ALEXANDRIA, VA - Congratulations are in order for one industry luminary who has joined a new committee. Dr. Samuel Crowell, Senior Director of International Programs and Policy for the American Seed Trade Association, was appointed to serve on one of seven agricultural trade advisory committees (ATAC). United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the appointment last week.

“Seed serves as the foundation of much of the U.S. agricultural sector, and trade is critical to our industry’s success. It’s a tremendous privilege representing the American seed industry every day here at ASTA, and I’m sincerely looking forward to contributing to the ATACs,” Crowell says.

Dr. Crowell has an extensive background in agricultural policy spanning trade, regulatory, and foreign affairs, which will allow him to contribute both technical and policy expertise as a member of the ATAC for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds, and Planting Seeds, a press release stated.

Prior to joining ASTA in 2022, Dr. Crowell held a variety of roles in the U.S. government, working in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) as a trade negotiator, the U.S. Department of State on agricultural foreign affairs, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a science policy fellow. He holds a Ph.D. in the plant breeding sciences.

We wish the best of luck to Dr. Samuel Crowell as he begins this next adventure.