b'PROTECTING INNOVATIONSeed Innovation: Whats in it For Me as a Grower?U.S. GROWERS HAVEone of the most difficult jobs in the U.S. from my perspective, determiningBY THE NUMBERShow to manage a multitude of variables from finances,$20.8 B ~8-28% ~$3 B /7-14 yearsfields, crop selections fertility, labor availability, water2020 Value ofPercent of salesyear Years to availability, as well as Mother Nature! It is a daunting taskUS Seed Sector invested in seedSeed companycommercialize a unmatched by any other profession in terms of deci- innovations R&D spend. row crop variety/sion-making risk, which leaves me in awe. Sometimeshybrid.growers forget about all the people in the background ELOY CORONA working to reduce this risk via seed innovations. is the executiveWhen a grower is faced with a seed decision, con- $1-5 M 1% ~$10M &6:1 ROIdirector of the Seedsumer demand, agronomic fit and price jump to theCost toPercent of all5 years Growers realize a Innovation andforefront in discussions with their seed dealer or seedcommercialize ahybrids testedCost to6:1 ROI on every Protection Alliancecompany. Sometimes its useful to peek behind therow cropthat arecommercializedollar spent on (SIPA). curtain to see why seed innovations happen. variety/hybrid. commercialized . genome editingnew seed!Current and undiscovered needs drive all innova- innovations .tion efforts by seed company research and develop-ment engines. Whether a consumer/retailer preference, agronomic challenge, resource limitation such as water, nutrients or labor shortage, seed companies focusother native traits, with unprecedented speed and cost their efforts on bringing the most valuable innovation $10 million and five years!to growers farms. Committing upwards of $3 billionHow does a grower know what type of innovations or around 8-28% of revenue in new seed research andare in a bag of seed? Check your seed bag to see what development (dependent on crop and portfolio) overtype of intellectual property is contained and verify the course of seven to 14 years takes a serious busi- the seed company and QA specifics as outlined by ness investment. Investment grows the pie for growers,the Federal Seed Act to ensure transparency. Or, you consumers and seed companies, as shown by the factcan ask your authorized seed dealer. They represent that every $1 spent on soybean/wheat seed equates upthe seed companies that do breeding, testing and to approximately $46 of sellable product! One studyagronomic trials to ensure varietal fit to most targeted from Iowa State concludes that growers get a 6:1 ROIgeographies. Plant breeders not only find the needle in for every $1 spent on new seed. the haystack, but they also identify where the haystack Buying new seed from an authorized seed dealeris in your county! Todays plant breeding techniques are ensures that seed companies can continue to feed thebringing an in-depth knowledge of the genome with seed innovation engine, bringing you high quality seedterabytes of data from remote sensing efforts to make backed by agronomic support from either your author- better and faster decisions on what to advance. Thank ized seed dealer or the seed company. New seed inno- a plant breeder today.vations include proprietary seed treatments that helpWith so much exciting effort and resourcing com-get growers crops off to a faster, healthier start. Bettermitted to the U.S. seed industry, its hard not to imagine genetics improve genetic potential and disease toler- What if? The Seed Innovation and Protection Alliance ance, providing an abundant and high-quality productof over 100 companies committed to seed innovation for consumers. Newer plant breeding techniques usingthank you for buying new seed from an authorized genome editing tools allow plant breeders to focusseed dealer! Lets keep feeding the goose that lays the on stress and nutrient use efficiency genes, as well asgolden eggs!SW14/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2021'