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U.S. to have seat at the table of seed treaty

Programs ICONThe U.S. is becoming formal member of an international seed treaty with a seat at the table. American Seed Trade Association leader Andy LaVigne tells Brownfield that will help developing countries with U.S. expertise in germplasm collection as much as it will help the U.S.

“You go out west to drought-ridden areas. You then turn around and you look at the northern climates of China where you’ve got the high plains deserts and they’re producing crops. Can you access that for developing varieties that are more favorable to, say, a climate in California or Arizona or New Mexico?”

LaVigne says the US has been involved in the work of the treaty partners but a few things have held up ratification.  He says there have been changes in leadership of the Senate Foreign Relations committee over the past 14 years and closer scrutiny is given to treaties to protect U.S. sovereignty. The Senate ratified the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture last week.

LaVigne says the U.S. favors setting a period of time in contracts for payment when germplasm is moved from country to country and will bring that proposal to the meetings early next year.

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