Crop Science Society of America (CSSA)
The Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) is a progressive international scientific society that fosters the vision to improve the world through crop science. Based in Madison, WI, and founded in 1956, CSSA is the professional home for 4,000+ members dedicated to discover and apply plant science solutions to improve the human condition and protect the planet. Crop science is highly integrative and employs the disciplines of conventional plant breeding, transgenic crop improvements, plant physiology, and cropping system sciences to develop and improve varieties of agronomic, turfgrass, and forage crops to produce feed, fiber, food, and fuel. CSSA supports its members by providing peer-reviewed publications through the Digital Library, educational programs, scientific meetings, recognition and awards, career services, student activities, and science policy initiatives via a Washington, DC office. Mission: Global provider of superior services for scientific societies
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Professional association
- Industry Type:
- Crop Cultivation
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
- Year Founded:
- 1955
About Us
Because of their common interests, CSSA, the American Society of Agronomy, and the Soil Science Society of America share a working relationship. Each organization is autonomous with its own bylaws and governing boards of directors.
- ACSESS - Alliance of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science Societies
- Affiliates & Cooperating Societies
- CSSA History
ACSESS is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing management and administrative support services to its founding members: the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA). The headquarters office for these international Societies is based in Madison, WI.
The support organization, ACSESS, was created due to the restructuring of the ASA Board of Directors in 2009. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA voted to establish the support organization in order to provide operational efficiencies, as well as giving each of the Societies the flexibility to focus on specific programmatic activities. And while ASA, CSSA, and SSSA are the founders of ACSESS, the individual names remain unchanged and each retains its own 501(c)(3) status.
ASA, CSSA, and SSSA also envision continuing to add relevant organizations as part of the strategic plan for ACSESS to provide a full-spectrum of high quality management and administration services to nonprofit scientific societies. Membership in ACSESS is open to organizations interested in enhancing synergies within the broad categories of agronomic, crop, soil, food, environmental, and the natural resources sectors, while also coordinating and potentially consolidating professional activities such as the development of educational resources, public policy positions, industry standards, and/or information resources.
How is ACSESS successful?
ACSESS enhances the success of member organizations by providing services supporting the ongoing and future activities for member societies and by producing economies of scale for services not achievable by an individual organization. ACSESS will advance common goals and secure common interests in the fields of agriculture, food, environment, and natural resources. It is envisioned that ACSESS shall:
- Facilitate collaboration among professional societies representing agronomic, crop, soil, and environmental sciences
- Advance the missions, visions, and activities of professional societies representing agronomic, crop, soil, and environmental sciences
- Promote the value and image of agronomic, crop, soil and environmental resource professions
- Unify communication with scientists, educators, policy-makers, and the public to enhance impact
- Engage science-based knowledge on the challenges facing humanity
- Furthermore, it is recognized that each member organization of ACSESS has its own unique style, character, and mode of operation. The brand identities of each member organization will be sustained and nurtured to build on their established strengths. This uniqueness is to be preserved in ACSESS as it is recognized that a diversity of organizations will help ACSESS succeed in addressing complex challenges and opportunities. ACSESS and its member organizations are committed to being nimble and flexible in philosophy and operations.
The overall purpose and responsibilities of the ACSESS Board of Directors will be to provide oversight of operations and to promote and ensure coordination among member societies. The ACSESS Board is comprised of the President, Past President and President-Elect of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America; the Chief Executive Officer of ASA, CSSA, and SSSA as ex-officio, nonvoting; and other ex-officio, nonvoting members as deemed appropriate. Officers of ACSESS are Chair, Vice Chair, Past Chair (without vote). Secretary, and Treasurer and are elected by the ACSESS Board of Directors.
Vision: Leaders in creating solutions to advance science
Mission: Global provider of superior services for scientific societies
Values: We believe in:
- Transparency, inclusiveness, and integrity in everything we do
- Superior service to member societies
- Excellent stewardship of members’ interests
What Is Crop Science?
Every day, everyone is impacted by crop science. You may be familiar with farm fields – or fresh produce from the store. Behind the scenes, crop scientists are working to make sure we have a constant, nutritious food supply. They breed new crops resistant to pests and other diseases. They enhance the nutritional quality and flavor of foods. They are studying crops to make sure we have food during droughts and floods, heat and cold, and other weather events.
Crop scientists make this possible by applying crop and soils knowledge to production. Click on each button below to read more about different areas of crop science. And, be sure to visit our At Work pages by clicking the red box to the right to see crop scientists in action!
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion In Our Societies
As we take steps forward in improving our Societies – there is nothing more important than diversity, equity and inclusion. We know we must do more across our scientific community for strength, creativity, and innovation in science. We acknowledge a lack of diversity and representation across our Societies -- and we are taking additional actions. The information here provides background on past actions and current plans.
ASA, CSSA, and SSSA have taken action to improve to diversity and inclusion across our Societies (see below). We know these actions are not enough and we do not have all the answers. The door to change is open - we continue to invite you to help us double down on our efforts to end racism and inequality across our scientific community.
From a longer-term and systemic perspective - diversity, equity and inclusion is a central focus in the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA strategic plans and is critical to providing a safe, welcoming and innovative environment for everyone across our Societies.
Your engagement provides the foundation for our diversity, equity and inclusion action plan. Common themes under development within the plan include training, mentoring, enhanced scholarships,review of policies/processes, regular reporting and improved transparency. With your engagement providing the foundation for our action plan, we will be reaching out to members for assistance with this important work.
In March 2021, the three Boards of Directors approved and unanimously supported a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement that affirms our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our Societies and our sciences.
Previous Actions
- View the 2020 recording of our dedicated Town Hall Webinar on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion hosted by our Diversity Committee, Women in Science Committee, LGBTQ+ and Allies Specialty Group, and SSSA Representation & Recognition Task Force. The webinar is available as a recording and is posted in the discussion board. Thank you to all participants for your candid, thoughtful and uplifting contributions – together we will move forward.
- Specialty Groups form to connect members through human interest areas-beyond our technical science. We’re expanding to enhance the social connections of members to speak to the social fabric across our agronomy, crop science, and soil science communities. These include Scientists and Students of Chinese Origin, Scientists and Students of Indian Origin, Military Veterans of Agriculture, LGBTQ+ Scientists and Allies, and more.
- Our Diversity in Agronomy, Crops, Soils, and Environmental Sciences Committee held the inaugural panel presentation at the Annual Meeting, 'Diversity in ACS: What Gains Have We Made, What Is the Outlook for the Future?' featuring a panel of speakers with diverse backgrounds from underrepresented groups
- The SSSA Representation and Recognition Task Force provided a report on recommendations for enhanced gender recognition and representation in the Society. They are now expanding their focus from gender equity, to highlight inclusion and diversity review and recommendations and a gender webpage with information has been developed..
- The ASA Representation and Recognition Task Force provided a report on recommendations for enhanced gender recognition and representation in the Society.