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Aug 01, 2013
ASA President Danny Murphy (second from left) co-chaired the IOPD meeting. (ASA photo by Steve Censky)
ASA President Danny Murphy, First Vice President Ray Gaesser and CEO Steve Censky participated in the International Oilseed Producers Dialogue (IOPD) meeting in Paraguay last week, joining representatives from the United Soybean Board, U.S. Soybean Export Council and the oilseed industries in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia and Malaysia.
The U.S. growers in attendance told the group what was happening in their part of the world, from farm bill legislation to export markets to crop condition. Common issues discussed among each country's representatives were their opposition to efforts to implement export taxes in parts of South America and the development of new biotechnology traits and the promotion of biotechnology's acceptance around the world.
The purpose of the IOPD meeting are to coordinate efforts to promote the oilseed industry throughout the world. Together, these nations will work to advance the acceptance of biotechnology in China through an upcoming outreach meeting.
The group also talked thoroughly about making sure that farmers in the U.S. and South America understand the need to incentivize trait providers, seed companies, universities and researchers to provide new technologies and advance innovation to help farmers feed the world.
