October 11, 2022
ASABE HOSTS ISO PLENARY MEETING IN SAINT JOSEPH, MICHIGAN
The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) recently hosted the annual international plenary meeting of ISO Technical Committee 23, Subcommittee 6 (Equipment for Crop Protection), in Saint Joseph, Michigan.
Participants representing 14 countries gathered September 12–16 for the event. Southwest Michigan made an ideal backdrop for the group: Not only is it home to ASABE, the point organization for U.S. representation to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for agriculture, but it also has the second most–diverse range of crops in the country.
Standards filter into regulatory decision-making domestically and abroad, and failure to take strong leadership in their development can result in costly regulatory implications and barriers to international trade. While their impact may not seem obvious in day-to-day activity, unfavorable standards, once codified, can take years to decades to correct. Active U.S. participation in standards development creates regional guidance and balances the strong European and growing Asian influence on current topics.
ISO TC23/SC6 works to develop internationally accepted and approved standards specifically relating to crop protection through fertilization and pest control. The U.S. last hosted the committee’s plenary in 2011.
Hosting the meeting at home gave the U.S. delegate the opportunity to organize a field day, an event that showcased the unique interests of U.S. agriculture. The field day was held September 12, at the local Michigan State University Extension facility,
ASABE is an international scientific and educational organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems. Also, ASABE is recognized worldwide as a standards developing organization for food, agricultural, and biological systems, with more than 280 standards currently in publication. Conformance to ASABE standards is voluntary, except where required by state, provincial, or other governmental requirements, and the documents are developed by consensus in accordance with procedures approved by the American National Standards Institute. Further information on the Society can be obtained by contacting ASABE at (269) 429-0300, emailing hq@asabe.org or visiting www.asabe.org
ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 167 national standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges. To learn more about ISO, please visit www.iso.org