ASTA Headlines Germplasm Panel at USDA Ag Outlook Forum

ASTA’s Dr. Sam Crowell spoke on a mainstage panel at USDA’s 101st Agricultural Outlook Forum, the department’s oldest and largest annual gathering. In the session, titled “Building Prosperity and Resilience with Traits from the Wild,” Crowell was joined by Dr. Neha Kothari, National Program Leader, National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), ASTA member Dr. Emily Negrin, INARI, and Dr. David Francis, a tomato breeder at The Ohio State University. During the discussion, panelists highlighted the importance of seeds, crops, and plant breeding for the entire agricultural economy.

Crowell spoke on ASTA’s work to represent the seed sector globally and highlighted the important role that the USDA NPGS plays in U.S. plant breeding: as the U.S. seed bank and repository for important crop species and wild relatives; as the repository where breeders can store varieties in exchange for plant variety protection; and as a home for innovative public-private partnerships, such the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) project, which are critical to advancing agricultural research and innovation.