March 2025 Newsletter
APSA joined HAN Asia 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand from March 12-14 and the China Seed Congress in Sanya, China from March 19-21.
Dear APSA members and partners,
Many of you have reached out to the APSA Secretariat after the earthquake that hit Thailand and Myanmar last Friday. On behalf of the team, I would like to thank you sincerely for your concern, and I would like to assure you that the Bangkok-based team are safe.
In the first three months of the year, APSA has been focused on translating vision into action. Last year, 2024, marked an important year with the launch of APSA’s Strategic Roadmap, outlining key priorities to strengthen our role as the leading seed industry platform in the Asia-Pacific. Now, in 2025, we are driving this vision forward.
A primary focus this year is ensuring alignment between APSA’s policy and advocacy efforts, knowledge programs and business facilitation initiatives, and strengthening our operations through cross-functional projects led by the Secretariat, designed to deliver tangible outcomes for our members and stakeholders.
Between January to March 2025, we have completed several initiatives.
For more details, please download the quarter 1 magazine linked in this newsletter to read my address on page 6, and of course all the other updates from the Secretariat below.
As we welcome April, we would like to wish all of our partners in Thailand, Myanmar,Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Nepal and parts of India a happy traditional New Year!
And remember, #SeedComesFirst
Cheers,
Francine Sayoc,
Executive Director
THANK YOU to our digital media sponsors
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2025 APSA Field Crops Webinar – Session 1
APSA will be holding Session 1 of the 2025 APSA Field Crops Webinar on Friday the 22nd of April 2025 and will focus on Soil Health. As we are currently finalizing the speaker and their topics, please stay tuned for updates early next month. If you wish to register and see more details, please visit the official event page at https://web.apsaseed.org/events/2025-apsa-field-crops-webinar-session-1
Technical Affairs Updates
Standing Committees and Special Interest Groups
SC International Trade & Quarantines
The APSA Standing Committee on International Trade and Quarantine didn’t have a meeting this month. With holding a success APSA 2025 Phytosanitary Expert Consultation last month, the committee is keeping our eyes on the burning issues of the seed movement across borders and will work on the topics of the technical sessions of the upcoming Asian Seed Congress.
SC IPR & Biodiversity
The Standing Committee for IPR & Biodiversity (SC IPR&BIO) continued their work on the development of educational materials, such as a Plant Variety Protection (PVP) fact sheet, to provide clear and concise information to stakeholders. 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 is preparing 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. The committee will have a meeting on Mar 31 to work on the agenda and all related preparations.
Let us move to an update from Standing Committee on Seed Technology:
This month, the Standing Committee on Seed Technology has been actively preparing for the APSA Seed Technology Webinar Session 2. Dr. Uma Rani Sinniah, Dr. Tomoko Sakata, and Mr. MD Azizul Hoque have collaborated to finalize the agenda for this highly anticipated event, scheduled for May 22, 2025, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm ICT (GMT+7). The main theme, "Sustainable Seed Enhancement," has been refined to focus on "Seed Technology in Regenerative Agriculture." The webinar will feature two distinguished speakers from both the public and private sectors, who will share their expertise and insights on these critical topics. Stay tuned for more exciting updates next month as we approach the webinar date!
Next is an update from SIG Field Crops:
This month, the committee has been diligently working on the action points from the first quarter committee meeting. They have brainstormed potential speakers for the 2025 APSA Field Crops Webinar Session 1, which will be held on April 22, 2025, from 14:00 to 16:00 hrs ICT (GMT+7). We are pleased to introduce two distinguished experts who will be presenting at this webinar:
The webinar will also feature Q&A sessions following each presentation, providing an opportunity for participants to engage with the speakers and gain deeper insights into the topics discussed.
Registration for the webinar will open in early April. Stay tuned for more updates!
Moving to the Special Interest Group on Vegetables and Ornamentals
Although the SIG V&O committee did not hold a meeting this month, they are eagerly anticipating their Quarter 2 committee meeting scheduled for early April. This upcoming meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss the progress and future plans of several key subcommittees. The committee is particularly eager to review the advancements made by the Working Group of Integrated Vegetable Seed Companies (WIC), the Disease Resistance Terminology Working Group (DRT), and the R&D Advisory Group. These subcommittees are actively engaged in various initiatives aimed at the APSA goal of improving seed quality globally. Stay tuned for updates on their activities and achievements.
