Champaign, Illinois and Buenos Aires,
Argentina
October 10, 2007
Source:
http://www.globalseedsolutions.blogspot.com/
Two of the most important
independent seed service providers have signed an agreement to
create a new Strategic Alliance that will provide global
business services to seed firms. This Alliance will establish a
unique shared services approach that will lead to improved
efficiency in seed services.
Illinois Crop Improvement
Association (ICIA) and
ZEA Global Seeds signed an agreement on October 10th, 2007,
establishing a new world-class alliance entitled Global Seed
Solutions (GSS) ©, operated by staff from both companies. The
initiative is the first of its kind and builds on successful
shared services, infrastructure and experienced human resources
in different parts of the world. This venture will offer seed
companies the possibility to experience exponential flexibility
using multiple locations in South and North America’s temperate,
tropical and subtropical winter locations, aimed to speed up
time to market for corn, sorghum, soybean and sunflower seed.
The alliance will maintain a Winter Production BLOG at
http://www.globalseedsolutions.blogspot.com/
ICIA owns facilities in Illinois
and since 1986 has operated a winter farm in Puerto Rico. ZEA
Global operates winter farms in Buenos Aires and Salta
(Argentina). This presents a unique opportunity, which aims to
give rapid and reliable seed technology services to provide
northern and southern hemisphere solutions for
developers/producers of corn, sorghum, soybeans and sunflower
seed.
Marcelo Queijo, ZEA Global President and founder, said: "Teaming
with ICIA in this venture, will enable us to deliver
significantly improved services to both hemispheres over the
next ten years. (GSS) © will combine the know-how of ZEA Global
world-class seed transformation and managed service capabilities
in the Southern Hemisphere with the depth of ICIA experience,
reputation and staff skills in seed certification and
development for the Northern Hemisphere. This in turn will
enable the new team to create innovative service models which
transforms the way seed development services are delivered to
seed companies, as well as address some of the challenges
associated with the new industry requirements."
The launch of (GSS) © is also being heralded by both companies
as a potential solution to the increasing pressures on seed
companies to speed up the seed development process due to new
traits launched every year to the market and the reduced seed
product life-cycle. Dennis Thompson, ICIA CEO, explains, "This
timely alliance is absolutely essential to both organizations in
our attempts to provide rapid and reliable seed technology
solutions for continuous programs as well as short-term projects
for developers and producers of corn, sorghum, soybean and
sunflower seed. Both organizations are in absolute agreement
that the alliance represents excellent value for both companies,
an increase in our pool of services, and most importantly will
result in better outcomes for all the companies in the seed
industry."
Pablo Heide, ZEA Global CEO said, "ZEA is delighted to be part
of this undertaking. We are confident that (GSS) © will enable
us to not only deliver excellent value for seed companies in
both hemispheres but will also support our broader ambitions
that is to decrease the risks involved in the seed development
process. We are constantly seeking to improve services and
reduce costs to our clients, and we are confident that (GSS) ©
will enable us to achieve this goal."
Both companies are confident that their strategic alliance will
be welcomed by the industry and will help to boost business
opportunities in an area where companies are increasingly
outsourcing services. Both companies explained that they will
officially launch (GSS) © at the next ASTA meeting to be
celebrated in Chicago on December 5-7th, 2007.
ICIA is a not-for-profit corporation with headquarters in
Champaign, Illinois, US specialized in providing technology
services to the international seed, feed, food and industrial
agricultural industries. For more information, please contact
Dennis Thompson at +1-217-359-4053 or visit:
www.ilcrop.com.
ZEA Global Seeds is a privately-owned company based in
Argentina, dedicated to provide full winter season and value
added technology services for seed companies around the world.
For more information, please contact Marcelo Queijo at
+54-2326-456800 or visit:
www.zeaglobal.com.
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