Friday, September 30th 2016
Courtesy of Brownfield Ag News
The 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. 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.