b'CONTENTS / JANUARY 2020Features,continued Columns44 Wrapping Up a Competitive28 Seed Innovation and Protection AllianceBenefits Package Licensing todays innovations.Independent seed companies are ramping up their benefits packages to50 International Agricultural Developmentshow how unique their businesses can be. Food isnt our only challenge with a future famine.48 Protecting Pollinators 58 Beer Science is Still BrewingBEE a Good Neighbor.75 How Safe is Plant Breeding Really?60 Q&A with Charles MichellThe CEO of Local Seed Co. shares88 Giant Viewsa motto that has stuck with himWill the public accept gene-edited foods? A social throughout his life and what it means toscience perspective.think independently.62 Q&A with Tim GreeneThe president of Burrus Seed, talks about what hes learned in his time in the seed industry and whats on his mind for 2020.64 Is the Future in Food? 48 60The founder of the Canadian Summit on Climate Actions in Food Systems says its time we look beyond big yieldsSpecial Sectionsand commodity agriculture and focus on end users. 33 INSIDERSExperts from around the seed industry and those 68 Defining Independent who service it share their perspectives and provide What does it mean to be anrecommendations on everything from seed treatments independent seed company? to equipment and from engineering to content marketingwith the goal of helping you make better, 72 The EU GMO Directive is nomore informed business decisions.longer fit for purposeWill the new EU Commissions Farm to Fork Strategy on sustainable food embrace plant breeding innovation? In Every Issue52 StrategySoil health has become increasingly important, but how does the root microbiome fit into the equation to feed On the Cover the seed?Jeff Meints, president and CEO of Titan PRO, is a76 Cross Pollinationfarmer, president of the Independent Professional Seed Association and a delegate to the U.S. Grains78 Regulatory RoundupCouncilnot to mention that four of his five children work for Titan PRO. 80 World StatusPhoto: Laurie Cook Photography82 Industry News86 Since 19152/ SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY 2020'