November 2022 - 11

SEED SHOWCASE
ASTA
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
* Despite measures growers have
already adopted, there is an
increased pressure on growers
to decrease fertilizer and other
chemical use and to be better
stewards of farmlands to improve
upon what they've been doing,
Chou said.
" There is a new suite of tools called
gene editing, which has improved and
enhanced conventional breeding, " Chou
said. " I think a lot of the small-acreage
crops, the specialty crops, are looking at
the regulatory policy framework in the U.S.
and internationally, and whether it is going
to be accessible to them. "
Some companies that develop seeds
are on the leading edge of the technology,
focusing on consumer health and
characteristics in fresh produce that deliver
flavor while fulfilling a grower's checklist of
desired attributes.
seed research and development. Fruits and
vegetables are also being altered to fight
food waste: Okanagan Specialty Fruit's
Arctic apple varieties and J.R. Simplot's
Innate potato are non-browning varieties
that don't bruise and are geared for freshcut
operations and french fries.
" Companies are developing varieties
that can help fight climate change, that
sequester more carbon in the soil, " Shively
said. " We're seeing a lot of really cool
innovations that have a lot of potential for
appealing to consumers. "
Four years ago, ASTA unveiled an effort
to educate consumers and champion
successful technologies to enhance seeds:
innovature.com. The website charts the
progress from the birth of agriculture in
9000 BCE to the early scientific age and the
DNA Age (1953-2012).
" Through the platform, we are sharing
these exciting stories of innovation. We're
facing some really big challenges when
it comes to the environment, to food
protection and food security, " Shively said.
" We really feel that plant breeding has a
role to play there and we need innovation
to help solve some of these challenges. "
Response has been positive, and ASTA's
counterparts in some overseas countries
are using the website as a model to launch
their own domestic outreach.
" We've been able to tell a lot of stories,
but I think it remains to be seen whether
it has moved the needle in terms of
consumer acceptance, " Shively said. " We'll
probably need to see some more testing
down the road. "
She said the organization realizes a
single technological advancement to solve
agriculture's future, from climate change to
adequate water availability, isn't likely.
" We do need to continue to innovate,
to continue to work with our partners
along the food and agriculture value
chain, " she said. " We think that plant
breeding operations really have a positive
story to tell. " VGN
" There's a lot of really exciting research
that's going on, both in the public and
private sector, " Chou said. " It's very much
focused on the societal challenges and
consumer interest. They are still addressing
yields and agronomics, because you can't
not do all of those things. "
To Chou, the process is " super exciting "
when the result is something consumers
love and growers value. In doing so,
consumers become less likely to oppose the
science behind the product.
" We believe that if we have a product the
consumer can get excited about, the tools
you use to do so become less of a concern, "
Chou said. " I think that's what ASTA is
trying to do, to bring more awareness, to
bring more acceptance or curiosity to the
future of seed development. "
New chapter in seed
development
Bethany Shively, ASTA's vice president
of strategic communications, said there are
companies that are " really forward-facing "
and doing their own research into new
technologies.
" I don't want to speak for them, but I
will say this: We've been hearing some very
positive things, especially if we're talking
about these benefits that are directly
consumer-facing and really have some
strong sustainability benefits, " Shively said
Sustainability and climate change are
increasingly being cited as driving new
VGN | NOVEMBER 2022 | 11
http://www.innovature.com http://ruppseeds.com
November 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2022
