ASTA Successfully Hosts Participants from 30 Countries at the 61st Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference

In spite of the pandemic and with the addition of extra safety measures, ASTA successfully hosted its 61st Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference in San Diego, CA from Jan. 27 – Feb. 1.

Attendees from 30 countries navigated a variety of travel-related requirements to make the effort to be there in person and were rewarded with over 700 registrants and business connections, enjoying four days of global networking and sessions covering the latest information affecting the seed business.

“Several members expressed their gratitude to us that we forged ahead to hold the event in person,” says Jennifer Crouse, Senior Director of Meetings and Services for ASTA. “The addition of an on-site Covid testing office, the ability to circulate fresh air in to the Trading Room and to hold receptions outside really helped keep the event safe for everyone, in conjunction with the California state mandates on masks, vaccination proof and negative testing for those not vaccinated.”

The conference featured a variety of timely topics, including general sessions on “Short-Term and Long-Term Logistics” and “The Future of Production and Retail,” as well as robust panel discussions on phytosanitary issues, innovation and policy, treated seed and sustainability. A delegation of students from UC Davis were also in attendance. On January 30, the students presented posters of their research projects during a reception in their honor. Recordings of the conference sessions are still available to new virtual registrants on the conference webpage. Access photos from the week here.