The Working Group of Integrated Vegetable Seed Companies or WIC
As proposed by the group, the WIC Midterm Meeting will be held on June 2, 2025, in Jakarta, Indonesia. This closed meeting presents a valuable opportunity for members to engage in in-depth discussions on burning issues to seed industry and program initiatives. It will also serve as a platform to foster better public-private collaborations through scheduled meetings with government officials on the next day. These interactions aim to enhance cooperation and drive forward innovative solutions in the vegetable seed industry. Stay tuned for more updates.
The Disease Resistance Terminology Working Group (DRT):
The DRT Watermelon Fusarium Wilt subgroup has made significant strides in its research efforts. Recently, a third company successfully completed the ring test, joining two other companies in this critical phase of the project. The results of these tests are highly anticipated, as they hold the potential to significantly benefit APSA members, particularly those in the Asia and Pacific region. Meanwhile, the DRT Bitter Gourd Powdery Mildew subgroup has scheduled a meeting in April to review the project's progress.
For the R&D Advisory Group,
The R&D AG Committee was very pleased that the APSA Breed Better TGIF Webinar held on March 28, 2025, was a resounding success, attracting significant interest from numerous companies. This paid webinar featured 3 insightful sessions, each led by distinguished experts in the field. Dr. Prakash I Gangashetty, Global Pigeonpea Breeding Lead at ICRISAT, discussed the challenges and opportunities in hybrid pigeonpea breeding. Dr. Manoj S. Phalak, General Manager at Ankur Seeds, shared his groundbreaking work on the development and commercialization of Genetic Male Sterility (GMS) systems in Dolichos Beans and Cowpea. Assoc. Prof. Prakit Somta from Kasetsart University presented his research on yardlong bean and vegetable cowpea breeding.
As this is a paid webinar, APSA members who miss this webinar can access the recordings. Exclusive for APSA members, you can access all four webinar sessions for a minimal one-time fee. For more information and to register, visit 2025 APSA Breed Better TGIF Webinar - APSA Seed
Last but not least, the APSA Secretariat hold an online meeting for the project update of the APSA-NSTDA-KMITL collaborative project implementation of the identification of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with resistance to pepper yellow leaf curl virus in chilli pepper on March 25, 2025. This is the third and last year of the project. We eagerly look forward to the results in the end of the year.
APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium
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.
We are pleased to share with you the highlights of the upcoming APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium Annual Workshop to be held on May 6-8 at WorldVeg Headquarter in Tainan.
Registration deadline is April 11, 2025. For inquiries, contact Ms. Kunaporn Phuntunil at kuna@apsaseed.org or Ms. Mandy Lin at mandy.lin@worldveg.org.
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:
Severe Drought Threatens South Australia’s Farmers: March 10: Severe drought across South Australia is straining crop farmers, with many relying on costly and delayed water deliveries.
NSW Farmers Left Out of Cyclone Alfred Recovery Grants: March 11: Local NSW politicians are calling for urgent funding to help primary producers recover from Cyclone Alfred, after the state and federal relief package failed to include farmers.
Farmers in Rangpur Expect Strong Maize Harvest: March 9: Farmers in five districts of Rangpur are expecting a high maize yield this season due to favorable weather and lower production costs.
Sirajganj Farmers Enjoy Bumper Mustard Harvest: March 2: Farmers in Sirajganj are enjoying a bumper mustard harvest, with high yields and strong prices of around USD 23 per maund (40 kg) boosting profits ahead of Eid.
AI Farming Model to Boost Crop Breeding: March 11: China has introduced Fengdeng, its first AI-powered Seed Large Language Model (SeedLLM), designed to help farmers select crops, optimize planting, and diagnose issues. . . .
Grain Production Target and Stockpile Budget Increased: March 6: China has raised its 2025 grain production target to 700 million metric tons and expanded its stockpile budget by 6.1% to USD 18.1 billion, aiming to reduce reliance on imports. . . .
