June 2025 Newsletter
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2025 APSA Regional Plant Breeding Innovation Consultation
Keeping up with scientific innovations and developing policies to promote such innovations significantly contributes to food security. Recent innovations in plant breeding techniques such as genome editing are one of the key examples. Genome editing allows modification in a plant that could be made through conventional plant breeding but in a precise way and at a much faster rate. A future-proof, consistent, and science-based approach for regulatory oversight is needed to ensure full realization of the benefits of genome editing. Countries around the world are actively engaged in updating regulatory frameworks to govern this new technology adequately. Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region have also developed policies to govern the development of genome editing products, while other countries are in different stages of decision-making.
To stimulate the discussion around the policies governing genome editing in crops, we are pleased to share APSA is organizing its first-ever 2025 APSA Regional Plant Breeding Innovation (PBI) Consultation at the JW Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 8-9, 2025. The two-day consultation will provide a platform to discuss the global developments around genome editing and the progress in our region. The participants in this regional consultation include government officials from several countries in the Asia-Pacific region who are involved in the regulation of genome-edited crops, global experts, and seed and grain industry leaders. This consultation will also discuss the policy development that is product, science, and risk-based.
This regional consultation is organized by APSA Standing Committee on Plant Breeding Innovation with support from American Seed Trade Association, Canada Grains Council, Croplife Asia and SEMAE in partnership with National Seed Association of Malaysia and Mekong US Partnership Project.
2025 APSA Seed Technology Webinar - Session 3
APSA will be holding Session 3 of the 2025 APSA Seed Technology Webinar on 24 July 2025, with the focus on Seed Diagnostic Technologies. As we are currently finalizing speakers and webinar agenda, please stay tuned for updates on our event page here.
2025 Asian Seed Congress
The 2025 Asian Seed Congress will be held at the JIO World Convention Center (JWCC) in Mumbai, India from the 17th to the 21st of November 2025, and will be co-hosted by the National Seed Association of India (NSAI) and the Federation of Seed Industries of India (FSII). This year’s congress theme is “Sowing Prosperity Through Quality Seed” and will feature exciting Technical Sessions.
Early-Bird Registration period has now ended, and we are currently in the Regular Registration Period, with delegate registration per person now at 800 USD.
Also available at this year’s congress will be 210 trading tables, 15 semi-private meeting rooms, 5 private meeting rooms and 40 regular exhibition booths and 4 super booths. Please be advised that most are now sold out and the only availability left are 50 trading tables and 2 private meeting rooms.
This is also an important reminder that due to the geopolitical situation in India, there is a new visa policy procedure for all delegates attending this year’s congress. Please make sure to update yourself on the new policy at the following link, https://web.apsaseed.org/asc2025/visa-policy
For more information on congress agenda, rate sheet, official floor plan, India Visa & Import Policy, how to register and other congress related details, please visit the official event page
Other Seed Related Events
The 27th International Pepper Conference, hosted by the World Vegetable Center, will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from the 19th to the 22nd of January 2026. This premier event brings together global experts, researchers, industry leaders, and pepper enthusiasts to share the latest innovations and insights in pepper breeding, production, and research. For those who are interested in attending, registration is now open. Early-Bird Registration will close on 12 September 2025.
We also invite companies and organizations to support this international gathering as official sponsors. Sponsorship packages offer excellent visibility before, during, and after the event, with benefits including exhibition space, logo placements, and complimentary registrations.
Whether you're a researcher, part of the pepper industry, or a pepper enthusiast, this is your chance to connect and learn about peppers on a global scale.
For more information, please visit https://worldvegetablecenter.org/pepper-conference/
Standing Committees and Special Interest Groups
SC International Trade & Quarantines
After holding the successful APSA 2025 Regional Phytosanitary Expert Consultation in Quarter 1, the APSA Standing Committee on International Trade and Quarantine has started working on the topics of the technical sessions of the upcoming Asian Seed Congress. This year seed movement will still be one of the important topics in the ASC2025 technical sessions.
