Green line - nov/dec 2008 PARTNERSHIP Dow AgroScience has recently acquired the unit for the production of hybrid maize seed from Coodetec, located in Paracatu, state of Minas Gerais - Brazil. The negotiation, which was considered a great success by both parties, involved the access by Coodetec to the biotechnology events owned by Dow AgroScience, which will boost Coodetec's research program on maize. On the other hand, Dow speeds up its program for the production of maize seeds, which will best serve its customers. BIO-ENERGY Lately many discussions took place relating the food price with bio-energy, mainly on maize that is used for ethanol production. The USA are using close to 100 millions tons of maize/year for ethanol, which is the double of the yearly corn production in Brazil. Looking deeply in the situation it was, by common sense, concluded that the food price had little to do with ethanol production, however also by common sense, the international community things that it is essential that the productivity per area for the main crops must increase in the following years and for this the use of biotechnology is essential HOMAGE During the 21st Pan American Seed Seminar held in Cartagena, Colombia, the Latin American Seed Federation (Felas) paid homage to the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel) for its continuous work on update training to the seed sector personnel, and by promoting the use of more and better seeds. Such an acknowledgement is certainly welcome and will help keep the seed program at the University developing its activities within the country and abroad in high gear. PRIZE SEED News gave away a prize consisting of registration fee and accommodation expenses to the 21st Pan American Seed Seminar. SEED News' Director Marilanda Becker Peske, together with Jorge Rosales from SEED News Bolivia were responsible for the draw, that awarded as winner Mr. Joaquin Lopetegui, from the Don Mario seed company from Argentina. Events such as the Pan American Seed Seminar are essential to update professionals and to establish new contacts. RULES ISTA has just sent out the Rules Amendments 2009 (valid as per January 1st, 2009) in order to update the current Rules Edition 2008 and its Annexe to Chapter 7, Seed Health Testing Methods. The ISTA Rules of Testing Seed are updated yearly and are the globally reference for the seed trade as quality evaluation is concerned. TRAINING MANUAL The Society of Commercial Seed Technologists announces the availability of a set of four seed technology training DVDs, developed by Dr. Miller McDonald. The DVDs are a comprehensive review of the most common techniques used by seed analysts to assess seed quality. Text, figures, animations, and videos are used to effectively explain each testing procedure, which makes the collection valuable and unique materials for training and education of seed analysts as well as others interested in the techniques of seed testing. Information - www.seedtechnology.net/DVDs.htm FELAS Mr. Ywao Miymoto was elected president of Felas, for the biennium 2008/10, replacing Mr. Eduardo Villota who presided from 2006 to 2008. Felas has held seminars since 1958 and became a forum for the dissemination of technological innovations from researchers in Latin America. In addition to this, the Latin American Seed Federation has provided an environment conducive to the discussion, between official representatives, on how to harmonize standards and procedures to facilitate the seed trade between countries. The forthcoming Felas Seminar is scheduled to be held in Peru. PATENT There are already many OGM materials on the market, and all of them protected by patents recognized by international agreements. Stating like this, seems to that there is just one patent covering the whole process, however this is not so, there are on any OGM material more than one patent and in some cases, more that 20. This is because, in order to have the modified material many processes are involved and each of them there is a patent. So, before starting something, find out what are the patents involved. NEW DIRECTOR ISF has just selected Mr. Piero Sismond as director of Seed Technology and trade. Mr. Piero Sismondo comes to ISF with a very long tradition in the seed business and a vast amount of knowledge and experience about seed production. He has been very active in national and international seed associations. Within ISF he has been an active member of the Industrial Crops and the Maize and Sorghum Sections. He will start at the ISF secretariat from the 1st of February 2009 and will be moving to the Nyon area in the coming months. UPOV 91 The protection of improved materials by the UPOV convention of 1978 is considered not to be robust. In this way some countries are moving the membership to the convention of 1991 which protects the varieties up to the grain. Chile is a good example of this trend. This is very important to those that want a better protection of their achievement. This Is recognized by the international community that now only allows new memberships by the UPOV convention of 1991 HEALTH A project coordinated by the international Center for tropical agriculture (CIAT) and the international center for maize and wheat (CIMMYT) called pro-health is working with beans, maize and sorghum with the objective to obtain seeds with higher nutritive contents like amino acids and vitamins. The project is already in the final stages to release the improved varieties. TRAINING The Federal University of Pelotas, in agreement with Bolivia's National Seed Program has issued certificates for the level of specialization in production and seed technology to 71 professionals. This was the eighth group to fulfill the specialization, showing the importance Bolivia gives seed production as a means to ensure food supply. Support this section