Working groups
The SAA Congress represents a valuable opportunity for the Working Groups to meet in person, strengthening collaboration and making progress on the most relevant and priority issues for the seed industry.
Phytosanitary Issues
Promoting Safe and Efficient Seed Trade in the Americas
This group acts as a technical reference for the exchange of key information, articulating collaboration between national seed associations (NSAs) and official phytosanitary authorities (NPPOs and RPPOs). Its objective is to promote harmonized regulatory measures to ensure the safe movement of seeds on the continent.
Key Areas of Action:
- Promoting science-based regulations to ensure phytosanitary safety.
- Support for the implementation of international standards such as ISPM 38 (International Seed Movement) and ISPM 45 (Authorization of Entities by NPPOs).
- Support for bilateral and regional initiatives, such as COSAVE's Regional Pilot Plan for corn seeds.
- Compilation of species-specific phytosanitary requirements.
- Continuous monitoring of emerging regulations in the Americas.
- Implementation of measures to optimize pest risk assessment (PRA) processes, prioritizing technical efficiency and transparency.
Biotechnology and PBI
Innovation for the Future of Plant Breeding
This group promotes strategic actions to accompany the technological evolution of the seed sector, promoting predictable, coherent and science-based regulatory frameworks that encourage the development and trade of innovative varieties in the region.
Key Areas of Action:
- Promotion of regulations adapted to new breeding techniques (NBTs), including gene editing.
- Support for the development of harmonized regulatory frameworks in the Americas.
- Organization of meetings between industry and authorities to strengthen technical exchange and regulatory capabilities.
- Coordination of technical seminars on emerging technologies, with the participation of regulatory authorities.
- Assistance to national seed associations (NSAs) in improving their regulatory frameworks, especially in gene editing and GMOs.
- Collaboration with international organizations (ISF, IICA, CLI and CAS-GT-5) to generate joint proposals to facilitate international seed trade.
Applied Seed Technologies
Driving Yield and Sustainability
This group is dedicated to reducing barriers to treated seed in the Americas, supporting the adoption of new seed technologies and sharing information related to regulation and labeling, while promoting seed trade in the region.
Key Areas of Action:
- Support treatments that prevent premature crop losses due to soil diseases and pests, always under good practice protocols that prioritize the care of the environment, health and safety of operators and producers.
- Promote the adoption of new technologies applied to seeds to increase agricultural yields.
- Encourage the professionalization of seed treatments in specialized facilities.
- Promote the harmonization of labeling, legislation and regulations related to seed treatments in the region.
Intellectual Property Rights
Protecting Innovation for the Future of Agriculture
This group works to strengthen plant variety protection systems in the region by promoting sound, effective regulatory frameworks aligned with international standards. Its mission is to ensure that plant breeders can protect their innovations, while fostering an environment that encourages investment in new technologies and sustainable agricultural varieties.
Key Areas of Action:
- Promoting effective adherence to the UPOV 1991 Convention in the countries of the region.
- Advice on the design and implementation of efficient royalty collection systems that recognize the value of breeders' work.
- Promotion of best practices, technical training and institutional strengthening of national intellectual property offices.
- Active collaboration with international organizations such as UPOV, ISF, WIPO and public and private entities interested in the defense of agricultural innovation.
Are you interested
in participating?
The meetings of the SAA Working Groups are closed spaces, exclusively for representatives of member companies and organizations.