Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
2/17/03
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Advisory: Presenters at this conference will be available for media interviews immediately following their respective session. A complete schedule of this conference can be found on the Web at: http://www.seeds.iastate.edu/pdf/st2003.pdf.
2/6/03
Contacts:
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
ISU Seed Conference to Explore Biotechnology Issues
Ames, Iowa -- The 25th Annual Seed Technology Conference is being presented by the Seed Science Center at Iowa State University (ISU) on Tuesday Feb. 18. This year's conference concentrates on special use corn production and pollen flow.
"This conference is for anyone in the seed and grain industry who
wants to learn more about the opportunities in biopharming," says
Dan Curry, conference organizer and manager of the ISU Seed Laboratory.
"The prospect of Iowa farmers and seed companies getting in on the
ground floor of raising seed and grain for medical and industrial use
is real."
The first speaker will be Doug Getter, executive director of the Iowa
Biotechnology Association. He will talk about the biotech issues facing
Iowa agribusinesses and seed and grain producers.
Other speakers will talk about issues surrounding the production of pharmaceutical corn in the Midwest and technologies that will allow such corn to be raised safely in the Midwest. Participants will also learn about the threat of soybean rust in the U.S., soybean mottling management and issues with marketing food grade mottled soybeans. Certified Crop Advisor credit has been applied for.
Participants will also be able to review and evaluate several new seed technologies at a special exhibit area. The cost is $110 per person for those registering by Feb.10 and $135 per person for registrations after that date. To learn more about the conference visit http://www.seeds.iastate.edu and click on "25th Seed Tech Conference." To register online go to: http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/online.htm and click on: "Seed Technology Conference and Workshops."
Two workshops are scheduled around this year's conference. On Feb. 17, the Seed Trait Testing Workshop will be held at the Seed Science Center.
Participants will get a hands-on demonstration of the latest protocols used in testing for seed genetic traits. The session includes biological tests as well as ELISA and lateral flow strip tests for herbicide and insect tolerance. The workshop will include testing for StarLink. Certified Crop Advisor has been applied for. The cost is $100 per person.
On Wednesday, Feb. 19, the Color Sorting Workshop will be held at the Seed Science Center on the ISU campus. This workshop will provide a demonstration of the latest technologies in separating discolored seed in corn and soybeans. The cost is $85 per person.
Space is limited to 24 participants for each workshop. To register for either workshop go to http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/online.htm and click on: Seed Technology Conference and Workshops.
The Iowa Biotechnology Association (IBA) was formed in 1994 to advance opportunities in Iowa for the improvement of the human environmental and economic well being through the development and application of value-added technologies in the life sciences. The Association is a state affiliate to the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the national industry advocacy group. Activities of the IBA are designed to give companies doing business in Iowa an edge in delivering timely new products to consumers through the sharing of ideas regarding the transfer and development of technologies. To learn more about IBA, visit its Web site at: http://www.iowabiotech.com/.
The Seed Science Center at Iowa State University is recognized as a national center of excellence in seed research, education and technology transfer, as well as in international seed programs. The Center's seed laboratory is the largest and busiest public seed laboratory in the world, testing more than 40,000 samples from 300 species. The Center also conducts several thousand seed health tests to enhance export of American seed worldwide. The center took on an additional task when the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Seed Trade Association designated the Seed Science Center to administer the new National Seed Health System. To learn more about the Center visit its Web site at: http://www.seeds.iastate.edu/.
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