ASTA Wraps Up Successful Policy & Leadership Development Conference

ASTA’s second annual Policy & Leadership Development Conference (PDLC) truly broke “New Frontiers” this year in Denver. With a boost in attendance numbers among both senior seed industry executives and “Emerging Leader” registrants, the conference offered a robust agenda focusing on both crucial seed industry policy topics, such as global trade, plant breeding innovation, seed treatment, phytosanitary concerns and the emergence of the hemp seed market. For pictures from the week, visit our Flickr site.

A leadership development track offered sessions focusing on skills like: networking, building a personal brand, onboarding talent, and thriving in a multi-generational workforce. Keynote presenter Brett Sciotto, of Aimpoint Research, unveiled the outcomes of their study on the “Farmer of 2040” while a powerhouse session on Ag Tech Innovations and consumer Food Trends packed a standing-room only session with presentations by Dr. Raj Khosla of Colorado State University and David Fikes of the Food Marketing Institute. Immersive learning experiences replaced traditional conference sessions with “in the field” learning trips to Applewood Seed Company, Westrup, Inc. and the USDA National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation.

The popular “PL/DC Lightning Talks” series offered a chance for quick-learning presentations by the newly elected Colorado FFA State Officers Team, the Seed Science Foundation, the Colorado Ag Leadership Program, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and renowned speaker Lisa Ryan, of Grategy.

Mark your calendars for June 2020 as ASTA hosts a joint PLDC in Indianapolis with the Association of Official Seed Analysts and the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists! For more information or to put your employee on the mailing list for future training opportunities at PLDC, send your request to info@betterseed.org.