b'New ASTA Chair Talks About Activating MembersDan Foor lays out his vision.Aimee NielsonDAN FOOR ISthe new chair of thetools. Also, the ability to export agricul-American Seed Trade Associationtural products is going to be paramount (ASTA) board. He is the senior vice presi- in that global regulatory landscape. Its dent for DLF North Americas distributiongoing to be a big challenge. We need to business. We recently sat down with Foormake sure that we have the right mes-to discuss his vision for the year ahead.saging around the very safe tools that our industry is using.SW: You are a big theme person.Things like seed treatments continue What is your theme as ASTA chair? to be under pressure largely because of a Foor: My theme is "activation." I wantlack of knowledge about the benefits of to inspire our members to get morethose types of products. ASTA and other involved and engage with ASTA. Anindustry associations are really at the active membership is the foundation forpoint of the arrow trying to protect that our success. ASTA has 700 members.freedom and ability to innovate. We work with every crop from alfalfa to zucchini and everything in between;SW: What motivates your work in the thats the slogan. What if at least oneseed industry and with ASTA?person from every member companyFoor: Anytime you\'re part of an industry was involved with some part of ASTA?Q: What are the biggest challengesthat is innovative and dynamic, every day We would be such a strong and activefacing the seed industry? is something new. I\'m excited by breed-association.Foor: I think our foundational issue ising techniques that can shorten the time not just related to seed but agriculture into accelerate innovation. But I think most SW: How will you implement yourgeneral. The average American citizen ispeople like new things and better things; theme? three to four generations removed frombetter seed, better lifeFoor: Im going to take a few toursthe farm. Recent data tells us there are 1.9 around the country, go to members busi- million farms in America and that numberSW: Do you have any advice for young nesses and have conversations. The keycontinues to decline and less than 2% ofprofessionals or those looking to thing we have to think about is not wherethe population is engaged in productionbecome leaders in the industry?we are today, but where are we going?agriculture. Foor: Network meaningfully and be open We need to think about how we get inOur biggest challenge is the lack ofto new experiences. Building relation-front of what\'s ahead as an associationawareness of what is going on in agricul- ships and being curious are crucial for and as an industry. Ill focus on leverag- ture today and how some of the thingsleadership development.ing our regional vice presidents. They arethat are important to innovation in agri- Foor said hes always open to engag-doing a fantastic job today; we want toculture need to be protected and fostereding with ASTA members and learning encourage them to tell the ASTA story toif we\'re going to continue to feed, providefrom them. His goal is to set up future members within their regions and craftfood and clothe the world. We need toleaders for success and continue the success stories to help folks understandtalk about plant breeding innovation,strong tradition of ASTA. the work ASTA is doing in front of andusing novel plant breeding techniquesLook for a more in-depth profile in the behind the scenes. and having freedom to operate with thoseOctober issue of Seed World U.S.SW12/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2024'