Committees and Divisions
Most issues addressed by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) are bottom-up, driven from member representatives on ASTA committees or divisions. ASTA has seven divisions to which any member can belong, and it has 11 standing committees that address key seed science, policy and education issues.
ASTA members determine the future of the seed industry through active participation. Our success depends on your involvement. Grassroots efforts, quality discussions on policy issues, strategic goals and actions are the cornerstone to ASTA’s ability to advocate for the industry. Below are the ASTA Committees:
Committees
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Divisions
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Communications Committee: This committee supports both ASTA specific and industrywide initiatives. These efforts include, but are not limited to: coordinating industry messaging (as appropriate) to support advocacy goals and to drive public opinion; participating in the development and implementation of ASTA’s comprehensive communications plan; helping generate and respond to media coverage; amplifying ASTA social media content; apprising each other of emerging issues and media interests; sharing communications research & resources; and supporting industry communications efforts including Better Seed, Better Life public-facing initiatives, the Seed Ambassador Leadership Team (SALT), the Seed Treatment Stewardship Guide, student engagement activities, and more.
Environment & Conservation Seed Committee: This committee represents the interests of ASTA members who provide quality seed for land restoration, rehabilitation, and reclamation. A primary focus of the committee is to promote native seeds, introduced and released plant materials in projects on private and public lands. A basis for all aspects of the committee is the need for sound, science-based principles, and efficiency in government programs. This committee oversees the Cover Crops Task Force.
Innovation and Policy Committee: This committee covers policy and regulatory issues in the areas of new plant breeding, seed applied innovations and research, and intellectual property rights. The focus is on policy and regulatory issues that have an impact across the seed industry. Examples of topics addressed by the committee are domestic and intellectual regulatory policies for seed products developed through innovative breeding technologies, issues related to intellectual property protection, and U.S. policies related to breeding and seed research. Advocacy and development of ASTA positions are initially developed through smaller groups, such as ad hoc topic specific and standing working groups, as well as subcommittees that report to the committee; for example, the Plant Breeding Innovation Subcommittee, the Intellectual Property Rights subcommittee, and the Molecular Markers Working Group.
International Committee (by invitation): This committee plays a vital role in developing ASTA’s global agricultural policy positions and international programs. The International Committee is comprised of the chairs of the Intellectual Property Rights, Plant Breeding Innovation, and Phytosanitary committees; ASTA’s representatives to the International Seed Federation (ISF) and other regional and international organizations; and the chairs of ASTA’s Country Working Groups. The International Committee sets global and country priorities, develops strategies for ASTA representatives to ISF, and designates priorities and activities conducted under USDA Cooperator Programs, including: the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program, Market Access Program (MAP), and the Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) program. Finally, the International Committee provides guidance and participates in ASTA’s priority Country Working Groups, and advocates with government officials and stakeholders on the value of addressing global seed issues.
Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) Committee: This committee is responsible for providing ASTA members with opportunities to expand their knowledge and gain experience in skills necessary to sustain and grow a career in the seed industry. This is delivered via distance learning, on-site tours of ASTA member companies and in-person at ASTA meetings. The committee is focused on building leadership skills by involving those new to the industry up to those that are advanced in their careers.
Legal Committee: This committee examines legal issues on an as needed basis and provides direction to the association on a broad range of topics. The committee will assist the organization in gaining new insights and solving business challenges. This committee is comprised of legal professionals within the seed industry and requires a solid grasp of the law and how it translates and affects seed industry issues.
Legislative Committee: This committee is responsible for keeping interested members apprised of federal and state legislative happenings. The function of this group is to share policy activity relevant to the seed industry, and keep members apprised of potential impacts from policy discussions in state legislatures, as well as Capitol Hill. Primary to ASTA’s legislative agenda is to ensure that state and federal policies relating to the seed industry remain consistent and practical.
Meetings Committee: This committee monitors, evaluates, and seeks to enhance ASTA meetings to maintain and increase the value of ASTA events for its members and grow participation and engagement in those events.
Membership Committee: This committee is responsible for all policy issues related to membership and for making recommendations to the Board on categories of membership, dues levels, member services and approval of new members. The committee meets in-person twice a year during the Vegetable and Flower Seed Conference and the Leadership Summit. The Membership Committee is closed to members unless they are in the following leadership positions: Regional Vice President, ASTA Officers, three most recent Past Chairs, and ASTA General Counsel.
Organic Seed Committee: This committee works to resolve technical issues relevant to organic seed production, treatment, use and marketing. Open to all ASTA members interested in the development of the organic seed industry, the committee formulates policy recommendations to be submitted to the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) and National Organic Standards Board. The committee supports the organic seed industry for all commodities and interfaces with the USDA-NOP and the National Organic Standards Board.
Phytosanitary Committee: This committee focuses on the phytosanitary aspects of global seed movement. It maintains a close relationship with USDA’s APHIS and foreign government plant quarantine bodies including the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO), and other regional organizations, including national and regional seed associations. Through this network, the committee monitors plant quarantine developments that might affect the movement of seed around the globe.
Seed Industry Relations Committee: This committee serves as the ASTA liaison with related industry associations by fostering communication and cooperation on issues of mutual concern. The committee keeps abreast of domestic and international developments in seed testing methods, regulations, and policy.
Sustainability Committee: This committee represents a diverse cross-section of ASTA membership and provides input to the activities surrounding implementation of ASTA’s strategic plan pillar on sustainability. The committee focuses on amplifying seed sector engagement on sustainability to policy makers and the value chain at the state, federal and international levels.
Treated Seed Committee Committee: This committee serves as a source of information to the industry on issues relating to the regulation and labeling of seed treated with pesticides and biologicals, as well as how treatments relate to the environment, health, safety and well-being of employees and consumers. The committee promotes product stewardship, uniformity in labeling, and provides advice to ASTA on issues regarding the safety of the seed industry’s workers, and environmental implications of laws or regulations as they relate to the seed industry. A biologicals working group has been created under this committee to address specific issues for that subset of products.
