November 27, 2024
On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 15:00 - 16:00 CET, we invite you to join our last webinar, part of the ISTA Centennial series.
Throughout 2024, this series brought together experienced ISTA Members and emerging voices in the field to foster knowledge sharing and strengthen connections across the global seed science community. This final webinar will focus on the history and ongoing work of the ISTA Variety Committee, offering insights into both established and emerging seed testing techniques.
The session will be interactive, and questions from the audience will be gathered and discussed during the dedicated Q&A time slot. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate, so please hurry up and register to take part in the discussion.
The webinar will conclude with closing remarks from ISTA President Keshavulu Kunusoth.
Click here to register now.
Meet our panelists
Ana Laura Vicario is a graduate in Biological Sciences with a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. She currently serves as the National Director of Seed Development and Plant Genetic Creations at the National Seed Institute (INASE), Argentina. In this role, she leads strategic projects in collaboration with various areas and organisations and works to strengthen ties with the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) and the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). She focuses on developing teams dedicated to seed quality and testing. Since 2009, Ana has been a member of the Advisory Commission on Agricultural Biotechnology (CONABIA), contributing to the GMO regulatory process in Argentina.
She has served as chair of ISTA’s Variety Committee since 2013, after acting as vice-chair from 2007 to 2013, and has been a member of ISTA’s GMO Committee since 2007 and the Rules Committee since 2013. Ana has authored numerous publications in scientific journals, books, and magazines, presented over 50 papers at technical meetings, seminars, and congresses, and participated as a lecturer in more than 30 courses and seminars. Her work continues to drive progress in seed development, genetic research, and regulatory frameworks on both national and international levels.
Marie-Claude Gagnon has served as the Head of the Genotyping, Botany, and Seeds Units at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) since January 2016. In this role, she oversees critical areas such as invasive plant identification, GMO detection, and variety verification, all within a diagnostic environment accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards. Her leadership extends to operating the CFIA’s Central Sequencing Service, where she drives innovation by spearheading research projects aimed at developing advanced molecular assays for variety verification, enhancing the capabilities of the Genotyping, Botany, and Seeds Units.
In addition to her national responsibilities, Marie-Claude contributes significantly to international initiatives as the Vice-Chair of the ISTA Variety Committee, a position she has held since 2020. Her expertise and dedication to advancing seed science and diagnostics play a pivotal role in supporting regulatory frameworks and fostering innovation in plant health and genetic analysis.
Sean Walkowiak has been an active member of the ISTA Variety Committee since 2021. He is a Research Scientist at the Grain Research Laboratory of the Canadian Grain Commission, a federal agency responsible for regulating grain handling in Canada and ensuring grain quality and safety. As the Program Manager for Microbiology and Grain Genomics, Sean oversees the core facility for genomics testing and research. His research has been featured in numerous high-impact journals, including Science and Nature, underscoring his contributions to the scientific community.
Beyond his governmental role, Sean serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Manitoba in the Departments of Plant Science and Animal Science, where he fosters academic collaboration and mentorship. Additionally, he contributes to the broader scientific dialogue as an editor for the journal Plant Pathology. Sean’s expertise bridges fundamental research and practical applications, advancing the fields of plant science and grain genomics.
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