b'FROM BALLOTS TO BILLS INA POLITICAL TRANSITIONLooking ahead to a new President, Congress and Senate and what that means for seed.By Aimee Nielson, Seed World U.S. EditorWITH THE UNITED STATESin a federal leadership transition, how can the seed industry navigate the new politi-cal landscape?Janae Brady, vice president of govern-ment affairs for the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), moderated a session titled Ballots to Bills at the recent ASTA Field Crop Seed Convention. The ses-sion brought together former Trump and Biden administration agricultural advisors to discuss the intersection of policy, inno-vation and the future of agriculture.Brady guided the discussion, with per-spectives from Rod Snyder, senior advisor for agriculture at the EPA, and Gregg Doud, chief ag negotiator in PresidentASTAs Janae Brady chats with Gregg Doud, former Trump administration chief agriculture negotiator, and Rod Snyder, former Biden administration ag advisor. Trumps first term, on the pressing issues facing the industryfrom global trade to sustainability and biotechnology.President Trump promises to bring significant policy shifts, especially in trade,This office will live on, regardless ofWere going to get back in business technology and regulatory efficiency.administration, he states, emphasizing itson trade, he says.importance for future collaborations. Doud believes that the next four years Building Bridges Snyder also points to the growth ofwill see an explosion of trade agreements, Snyder, reflecting on his time with thedomestic markets for renewable fuels as aparticularly in Asia, North America and EPA, acknowledges the deep divides thatsignificant achievement. Latin America.often exist between federal agencies andThe Biden administration finalizedTheres still a lot of things back and farmers. the largest volumes in the history of theforth, he said, but stated that the over-EPA is not always the most popu- renewable fuel standard, he says, addingarching message is clear: No one gets lar federal agency in farm country, hethat the three-year trajectory set by theaccess to U.S. markets without playing by admits, but quickly followed up with someadministration aimed to strengthen farmour rules.optimism. We worked hard to make sureeconomies by boosting demand forHe said technology is the key to ensur-that EPAs decisions were informed byAmerican-grown biofuels. ing global competitiveness in agriculture. experts across ag and rural communities. He emphasized that U.S. agricultural Snyders tenure saw the creation ofA Sharp Focus on Trade andtechnology is a global asset that needs the first permanent Office of AgricultureTechnology to be nurtured through faster regulatory and Rural Affairs within the agencyanFor Gregg Doud, the road ahead is pavedapprovals.effort to give farmers a constant seat atwith trade dealssmall, medium andThe U.S. government must operate the table in regulatory discussions. large. at the speed of commerce to commer-34/ SEEDWORLD.COMFEBRUARY 2025'