SC IPR & Biodiversity
The Standing Committee for IPR & Biodiversity (SC IPR&BIO) is preparing for one of the flagship events, the APSA 2025 Regional PVP & Biodiversity Consultation, which will be held on Tokyo, Japan on August 26-28. The drafts of PVP fact sheet of 18 countries are currently under review by Seed Associations and the PVP office in the country/region. Once all the fact sheets are reviewed, we will share them with the members. The committee also work on the topics of the technical sessions of the upcoming Asian Seed Congress
The Standing Committee on Plant Breeding Innovation
The Standing Committee on Plant Breeding Innovation had its 3rd committee meeting this month mainly discussed on the preparations for one of the APSA flagship events the “APSA Regional PBI Consultation 2025” which will be held on July 8-9 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Consultation provides a platform for public and private partners to discuss PBI related topics. More than 60 participants from both the government and seed industry have confirmed to participate in the consultation.
Let us move to an update from Standing Committee on Seed Technology:
We are thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the Seed Industry Professional Program (SIPP) x Seed Academy 2025–2026! Initiated by the APSA Seed Technology Committee and developed in collaboration with the Australian Seed Federation (ASF), this online learning platform offers flexible, self-paced training for seed professionals across the Asia-Pacific region. With bite-sized micro-modules, webinars, and certification opportunities, the program covers essential topics such as Seed Production, Plant Breeding, and Seed Dormancy—with new content added every four months.
APSA and ASF members are encouraged to register and share this opportunity with colleagues. Not yet a member? Join APSA today to unlock access and grow your career in seed technology!
Let us also move to an update from the Standing Committee on Seed Technology: The APSA Seed Technology Working Group for Webinar Session 3—featuring Dr. Manish Patel, Dr. Woosik Kang, and Ms. Patcharin Taridno—is actively working to identify and invite top experts for the next session, which will focus on seed diagnostic technologies. Stay tuned for speaker announcements and session details, which will be posted soon on the APSA website.
This month, the Special Interest Group on Field Crops (SIG Field Crops) has been actively working on follow-up action items from their productive Q2 meeting. One of their key priorities is the preparation for the upcoming Field Crops Study Tour. The tour is expected to offer valuable networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities among APSA members and local institutions.
In parallel, the group is also coordinating to finalize the date for the Q3 meeting, where members will review progress, discuss emerging issues in the field crops sector, and continue aligning efforts on activity planning for 2026.
More details on the study tour itinerary and Q3 meeting schedule will be announced soon—stay tuned via the APSA website and member communications.
While the Special Interest Group on Vegetables and Ornamentals (SIG V&O) did not convene a formal committee meeting this month, members remained actively engaged—many of them participated in the recent APSA WIC Meeting, held both in Jakarta and virtually. These interactions helped maintain momentum and alignment across APSA’s technical groups.
Looking ahead, the SIG V&O is now in the process of planning its Quarter 3 meeting, which is expected to feature exciting discussions and updates, particularly on a proposed vegetable study tour outside the Asia-Pacific region. Stay tuned for what promises to be an inspiring next chapter for SIG V&O!
The Working Group of Integrated Vegetable Seed Companies or WIC
APSA WIC members kicked off the first week of June in Jakarta, Indonesia on the WIC midterm meeting on June 2, followed by an important meeting on June 3 with Indonesian officials to discuss the development of the seed sector in Indonesia and the enhancement of its regulatory environment.
It was a great discussion in WIC Midterm meeting with more than 20 participants joining onsite and online to deliberate on ongoing regulatory developments, strategic initiatives and collaborative activities in the Asia-Pacific seed sector. Key policy discussions focused on updates and next steps regarding variety registration in Viet Nam, seed production rules in Indonesia, and regulatory practices in Pakistan. These were complemented by broader regional updates shared by WIC members. The meeting also laid the groundwork for a dialogue with the Indonesian government on the following day.
The group also discussed nominations for the newly proposed Special Interest Group on Seed Production, which will be submitted for the APSA Executive Committee endorsement. Technical updates were provided on the Disease Resistance Terminology (DRT) project, particularly subgroup work on bitter gourd powdery mildew and watermelon fusarium wilt. Progress on the APSA University Connect Program was reviewed, and members were briefed on the latest developments under the Seed Innovation and Promotion Initiative (SIPI). Additionally, members received an update on APSA’s continued engagement with CropLife Asia to support aligned advocacy efforts.
