ASTA Commends Nomination of Tom Vilsack as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Alexandria, VA —December 14, 2020 — American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) President & CEO Andy LaVigne issued the following statement in reaction to Tom Vilsack’s nomination as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

“We are very pleased to hear of President-elect Biden’s intention to nominate Secretary Tom Vilsack to serve as his Secretary of Agriculture. Under President Obama, Secretary Vilsack demonstrated a strong understanding of the important issues impacting the American seed industry and the broader agriculture community.

“Agriculture, and specifically the seed industry, will continue to play a key role in driving innovative solutions to help meet pressing global challenges, from climate change to food security. Success will require strong collaboration throughout the agriculture and food value chain, as well as robust private-public partnerships to further advance agriculture research and promote a continued environment of innovation for the future. We look forward to working with Secretary Vilsack and the Biden Administration moving forward.”

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Founded in 1883, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) represents over 700 companies involved in seed, associated products and services throughout the world. The association’s broad membership offers varieties from alfalfa to zucchini and all production types including conventional, organic and biotech. ASTA promotes the development of better seed to produce better crops for a better quality of life.