvirus.NowFellerswiththehelpofTrickhiswheattransformationfacilityandK-StategraduatestudentshasdevelopedtransgenicwheatlinesthatcontainsmallpiecesofwheatstreakmosaicvirusandtriticummosaicvirusRNA.BecausetheprocessusesGEtechnologygettingbroad-resistancewheatwouldtaketime.Plusthepublicandindustrywouldhavetobeaccepting.How-everTricksaystheyarepursuinganon-GEmethodthatinvolvesturningoffspecificplantgenesusingmutations.Withthismethodresearcherscoulddevelopthetechnologyandincorpo-rateitintotheK-Statebreedingprogramwithoutregulations.PEOPLENEWSBayerCropScienceCanadaInc.presidentandCEOKamelBeliaziwillassumetheroleofheadofseedsforEuropeMiddleEastandAfrica.BasedinLyonFranceBeliaziwillbecomeamemberofthegloballeadershipteamforseedsandEuropesmanagementteamforcropprotection.AlDrivervicepresidentofmarketingandbusinessdevelopmentwillreplaceBeliaziaspresidentandCEOofBayerCropScienceCanadaInc.IllinoisFoundationSeedsInc.haspromotedJasonSchlotmantoproductionandsupplymanager.InthisroleSchlotmanwillparticipateinproductforecastingandreporting.GardnerRothmundhasacceptedthepositionoffieldcropsoperationsmanager.AndinadditiontohisroleatMunsonHybridsJohnHennenfenthasbeenelectedasboardchairforaone-yearterm.TheIFSIchairmanadministersa12-personboardwhichprovidesstrategicdirectionandensuresfinancialgoalsaremet.Itisimperativethatwestudyplantbreedingandnutrientutilizationinordertohaveasafeandsecurefoodsupplyinthefuture.SonnyRamaswamy 68SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015Foracatalogcall303.431.7333salesapplewoodseed.comapplewoodseed.comSeedsofWildflowersGardenFlowersSince1965RegionalSpecialUseCustomMixturesHundredsofSpeciesinStockINCOTEChasappointedErikadenDaasasamemberofitsboardofdirectors.Sheisrespon-sibleformarketingandsalesofallINCOTECGrouplocationsworldwide.Thisappointmentispartofthealignmentoftheglobalactivitiesandorganization.DenDaaspreviouslyheldtopmanagementsalesandmarketingpostsaswellasboardpositionswithinotherinterna-tionalorganizationsinagriculture.Shejoinedthecompanyin2012asgeneralmanagerofINCOTECEuropevegetablesandornamentals.ThreeSGSBrookingsseedtechnologistshaveachievedCertifiedViabilityTechnologiststatusthroughtheSocietyofCommercialSeedTechnologists.GingerMcNickleEvanJensenandChaseMowrywillreinforceSGSBrookingsexistingteamofseedtestingprofessionals.DeliveringservicestoclientsbyaneducatedandprofessionalworkforcethatiscontinuallystrivingtoincreaseitsknowledgeisimportanttothelaboratorysaysMichelleRobbinsSGSBrookingsmanagingdirector.Norway-basedAgrinosASwhichspecializesinbiologicalsappointedJohnJanczakaschieffinancialofficer.AsAgrinosgrowsandtransi-tionsfromaglobalheadquarterstoacorporate-hubbusinessmodelwearefocusedonbringingcriticalbusinessfunctionstoourU.S.officesaysRyWagnerAgrinosCEO.JanczakbringsoutstandingfinancialexpertiseandleadershiptoAgrinosatacriticaltime.SyngentahiredJeffSandsasmanageroffederalgovernmentrelationsandindustryrelationsforcorn.BasedinWashingtonD.C.SandswillsupportSyngentasstrategicfederalgovern-mentrelationsincludingoutreachandadvocacy.Hewillalsofocusonindustryrelationsforcorn.PreviouslySandswaswiththeAgriculturalRetailersAssociationwhereheservedasdirectorofpublicpolicy.KaiimaBio-AgritechanIsrael-basedgeneticsandbreedingcompanyhasestablishedawholly-ownedsubsidiaryintheUnitedStates.SharonBerberichhasbeenappointedasheadofoperationsandwillleadNorthAmericanactivities.TheU.S.officelocatedinSt.LouisMissouriispartofKaiimasglobalmissiontobringthebenefitsofitsEnhancedPloidytechnol-ogytokeycropgrowingmarkets.BerberichhasheldseniorpositionswithDowAgroSciencesMonsantoandTheDonaldDanforthPlantScienceCenter.PRODUCTNEWSTraitdeveloperCibusGlobalandRotamacropprotectioncompanyhavelaunchednon-transgenicSUSulfonylureaTolerantcanolaintheUnitedStates.RotamhasdevelopedtwonewweedcontrolsolutionsforuseonSUcanola.SUCanolaisanoptimalfitforrotationwithglyphosatetoler-antsoybeansreducingweedpressurecausedbyvolunteerglyphosatetolerantcanolainsoybeanfieldssaysDaveVossCibusvicepresidentofcommercialdevelopment.SUCanolaisavailableintheUnitedStatesandtheSUtraitreceivedapprovalfromtheCanadianFoodInspectionAgencyandHealthCanadain2013.VerdesianLifeSciencesLLChasaddedPresideCLtoitsseedenhancementportfolio.Thenewsoybeanseedinoculantwillbeavailableforthe2015growingseason.PresideCLopensthedoorforaddednodulesbringingmorenitrogenin.WereinthebusinessofprovidingfarmerswiththebeststartpossibletotheirgrowingseasonandthisproductpaysoffthatpromiseparticularlyasgrowersareplantingasearlyaspossiblesaysJ.J.GrowVerdesianCEO.MonsantosDekalbsorghumprovestolerantagainstsugar-caneaphidswhichhavemadetheirwayintothemainsorghumgrowingregionsandhavebeenaconcernforgrowers.TheU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureinStillwaterOklahomaconductedathird-partyevaluationthatconfirmedDekalbsDKS37-07varietyandPULSARbranddemonstrateahighlevelofgenetictoler-ancetothesugarcaneaphid.IntheevaluationMonsantoreportsthatbothproductsshowedlowlevelsofchloroticdamagefromthesugarcaneaphidcomparedtotheknowntolerantchecklineTX2783.InadditionDKS37-07showedpositiveplantheightandearlyhealthratingswhenexposedtothepest. JANUARY2015SEEDWORLD.COM69TheUniversityofArkansasSystemDivisionofAgriculturereleaseditsfirstsoybeanvarietythatfeaturesRoundupReadytechnology.ThenewvarietycalledUA5414RRofferstheweedcontroladvan-tagesofRoundupReadysoybeanswithouttheaddedcostoftechnologyfeessaysPengyinChenDivisionsoybeanbreeder.Monsantospatentonthefirstgen-erationofRoundupReadyproductsexpiresinMarch2015.Monsantohassharedbreedingmaterialwithpublicbreedingprograms.SeveralofSorghumPartnersaChromatinInc.brandhybridsorghumproductshavedemonstratedtol-eranceagainstthesugarcaneaphidaccordingtoathird-partyevaluationbytheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture.TheuseofSP6929KS310NK5418andK73-J6hybridsaspartofanintegratedpestmanage-mentprogramcanreducetheimpactofasugarcaneaphids.Weareexcitedtoofferhigh-qualitysugar-caneaphidtoleranthybridstoourcustomerssaysMikeBattinChromatindirectorofnationalsales.BUSINESSNEWSWiththegoalofsaving1billionby2018SyngentabeganimplementingitsAcceleratingOperationalLeverageprogramwithinglobaloperationscommer-cialandresearchanddevelopment.In2015Syngentaplanstoreduceandrelocate1800positionsincluding500operationalrolesatitsSwitzerlandheadquar-tersofwhichtwo-thirdswillberelocated.WithinitscommercialsectorSyngentaistakingaglobalcrop-focusedapproachtomarketingandcreatingsynergiesbycombiningmanagementandresourceswithexpectedsavingsof115million.Inresearchanddevelopmentthecompanyplanstoconsolidatesitesandidentifysynergiesbetweenchemistryandgenet-ics.Increasedoutsourcingforstandardactivitieswillallowscientiststofocusonhigh-valueinnovationwithexpectedsavingsof50million.Inglobalopera-tionsSyngentawillreduceoverheadcostsbymovingcertainactivitiestolowercostlocations.Amoreeffi-cientgloballogisticsmodelisalsobeingputinplaceincludingsignificantoutsourcing.Inseedsefficiencyprogramsinfieldproductionandprocessingareunderwaywithexpectedsavingsof100million.AftertwoyearsofdevelopmentFlagshipVentureLabsintroducesSymbiotaacompanypioneeringmicrobialsolutionsthatpromoteplanthealthandimproveagriculturalproduction.Symbiotahasbuiltasubstantialplatformandadvancedmulti-pleproductsintogreenhouseandfieldtrialsincornsoybeanswheatcottonandvegetables.AddingtoSymbiotasleadershipindustryveteranandFlagshipVenturepartnerRobertBerendesformerglobalheadofbusinessdevelopmentatSyngentawasappointedexecutivechairman.BayerCropSciencecompletedtheacquisitionofcertainDuPontCropProtectionLandManagementassetsintheUnitedStatesCanadaMexicoAustraliaandNewZealand.AccordingtoBayertheacquisitioncomplementsitscurrentproductportfolioandallowsthecompanytogainaccesstothegrowingfor-estryrangeandpasturebusinesssegmentsinNorthAmericawithproductssuchasEsplanadePerspectiveStreamlineEscortandCimarron.AgBiomeLLCaninnovatorinmicrobespartnerswithSyngentaBiotechnologyInc.InthepartnershipAgBiomeandSyngentabringuniquestrengthstothediscoveryanddevelopmentofnovelhigh-valuetraitproductsforcropprotection.Throughthepartner-shipSyngentawillfundamultiyeardiscoveryresearchprogramatAgBiomeandwillselectpotentialdevelop-mentcandidatesinitsfieldandcropofinterestbasedonsuccessfultechnicalmilestones.MarroneBioInnovationsInc.relocateditscorpo-rateheadquartersto1540DrewAvenueDavisCAeffectiveDec.82014.Thenewofficeandlaboratoryspaceshouseallofthecompanyscorporatefunc-tionsandresearchanddevelopment.Thelaboratoryspaceisdesignedtocreateacollaborativeandpro-ductiveworkenvironmentandtoenhancesafety.ThenewspacesupportsMBIscommitmenttodevelopingbio-basedproductsthatpromoteplanthealthandcontrolunwantedpests.WHEREONTHEWEBVIVOaweb-basedapplicationusedbyU.S.DepartmentofAgriculturescientistsisnowavailabletothepublic.USDAemploysover5000researcherstoensureourprogramsarebasedonsoundpublicpolicyandthebestavailablesciencesaysCatherineWotekiUSDAchiefscientistandundersecretaryforResearchEducationandEconomics.Invitingprivatecitizenstousethesystemwillincreasethepotentialforcollaborationtosolvefood-andagriculture-relatedproblems.Withthistoolscientistsareabletoeasilylocateotherswithaparticularexpertise.VIVOalsomakesitpossibletoquicklyidentifyscientificexpertiseandrespondtoemergingagriculturalissues.SWWeareexcitedtoofferhigh-qualitysugarcaneaphidtoleranthybridstoourcustomers.MikeBattin 70SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015SINCE1915ThefirstissueofSeedWorldwaspublishedin1915.HeretheeditorswilltakeyoubackintimetoexplorethenumbersnewsandissuesthatimpactedtheseedindustryallcoveredbySeedWorld.191519201923192519301935194019421945195019551960196519701975198019851990199319952000200520102015Congressionaldistributionofseedsisdiscontinued.Rangeralfalfaisreleasedandbecomesthedominantvarietyforseveralyears.PlantVarietyProtectionActispassed.AMOMENTINTIMEDessertSeedCompanyofElCentroCaliforniasentthesephotographsofnewonionvarietiesthatthecompanyhaddeveloped.Accompanyingthepic-turesanddescriptionswasanotefromA.M.ArchieDessertstatingthattheirthreenewonionsweredistincttypesofYellowSweetSpanishOnionsandthateachnewvarietyhadaplaceinthemarketoneforsizeoneforstorageandonefastmaturing.FACTSFIGURESFROMTHIS1960ISSUE3.2BILLIONistheestimatedamountthatAmericanswillspendontheirlawnsgardensoutdoorequip-mentandbeautificationfortheyearaccordingtoTheNewYorkTimes.15000-18000plantsperacreistherecommendedplantingrateforthenewEpochtomatovarietyadwarftomatodevelopedbyPurdueUniversity.7isthedecreaseinhayandforagetonnageproducedintheUnitedStatesfrom1958to1960.19BILLIONtonsofvegetableswerecommerciallyproducedintheUnitedStatesthatyear.57ofcottonseedemergedwithinfivetosevendaysofplantingduringatestatfourdifferentstationsinTexasduring1959whenthedrillwascoveredwithpolyethyleneplastic.Remote-sensingtechnologyisdevelopedtomeasuresurfacesoilmoisturetemperatureandotherlandscapecharacteristics. www.seedworld.comPHONE.COMDESKTOPTABLETBreakingnewsResponsivedesignforuseonalldevicesSocialsharingoptionsEventscalendarthatcanbesynchedtoyourdeviceContentdevelopedexclusivelyfortheseedindustryForadvertisinginquiriescall1-877-710-3222oremailmarketingissuesink.comSEEDWORLDMEDIAISPROUDTOPRESENTTHENEWExploreissuesthataffecttodaysseedindustryonournewlydesignedwebsite 72SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY2015BigDataBringsBigChangeIFYOUHAVENTALREADYcheckouttheYouTubevideocalledFarmForward.IrecentlyplayedthisvideoforagroupofDakotaStateUniversitybusi-nesstechnologystudentsduringatourofourseedplantfacilityinMadisonSouthDakota.Itwasanormaltourwithaguidedwalkofourseedplantfollowedbyaninformationalmeetingaboutourseedbusiness.Italkedaboutissuesfacingtheseedindustryincludingconsumerperceptionofbiotechnologyandgovernmentdomesticandforeignapprovalsofnewseedtechnologies.Ialsotalkedabouthowprecisiontechnologyandnewinno-vationsinequipmentisonthecuspoftakingtheseedindustrytothenextlevel.Iusedthevideotohelpillustratehowtodaysfarmsuseadvancedtechnology.Ishowedthissamevideotoagroupofcustomers18monthsagoandtheyallthoughtitwasveryfuturistic.ButasIsatandwatchedthevideowiththestudentsIrealizedthatinjust18monthsthestorywasnolongerfuturisticitwasreality.Infactitdidntevenincludethedronetechnol-ogythatmanycompanieshavebeenworkingwithinproductionagriculture.Thisvideosparkedaseriesofquestionsfromstu-dents.OnethingtonoteDakotaStateUniversityisaleaderincybersecurityandmanagementofbigdataanditsnottheland-grantcollegeinourstate.Thistopicwasofmuchinteresttotheclassandleadtheremainderofourdiscussions.Itstruckmethatthesestudentsaregoingtoplayacriticalroleintheseedindustryasmanyofthemarecomputerandcybertechnologymajors.TraditionallyIvethoughtthatagronomystudentsweretheonlyindividualsthatcompaniessuchasminewouldbeinterestedinhiring.Thattheoryhaschangedjustasourseedbusinesseshavechanged.Astheownerofaregionalseedcompanyitismyresponsibilitytonotonlyhelpcustomerswiththeirseedselectionbuttoalsokeeptheminformedaboutthelatesttechnologythatcouldimproveyieldsandtheirfarmingoperations.Thisincludesvariablerateseedingvariablehybridplantingtheuseofdronesforscoutingprecisionapplicationofinputssuchasferti-lizerandusingdatatotheirbenefit.ThehurdlethatIstrugglewithasdomanyofmypeersishowmuchcapitalshouldIinvestinthetechnologyarena.DoIbuyafleetofdronesDoIbuymyownprescriptionsoftwareoruseoneanationalcompanyissellinggrowerstodayThequestionsofhowandwhataseedcompanycandowithtechnol-ogyseemtobeendless.Plusitsnottheeasiestitemtobudgetforaseventhenationalcompaniesthathavespenthundredsofmillionsofdollarsonprecisiontechnologyarehavingasloweruptakethanexpected.Certainlycommoditypriceshaveaffectedfarmerspurchasesoftechnology.Ingeneraltheyareinterestedinnewtechnologiesbutasbottomlinesgettightthesepurchasesgoonhold.In2013ourcompanylaunchedMustangAcrePlacementMAPatechnologyseedprescriptionprogram.MAPallowsoursalesforceanddealerstositwithgrowerslookatsatelliteimageryandsoilmapsandselectthebesthybridsforeachfield.Thishasbeenwellreceivedbygrowerswhowantthatextrainformationabouttheirfieldsandseed.Oursystemintegrateswithmostplantingequipmentfromnationalbrands.Forcompanieslookingtoaddprecisionseedingprogramsitsimportanttoknowifwhatyouarebuyingeasilyintegrateswithwhatyourcustomersareusingthereareconsiderableexpensestochangeequipment.WhopaysforallofthiswonderfultechnologytheseedcompanyorthefarmerInoursetupthecom-panypaysfortheprogram.Itseemsthesalesorgani-zationalwaysfearsnewchargestoacustomerevenifwedeliveranewseedenhancement.Asweaddnewfeaturestoourprogrambeitvariablerateprescrip-tionsordroneflightsthroughoutthegrowingseasonwewillneedtochargeforthoseservices.Weneedtobeabletoshowcustomersthevalueoftheseserviceswhichwillfluctuatewithcommodityprices.Myrecommendationistolearnasmuchasyoucanaboutallnewseedandfarmingtechnologies.Inthebeginningconsidercontractingoutsomeprecisionagservices.Thiswouldallowyoutogaugehowyourcustomersrespondbeforeyouspendhundredsofthousandsofdollarsontechnologythatmayormaynotprovideareturnonyourinvestment.SWLearnasmuchasyoucanaboutallnewseedandfarmingtechnologies.TerrySchultzTERRYSCHULTZMustangSeedspresidentand1stvicepresidentfortheIndependentProfessionalSeedAssociation TheSeedKOTErangeofproductsisdesignedwithseedenhancementinmind.KannarEarthScienceLtd.2220NorthmontParkwaySte250DuluthGA30096Phone678475-1155Fax678623-5849www.KannarGroup.comGETSTARTEDTODAYTolearnmoreabouthowKannarSeedKOTEcanhelpyouenhancethetrueIPtraitsinyourseedwhileofferingsuperiordustcontrolandflowabilitycontactusat678475-1155.STANDOUTINTHECROWD.Youhaveinvestedinyourseedsgeneticpotentialnowboostitwiththebestpossibleseedcoatingsandenhancements.TheKannarSeedKOTErangeofproductsisdesignedwithseedenhancementsinmind.Ourmicro-formulationtechnologymakesourseedcoatingssuperiorinconcentrationandconsistency.KannarSeedKOTEproductsaresuitableforuseasafoodusepesticideinertunder40CFR180.910.920.950andor.960.Plusourseedcoatingsarefullycompatiblewithallkindsofmachinesandmethodscommonlyusedintheseedenhancementindustry.SeedKOTE-VisiblyDifferentforVisibleResults. Keeptheactiveingredientsactive.FloRiteadvancesseed-coatingtechnologywithstate-of-the-artsciencethatdeliversagronomicvalueforgrowersandseedcompaniesalike.Itkeepsseedtreatmentswheretheybelongontheseedenhancingtheirvalue.Itreducesdust-offwhichhelpsprovidegreaterworkersafety.Anditimprovesseedowthroughtheplanterincreasingseeddropaccuracywhichgivesgrowersbetterplantpopulationmanagementtohelpmaximizeyield.Plusitsrhizobia-friendlyandcompatiblewithmanymajorfungicidesinsecticidesinoculantsandcolorants.Formoredetailsvisitwww.agro.basf.comAlwaysreadandfollowlabeldirections.FloRiteisaregisteredtrademarkofBASFCorporation.2014BASFCorporation.Allrightsreserved.