Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122 Page 123 Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Page 127 Page 128 Page 129 Page 130 Page 131 Page 132 Page 133 Page 134 Page 135 Page 136 Page 137 Page 138 Page 139 Page 140 Page 141 Page 142 Page 143 Page 144 Page 145 Page 146 Page 147 Page 148102 / SEEDWORLD.COM DECEMBER 2016 Partner with ProHarvest Seeds, Inc. to operate your own corn and soybean company as a Regional Owner Partner with ProHarvest Seeds, Inc. to operate your own corn and soybean company as a Regional Owner Contact us today at 866-807-7015 ProHarvest Seeds, Ashkum, IL 60911 www.proharvestseeds.com Our unique system provides you with: · Access to multiple sources of genetics and traits · Freedom to develop your own sales programs and pricing · Support in areas of agronomy, sales, and business practices · Seed products tailored to your own market area · Potential territory exclusivity · Opportunity to create value in your own seed business As such, the Phytosanitary Working Group examined the phytosanitary requirements for different seed species that have been harmonized at COSAVE (regional plant protection organi- zation in South America), to initiate an exchange of information and opinion. “As an industry we need to support the efforts of the national seed associations through the Phytosanitary Working Group, to improve the process of pest risk assessments in the national plant protection organizations,” Ares adds. With the goal of sharing scientific information and expertise, a database of regulated pests is in the works and is being led by ASTA. SAA also supports the development of a model for assessment of phytosanitary risk reduction associated with seed quality management practices. Ares says that in working toward harmonized phytosanitary measures, information sharing is critical. “When you don’t have good scientific information to assess pest risk, the tendency is to have seed regulations with more restrictive phytosanitary measures,” she says. “The work ASTA is doing is very important in being able to provide more scientific support.” And enforcement is an important component for the seed industry, especially when it comes to intellectual property. Risso, who serves as the SAA staff liaison for the Intellectual Property (IP) Working Group, says that most countries in Latin America are still operating under UPOV 78. “The seed and biotech business has changed dramatically in the past 15 to 20 years, so naturally national seed laws need to be updated,” he says. Argentina and Brazil are in the process of revising their seed laws. Risso says countries want an improvement over UPOV 78 but aren’t willing to go as far as UPOV 91, which is what the seed industry believes is best. “We are doing a lot of work to support national seed associa- tions in their discussions with regulatory officials,” he shares. “But often times we’re battling the voice of farmers unions and it’s difficult to cut through the noise. “Changing the law is a very difficult process and once the wheels are set in motion, it’s even more difficult to come back and amend. It’s incredibly important to get it right the first time. That’s why, with ISF, we have written and sent a letter to the Argentine government expressing our concerns about the pro- posed seed law that government is about to send to parliament.” Risso explains that the proposed law, through the concept of public order, does not allow for companies, plant breeders or farm- ers to come to an individual agreement regarding the sale, purchase or use of seed because “public order” supersedes any independent contract; therefore, it could not hold up in the court of law. “We are hoping that parliament will invite the Argentine seed industry to the table and listen to the ideas and concerns,” Risso says. “We know UPOV 91 probably won’t be adopted by all countries but we are doing everything we can to support national seed associations in facilitating those discussions and movement in that direction.” The IP Working Group also supports a molecular marker project to distinguish novel varieties, and is bringing together the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay to see if an accepted system can be agreed upon in the Americas. 21 countries and companies are members of SAA. 4 full time staff keep SAA moving ahead. 4 primary working groups are facilitated by SAA — Intellectual Property, Phytosanitary, Seed Treatment, Biotechnology. 2005 the year that SAA was formed. 1991 when the Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants was last revised.