IPSA Offers Perspective on Agricultural Concentration
Board authorizes letter to US Dept. of Justice
The Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA) Board of Directors have sent a letter to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding their efforts to investigate the effects of concentration in agriculture, and more specifically the seed industry. "The IPSA Board of Directors felt it was important to provide background information to DOJ officials about the IPSA membership as they begin their series of workshops on concentration in agriculture. The IPSA membership has undergone tremendous evolution, especially in the past decade, so the perspectives of regional, independent seed companies are an integral component of information to DOJ's efforts" commented IPSA President David Hingst with Hoegemeyer Hybrids in Hooper, NE.
The context of IPSA's comments to DOJ addresses four main topics:
- History and background information about IPSA and its members
- A discussion of how the development and evolution of biotechnology in the seed industry has affected IPSA members
- An outline of how regional, independent seed companies access and market seed germplasm and biotechnology traits
- A review of the significant role Intellectual Property (IP) protection plays in advancing seed products
This letter has been communicated directly to the US Department of Justice, as they prepare for their first workshop on agricultural concentration in Ankeny, Iowa on March 12. IPSA is planning to attend the workshop.
Copies of the letter have been sent to all IPSA Regular (Seed Company) members, along with a memo outlining how they can also make comments or provide information to the DOJ during these workshops.
More information can be found at the IPSA website at http://www.independentseeds.com