Associate Farm Editor, Reagan Calk, is visiting with the Vice President of Government Affairs at the American Seed Trade Association, Janae Brady, about a seed industry update and 2023 farm bill priorities.
Brady first talked about the importance of intellectual property protection to innovation.
“Intellectual property is really key for our plant breeders to be able to put forward the most innovative technology available, and it is something that our industry relies on to encourage innovation largely, so we are constantly looking for the next best type of technology out there,” Brady said. “I think often, the general public doesn’t think about seeds in the world of technology, but we really have been able to produce the best seed in the world because of our systems in place for plant breeders in particular.”
Risk management tools such as crop insurance are critical for producers going forward, Brady said, to continue to have those innovations in the seed industry.
“For us, one of the front lines of risk management is the high-quality, professionally produced seed that you put into the ground,” Brady said. “If you are trying to overcome challenges with weather or if you are trying to get the highest yields, or nutritional value, or so many different things that you want in that end-product of food, really does start with that seed you put into the ground.”
At the end of the day, Brady said the producer must get the most they can out of the seed they are putting into the ground.
“We want to make sure that the seed we are providing is going to provide economic benefits for the product as well as environmental benefits,” Brady said. “Being able to put in commodities that will be able to overcome drought or deal with various environmental issues around the world has to benefit the producer, and I think that is sort of the goal we are all striving for.”
While many issues such as the farm bill are political in nature, Brady said it is important to remember that everyone is striving for the same goal, which is to ensure that we have a food-secure world.
To visit the American Seed Trade Association website, click here.