On June 3, 2025, APSA’s Working Group of Integrated Vegetable Seed Companies (WIC), APSA President Teck Wah Koh, Executive Director Francine Sayoc and APSA Secretariat, in collaboration with national seed associations, ASBENINDO and HORTINDO, and CropLife Asia, convened a meeting with key officials from the Government of Indonesia in Jakarta to strengthen public-private collaboration in the seed sector. The discussion focused on regulatory topics critical to seed trade and production, including the processing time for import permits, inter-island quarantine requirements, and the transition framework from imported to domestically produced seeds. These topics were raised as part of ongoing efforts to improve regulatory efficiency and promote timely access to quality seed varieties.
The meeting was hosted by the Center for Plant Variety Protection and Agriculture Permit (PPVTPP), represented by its Director, Dr. Ir. Leli Nuryati, M.Sc.; the Directorate for Plant Quarantine Risk Management under the Indonesian Quarantine Authority (IQA), represented by Director Aprida Cristin; and the Directorate of Horticulture, represented by Ms. Rimta Terra Rosa Br Pinem, Head of Variety Registration (on behalf of Director Dr. Inti Pertiwi Nashwari). A key outcome was the consensus to establish a joint task force comprising government and industry representatives to collaboratively address regulatory challenges, share technical expertise and streamline seed-related procedures. This effort aligns with APSA’s mission to support sustainable agriculture through the production and trade of quality seeds for the world, and reinforces our commitment to advancing regional seed sector development through inclusive public-private engagement.
The Disease Resistance Terminology Working Group (DRT):
An update on the Disease Resistance Terminology (DRT) Project was presented during the APSA WIC Meeting on June 2. Notable developments were reported for both the Bitter Gourd and Watermelon subgroups:
The Bitter Gourd Powdery Mildew subgroup, with support from WIC members, agreed to seek alternative sources of bitter gourd seeds outside India. This strategic move aims to prevent further delays while awaiting extension approval from the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) of India.
Meanwhile, the Watermelon Fusarium Wilt subgroup is continuing its work to obtain ring test results from two participating companies. Further updates will be shared as progress continues.
For the R&D Advisory Group,
Thumbs up to APSA members who joined us for the second session of the 2025 APSA Breed Better TGIF Webinar Series, which took place on June 27, focusing on the crucial topic of Biotic Stress Resistance in vegetable crops. The session attracted participants from across the Asia-Pacific and beyond, eager to explore the latest advances in breeding for disease resistance.
The webinar opened with a warm welcome from Dr G. Chaluvaraju, Member of the APSA R&D Advisory Group and the webinar moderator, who set the stage for an insightful afternoon of knowledge exchange.
Dr Manjunatha Gowda D.C. from ICAR-IIHR, India, shared his expertise on "Breeding for Combined Disease Resistance in Watermelon," highlighting strategies to manage multiple pathogens affecting watermelon crops.
This was followed by Dr Derek Barchenger from the World Vegetable Center, who presented on "Leveraging Capsicum Diversity for Breeding Disease-Resistant Varieties to Benefit Smallholder Farmers." His talk shed light on how genetic diversity in peppers can help develop resilient varieties for sustainable agriculture.
Lively Q&A sessions after each presentation allowed attendees to interact directly with the speakers, deepening the discussion and sharing experiences from the field.
We sincerely thank all our speakers, moderators, and participants for making this webinar a great success. Your continued engagement helps drive innovation and collaboration in vegetable breeding across the region. Stay tuned for Session 3 coming soon!
APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium
APSA is pleased to share an exciting training opportunity in collaboration with Kasetsart University (KU) and the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg). The KU–WorldVeg Molecular Breeding Training will be held from 27–31 October 2025 at Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Thailand.
This comprehensive training is designed for researchers, breeders, and technical professionals who are keen to deepen their expertise in molecular tools for vegetable breeding and plant pathology. Over the course of five days, participants will gain both theoretical and hands-on experience through a blend of lectures, computer-based exercises, laboratory work, and a field trip. Topics will cover genetic diversity and germplasm use, plant-pathogen interactions, DNA/RNA extraction, PCR techniques, and bioinformatics applications in breeding.
The program is open to 15–40 participants, with limited lab seats available on a first-come, first-served basis. Discounted registration is available for APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium members. Registration closes on 31 August 2025.
For more details and to register, visit the APSA website or click here to register. For inquiries, contact Ms. Kunaporn Phuntunil (kuna@apsaseed.org) or Ms. Mandy Lin (mandy.lin@worldveg.org).
Don't miss this opportunity to boost your capacity in modern molecular breeding technologies!
