Academy to focus on management in seed industry

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Leadership techniques for the long-term success of seed companies will be at the forefront when the American Seed Trade Association Management Academy begins March 7 in West Lafayette.

The academy, which runs through March 11, is a partnership between ASTA and Purdue University's Center for Food and Agricultural Business. It will be held in Krannert Center on the Purdue University campus.

"The seed industry is perhaps the most dynamic part of the food and agricultural business industry," said Allan Gray, director of the Center for Food and Agricultural Business and professor of agricultural economics. "Increasing sophistication of research and development, shifting regulations and mounting pressure to compete on new business models with new talents against increasingly capable competitors make management within the seed industry exciting and challenging at the same time."

He said the academy is designed to improve awareness of the implications of the seed industry dynamics - not just for one specific area of the business but for all functional areas - while building management and leadership skills in research and development, human resources, marketing, finance and strategy.

Keynote speaker Risa Demasi, co-founder, partner and director of marketing for Grassland Oregon and ASTA chairman, will talk about her own management philosophy as well as challenges and opportunities in the seed industry.

Program instructors from Purdue are Gray; Freddie Barnard, professor of agricultural economics; Mike Boehlje, distinguished professor of agricultural economics; Larry DeBoer, professor of agricultural economics; and Scott Downey and Michael Gunderson, associate directors for the Center for Food and Agricultural Business and associate professors of agricultural economics.

Other instructors are Pete Hammett, director of the Client and Assessment Services Group for the Center for Creative Leadership, and Larry Lad, associate professor of management at Butler University.

They will cover topics that include marketing management, organizational leadership, financial management and strategy.

Visit http://agribusiness.purdue.edu/asta for more information and to register. Questions can be directed to Aissa Good, business development manager for the Center for Food and Agricultural Business, at 765-496-3884 or aissa@purdue.edu.

ASTA and the Center for Food and Agricultural Business have partnered for nearly 30 years to link the issues of the seed industry to the skills necessary in the business functions of seed companies. 

Writer: Jennifer Stewart-Burton, 765-496-6032, jsstewar@purdue.edu 

Source: Allan Gray, 765-494-4323, gray@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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