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ASTA Applauds New National Plant Germplasm System Plan to Reduce Backlogs and Strengthen Collection Quality

  • On November 21, 2023

Alexandria, VA—November 21, 2023— The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) applauds the release of the National Plant Germplasm and Cultivar Collection Assessment and Utilization Plan. ASTA led efforts in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to further support the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) through the development and implementation of this plan in order to preserve the viability of, and public access to, germplasm and cultivars.

In addition to identifying priorities and strategies, developing approaches, and providing 5-year and 10-year timelines, the plan identifies how NPGS can reduce current backlogs, prevent future backlogs, improve NPGS plant germplasm (PGR) collections, strengthen and increase NPGS operations efficiencies, and meet the needs of customers and stakeholders comprehensively. Administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the NPGS comprises 22 gene banks and support units across 19 locations.

The National Strategic Germplasm and Cultivar Collection Assessment and Utilization Plan outlines three overall strategies for achieving these goals:

  1. Strategically expanding NPGS PGR management capacities
  2. Increasing NPGS operational efficiencies
  3. Integrating and expanding NPGS PGR genotypic characterization, phenotypic evaluation, and genetic enhancement operations

“ASTA and its members welcome this report and NPGS’s plan to modernize its operations and increase its operational efficiencies,” said ASTA President & CEO Andy LaVigne. “Plant breeders, public and private, working to bring innovative plant varieties to U.S. farmers and producers will benefit from implementing this new plan. We look forward to working with USDA-ARS on the implementation of this plan.”

Learn more about the benchmarks, timelines, and key indicators that NPGS has outlined by viewing the entire plan here.

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Founded in 1883, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) represents nearly 700 companies involved in seed production, plant breeding and related industries in North America. ASTA is the leading voice of action in all matters concerning the development, marketing and movement of seed, associated products and services throughout the world. The association’s broad membership offers varieties from alfalfa to zucchini and all production types including conventional, organic and biotech. ASTA promotes the development of better seed to produce better crops for a better quality of life.