Incoming Chair Dave Armstrong discusses his commitment to increasing diversity in the industry. Diversity in leadership should reflect diversity in society, says Armstrong. “Let ASTA be the standard.” (ASTA photo)

Sacramento, CA (June 14, 2023) — The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) elected its 2023-24 officer team during its annual Leadership Summit, June 10-14 in Sacramento, CA.

The members of the new officer team, beginning official duties on July 1, are:

  • Chair: David Armstrong, Sakata Seed America
  • First Vice Chair: Dan Foor, DLF North America
  • Second Vice Chair: Dave Treinen, Syngenta

In his acceptance remarks, incoming Chair Dave Armstrong, president and CEO of Sakata America Holding Company, Inc., discussed his vision for the association in the coming year.

“ASTA is in tremendous shape, thanks to strong member engagement, capable Board leadership, and dynamic staff,” said Armstrong. “Over the coming year, I look forward to building on ASTA’s strong foundation through the continued execution of its core strategic pillars.”

Among his priorities, Armstrong highlighted his commitment to fostering more diversity within the industry.

“I feel strongly that for agriculture to have relevance in today’s complex society, its leadership must look more like society,” added Armstrong. “That includes ASTA. We go by the motto, ‘first the seed’; all food, and most everything in life, starts with seed. I believe that should be the case with diversity too.”

Armstrong has served as president and CEO of Sakata America Holding Company, Inc., since 2009. He leads all operations for Sakata within North and Central America, including research, seed production, marketing, and distribution. In a career spanning four decades in agriculture, Armstrong has established and developed businesses with direct profit and loss accountability on three continents, from bases in Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Amsterdam and the San Francisco Bay Area, among others. Armstrong lives in Palo Alto, California, with his wife, Federica, a documentary photographer and artist.

Sakata Seed America was established in 1977 in an office in San Francisco and has grown to become a major research, production, marketing and distribution business. Headquartered in Morgan Hill, California, Sakata Seed America also has R&D, processing and distribution facilities in Woodland and Salinas, CA, Yuma, AZ, Fort Myers, FL, Burlington, WA and Guadalajara and Culiacan, Mexico, among others. Sakata Seed Corporation, based in Yokohama, Japan, is a global leader in the development of market-leading vegetable and flower genetics.

ASTA Sees Largest Student Participation at 2023 Leadership Summit

Sacramento, CA (June 23, 2023) - ASTA’s 2023 Leadership Summit saw its largest student participation in history. Throughout the week, 49 students from universities across the country participated in a dedicated student track made possible with help from Seed Central. This track included a panel discussion from early-career professionals on their experiences and path in the industry, a session exploring the resiliency of the workforce, and an all-new student career fair and poster presentation opportunity.

Of the 49 students in attendance, six were a part of the Student Connections Program –a collaboration between the Seed Science Foundation and ASTA’s LEAD Committee. The program was created to provide university students with networking opportunities with seed industry mentors, executives, and thought-leaders. Thank you to Corteva Agriscience, JoMar Seeds, Inc., and Sakata Seed America, Inc. for sponsoring this successful program! For more information about Student Connections and the 2023 participants, click here.

Founded in 1883, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) represents over 700 companies involved in seed production, plant breeding and related industries in North America. ASTA is the leading voice of action in all matters concerning the development, marketing and movement of seed, associated products and services throughout the world. The association’s broad membership offers varieties from alfalfa to zucchini and all production types including conventional, organic and biotech. ASTA promotes the development of better seed to produce better crops for a better quality of life.

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The next ASTA Leadership Summit is scheduled for June 15-19, 2024 in Nashville, TN. (Chris Lusvardi photo)