New group addresses choice, competition, innovation in ag

Americans for Choice and Competition in Agriculture, a coalition dedicated to increased choice and competition in the multi-trait seed marketplace, was launched in Des Moines, Iowa. Former Iowa State Senator and U.S. Ambassador to Latvia, Charles “Chuck” Larson will serve as the Coalition’s executive director.

“Today, agriculture is a high-innovation business,” said Larson. “Even though agriculture starts with seed there isn’t a clear pathway for innovation and agricultural improvements for traits that come off patent, sometimes called generics, as a component for new, yet-to-be developed, multi-trait seeds for farmers. Americans for Choice and Competition in Agriculture is an additional and distinctive voice on a critical issue to agriculture and will begin a dialogue about the best ways to deliver increased competition and innovation for farmers to help boost U.S. economic growth, grow exports, and solve the looming global food crisis.”

Americans for Choice and Competition in Agriculture will promote three principles with regard to the seed marketplace – respect for intellectual property; robust opportunities for seed companies to include generic traits in new combinations of multi-trait seeds for the benefit of farmers and post-patent competition; and the removal of unintended or artificial barriers to the creation of multi-trait seeds that contain generic traits once a patent has expired.

“For American farmers to meet increasing global food demands, we need comprehensive and timely solutions to the problems that threaten the future of agriculture,” said Larson. “Americans for Choice and Competition in Agriculture stands for choice, competition, and innovation – choice that allows farmers to determine what seeds work best for them; vigorous competition among agricultural businesses that brings beneficial products and increased value to the multi-trait seed marketplace; and innovations to ensure American farmers will succeed in feeding the world—both now and in the future.”

Americans for Choice and Competition in Agriculture will promote solutions that will benefit consumers, farmers, and the entire agricultural industry. Bringing expansive knowledge in the agricultural field are former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and former six-term Minnesota U.S. Representative Vin Weber, who will serve as advisors to the Coalition.

For more information or to join the Coalition, visit www.agchoice.org.

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