A summit was held last week in Chicago to address the role of seed technology in meeting the growing demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel.

The goal of the American Seed Research Summit was to bring together research leaders from industry, academia and government to identify major seed research challenges and to develop a national strategy and action plan to solve those challenges.

Sponsored by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), the American Seed Research Foundation and the National Council of Commercial Plant Breeders, over 40 representatives were in attendance at the two-day summit. Keynote speakers included representatives of USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, the University of Wisconsin, Pioneer Hi-bred International and Monsanto.