Brazilian farmer Sergio Bortolozzo named MAIZALL president

MAIZALL has elected its new president, Brazilian farmer Sergio Bortolozzo, who will succeed Julius Schaaf, the international maize alliance announced on Thursday.

The alliance began as a series of strategic partnerships between the U.S. Grains Council, MAIZAR, ABRHAMHILO and the National Corn Growers' Association. MAIZALL consists of U.S., Argentinean and Brazilian representatives in equal parts. It was established in 2013 with former U.S. Grain Council Chairman Schaaf at the helm.

“I want to begin by thanking Julius Schaaf of the council for his leadership in establishing MAIZALL,” Bortolozzo said. “We will continue as a partnership of three countries presenting the growers’ perspective in international discussions on technology and trade.”

MAIZALL is a participant with the Global Low Level Presence Initiative which develops trade protocols that keep unapproved events to a minimum. They also promote greater synchronicity with biotechnology events.

The organization has been working with all three countries' ministries or departments of foreign affairs and agriculture in order to promote enhanced cooperation on regulation issues and to support growth and increased access to exporters. They have met with countries outside of the alliance including many in the EU, Korea and China. Discussions have also taken place with the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Trade Organization. With all of these, MAIZALL aims to encourage the growth and continued development of biotechnology and the approval processes in key markets.