ASTA Leads 90+ Ag Orgs in NPGS Letter

ASTA led a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins this week outlining the importance of the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System. This letter, signed by a total of 94 organizations, expressed strong support for the program that is managed by USDA’s Agricultural Research System (ARS) and has roots back to 1899, collecting, evaluating, and cataloging seeds and plants to benefit the U.S. agricultural community. An excerpt from the letter reads, “The true value of the NPGS goes beyond merely storage for specimens. As a dynamic, living seed bank, the NPGS serves as an unparalleled source where U.S. farmers, companies, and researchers can request access to diverse plant materials at any time, thus powering innovation through plant breeding, research, and public-private partnerships. Research using NPGS collections has directly increased U.S. farmers’ income and livelihoods through the development of innovative seeds and crops that are used by farmers every day.”

To read the full letter, click here.