84 / SEEDWORLD.COM OCTOBER 2017 Exploring ideas and views on all aspects of the seed industry. TAIWAN TO PURCHASE 5 MILLION TONS OF US CORN Members of the 2017 Taiwan Agricultural Goodwill Mission pledged Wednesday to purchase 5 million metric tons (197 million bushels) of U.S. corn and 500,000 tons of U.S. distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) between 2018 and 2019. The commitment was made during a signing ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The members of the Goodwill Mission also signed letters of intent to purchase soybeans and wheat. The biennial team is part of a long- term effort to strengthen economic ties between Taiwan and the United States. Taiwan is an important market for U.S. agricultural products, particularly U.S. grains. Taiwan is the fifth largest market for U.S. corn. Thus far in the 2016-17 marketing year (September-July), Taiwan has purchased 2.91 million tons (114.5 million bushels) of U.S. corn — the highest sales in the past seven marketing years. Taiwan also ranks as the third largest buyer of U.S. barley in 2016-17. IOWA STATE CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF ONLINE SEED EDUCATION This year, Iowa State University is celebrating 10 years of service to the seed industry through its online Graduate Program in Seed Technology and Business (STB) and will be commemorating this milestone with the roll out of several initiatives in the coming years, including a football tailgate party this fall to be held before an Iowa State Cyclones football game. The Seed Technology and Business program enrolled its first graduate students in the fall of 2007. Since that time, the program has grown exponentially, with students from more than 22 states and 11 different countries. This fall, the program will celebrate its 50th graduate. There are more than 60 students working toward completing their master’s degree or certificate in Seed Science and Technology or Seed Business Management. “We take a lot of pride in each of our students and understand that it is quite an accomplishment to complete a master’s degree while continuing to work full time and still have an active family life,” says Lori Youngberg, Seed Technology and Business graduate program coordinator. CORN CONGRESS ADOPTS NEW BIOTECH POLICY The National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Congress called for faster access to new biotechnology-enhanced crop traits. The move reflects growing frustration among members over excessive regulatory delays in the international marketplace. The Corn Congress is comprised of a 127-member delegate body, representing 49 affiliated state corn organizations from 28 states. “When it takes four to six years, or more, to secure regulatory approvals in certain markets, it is clear that a country’s regulatory system is broken,” said Wesley Spurlock, NCGA president. NCGA’s new policy supports the commercialization of new biotechnology-enhanced corn traits that: a) have been approved by the U.S. and Japan; and b) have faced delays of more than 30 months from any government with a non-functioning regulatory system. By comparison, there are biotechnology traits that have been awaiting regulatory approval in certain markets for the past 48 to 72 months. “Farmers recognize that a strong, science-based, regulatory system is essential to reassure consumers about the safety and quality of our crops.” — Wesley Spurlock