Lastly, the 2025 APSA WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium is now open for registration. Join the APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium to gain exposure to the latest research and connect with international breeders and scientists. Click here for more information.
This is all for now for the short SC/SIG updates. Thank you very much and stay tuned for more updates next month.
The following country seed industry news pages have been updated with recent news briefs. To read full briefs, click the respective flag below, which links to the respective national seed industry news landing pages, where you can find all recent news briefs from that country:
Australia-EU Trade Talks Accelerate Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure. Australia and the European Union are intensifying efforts to finalise a long-pending free trade agreement . . . Read
Tariff Pressure from US Sparks Agricultural Policy Debate. Facing proposed 37% US tariffs, Bangladesh is in talks that may include expanded access for subsidized US farm products. Officials are considering countervailing duties to protect local producers from import shocks . . . Read
China Deepens Cooperation with Cambodia. As the US threatens steep tariffs on Cambodian goods, which are currently paused, China is stepping in . . . Read
India Eyes Fairer Terms in US Trade Talks Amid Tariff Uncertainty. India and the US aim to finalize the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement . . . Read
Indonesia, Netherlands Deepen Agricultural Investment Ties. The Netherlands will send a 120-company delegation to Indonesia on June 16 for a major trade and investment mission . . . Read
Japan Resists US Pressure to Expand Rice Imports. A proposed deal to expand imports of US-grown rice has triggered pushback from Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) . . . Read
Trade Task Force Set to Negotiate U.S. Tariffs. Seoul launched a cross-ministerial trade task force led by the Industry Ministry to push forward U.S. tariff talks . . . Read
Heavy Rains Threaten Food Security in Northern Laos. Northern and central provinces of Laos, including Phongsaly and Oudomxay, are under flood and landslide warnings . . . Read
Earthquake Disrupts Feed Industry, Livestock Supply Chains. A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar’s central belt near Mandalay, damaging feed mills in Mandalay and Taunggyi . . . Read
Malaysia Updates Agricultural MOU with Thailand Amid Push for Food Security. Malaysia is set to renew and enhance its long-standing agricultural cooperation agreement with Thailand, aiming to deepen collaboration in sustainable agriculture, technology transfer, and food security . . . Read
India–Pakistan Tensions Threaten Nepal’s Food Security. Rising tensions between India and Pakistan are raising concerns over potential disruptions to Nepal’s agricultural supply chains . . . Read
NZ Agribusiness Eyes Asia Amid Tariff Uncertainty. New Zealand’s agricultural sector is being urged by industry experts to diversify its export markets amid rising global tariff uncertainty . . . Read
Pakistan Targets Export-Led Growth with Major Tariff Reform. Pakistan plans to cut its overall tariff regime by more than 4% over the next five years to stimulate exports and shift to an export-led growth model . . . Read
Philippines Plans Gradual Rice Tariff Hike To Avoid Shocks. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has proposed a gradual increase in the 15% tariff on imported 5% broken rice starting in late September . . . Read
Thailand, U.S. Restart Trade Talks Before July Deadline. Thai ministers met U.S. trade chief Jamieson Greer in Paris to restart stalled negotiations and avoid a 36% tariff on Thai exports set to begin July 8 . . . Read
Vietnam Ramps Up US Ag Purchases Amid Tariff Talks. Vietnam has accelerated trade talks with the US to avert a potential 46% tariff, announcing USD 600 million in new deals . . . Read
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Asian Seed magazine Vol. 31 No.2 (Quarter 2, 2025)
Issue 2 of Asian Seed & Planting Material (2025) offers timely regional updates on the sweeping impacts of agricultural and seed trade developments across the first half of the year. The tone is set by opening addresses from APSA’s President and Executive Director, reflecting on progress toward APSA’s strategic objectives over the past quarter. The cover feature delivers a consolidated snapshot of key news from across Asia and Oceania, providing essential context for understanding the volatility shaping the APAC seed landscape in H1 2025. This is complemented by concise summaries from APSA’s recent midyear meetings in Jakarta, including updates from the Working Group of Integrated Vegetable Seed Companies and national/local seed associations. Additional highlights include a heartfelt memoir from retiring APSA icon Jack Metzelaar, and coverage of the 9th Annual APSA–WorldVeg Breeding Consortium Workshop held in May in Tainan. The issue wraps up with a detailed APAC maize seed trade report, featuring the latest value and volume trends for imports and exports across the region.
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