A Glimpse into the Future
Countless companies would leap at the chance to get a peek into the future of their industry. The companies that attend ASTA’s annual CSS and Seed Expo get to do just that.
The 2009 CSS and Seed Expo is the largest gathering of seed professionals in the country. Conference-goers are given the opportunity to network, share research and see the newest products to hit the market. With all the companies present, it becomes a veritable crystal ball of the technologies of the future, allowing licensees of the technology to see where the industry is headed.
“I like to come to the ASTA meeting because this is sort of the beginning of the new season of products that are going to be offered for 2010 and 2011,” Fred Pond, Advanced Genetics, said. “Companies are laying out their product lines. It’s the first place to get to look at all of those in one place. It’s very convenient and easy to see all of them at one time.”
For individuals like Mark Vosseller, Corn States technology information manager, the conference gives him a chance to connect with licensees -- those that license and sell Monsanto germplasm and technology under their own brands -- and get their feedback on the new products being offered.
“I get to interact with our licensees very closely,” he said. “It’s interesting to see how our products have been widely accepted by our licensees to improve their businesses because they know we are providing the best traits and products.”
Matt Hynes, sales marketing manager at GROWMARK, sees the ASTA conference as a way to gauge the market.
“It’s…important for us as a partner to be able to take a look at what’s going on, to evaluate not only what happened last year and this year, but what are the trends are – the things we need to have, what are the things they can offer us -- so we can benefit the farmer.”
This year’s conference marks the 64th corn and sorghum conference and the 39th soybean conference, and every year the conference brings together the seed industry members and fosters the sharing of information and technology. With the continuance of the conference, the seed industry has nowhere to go but up.
