b'there are companies and individuals we can attractget to decide if its the right approach for us, and if to our association that arent currently members. it is, we can move swiftly. I like the swift and agile AI has also been a big buzz, and Cat Franspiece, having multiple collaborations and partner- Aaron Conaway leads (IPSAs executive director) has done a fabulousships at once, and not getting bogged down byTotal Seed Production in job building a framework around how to use it.hurdles larger companies have. Tipton, Indiana. He views Were doing a better job and a more focused jobhis role as the head at bringing value to members in creative ways.SW: Where do you see the greatestcoach.PHOTO: TOTAL SEED PRODUCTIONFrom a marketing standpoint, were trying to roll inopportunities for innovation among memberships to give additional opportunities forindependents right now?members through IPSA. There are a lot of excitingConaway: Efficiencies are a big piece. AI has been a things happening. New board members are comingbuzzword for years and continues to gain momen-on with new ideas, and theres been a lot of excite- tum. Being able to do more with the same band-ment and momentum. width or fewer staff is a big opportunity. Larger corporations have deeper pockets, but independ-SW: How do you define independentents need to figure out how to leverage AI to be in todays seed landscape as companiesmore nimble, flexible, and efficient, to be more enter more collaborations and technologyprofitable and potentially grow faster than competi-partnerships? tors or non-independents.Conaway: Theres a root to independence that still stays strong as far as being self-sufficient andSW: What barriers still prevent independents sometimes maybe stubborn to change. Thats thefrom fully capitalizing on emerging negative. The positive is the ability to make inde- technologies, and how can IPSA help remove pendent decisions about who to collaborate with,those barriers?being adaptable and flexible enough to pivot as theConaway: Education is a big piece, and being able world comes at us. Large companies cant alwaysto bring those pieces forward and show how to do that. utilize them or even understand them. Options are Independent companies can sometimes be tooimportant because independents stretch across the rigid in their thought process, but the way we oper- United States, and all independent companies are ate our business is agile and flexible, and willing todrastically different.take on new conversations or new partnerships. We JANUARY 2026SEEDWORLD.COM /9'