Google Developing Digital Agri-Stack to Enhance Farm Data: March 1: Google is building a digital agri-stack using satellite imagery to identify farm boundaries and crop patterns. . .
Hybrid Rice Gains Ground in Punjab: March 8: Farmers in Punjab are increasingly adopting hybrid rice varieties, drawn by their higher yields and water efficiency. . .
India Reports Record Yields in 2024-25: March 10: India has achieved record foodgrain production in the 2024-25 Kharif season, with total Kharif output at 166.39 million tonnes and Rabi at 164.53 million tonnes, according to . . .
PAU Hosts Workshop on Crop Innovation: March 11: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) held a high-level workshop to discuss crop advancements, sustainability, and productivity strategies for the upcoming Kharif season.
Paddy Cultivation in East Nusa Tenggara: February 6: Indonesia’s Agriculture Ministry is pushing for 188,000 hectares of paddy cultivation in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to enhance food security and self-sufficiency. . . .
High-Tech Agricultural Clusters to Boost Output: February 5: Indonesia is transitioning to modern agriculture through high-tech agricultural clusters, aiming to cut production costs by 50% and double yields. . .
Stockpiled Rice Released to Curb Prices: March 11: The Japanese government has started bidding for 150,000 tons of emergency rice reserves in an effort to stabilize record-high rice prices. . . .
Rice Exports Increase Targeted by 2030: March 12: Japan plans to increase rice exports nearly eightfold to 350,000 tons by 2030, up from 2024 levels, as part of a broader strategy to enhance domestic production . . .
Laws Against Rice Mixing to Be Strengthened: March 2: Malaysia’s Agriculture and Food Security Ministry plans to tighten regulations on the long-standing practice of mixing imported and local white rice. . .
Bentong to Introduce 5G-Enabled Smart Farming: March 12: Malaysia’s Bentong district will adopt 5G-enabled smart farming to boost efficiency and yields. . .
Minimum Support Price Set for Spring Paddy: March 7: The Nepalese government has set the minimum support price for spring paddy at USD 21 per 100 kg for the 2024/25 fiscal year, . . .
Cultivation of Akbare Chilli Boosted: March 9: Nepal’s Lamjung district is expanding commercial Akbare chilli cultivation, with over 50 hectares now under production in Marsyangdi and Dordi rural municipalities. . . .
Drought Declared in Several Regions: March 6: New Zealand has declared drought conditions in Northland, Waikato, Horizons, and Marlborough-Tasman, recognizing the severe impact on farmers. . . .
High-Yield, Virus-Resistant Cotton Variety Approved: March 2: Pakistan’s cotton industry has achieved a milestone with the approval of BT CIM-990. . .
GMO Soybean Imports Resume: March 8: Pakistan’s feed industry is rebounding following the approval of GMO soybean imports, with output rising to 7 million tonnes . . .
Punjab Targets One Million Acres for Early Cotton: March 7: Pakistan’s Punjab government has set a target to cultivate early cotton on one million acres in 2025, . . .
Rice Imports Expected to Decline: March 5: The Philippines’ rice imports are expected to drop from last year’s record 4.8 million metric tons (MT) but will still exceed 4 million MT, . . .
Ilocos Norte Launches Seed Library: March 7: The Ilocos Norte Agricultural College (INAC) has launched the province’s first school-based seed library to preserve and share heirloom and native vegetable seeds. . .
Rice Production Predicted to Drop 2.6%: March 12: British research firm BMI forecasts a 2.6% decline in the Philippines' rice production for 2024-25. . .
Compensation for Crop Damage to be Expedited: March 6: Officials have called for expediting compensation for farmers affected by recent heavy rains. . .
Climate-Smart Rice Project Launched: March 1: At the Thai Rice: Strengthening Climate-Smart Rice Farming Project launch event on February 26 at Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai, the Thai government. . .
Thai Rice Prices Drop Amid: March 4: Rice prices in Thailand have fallen to 8,200-8,600 baht ($228-$239) per metric ton, . . .
VIV Asia 2025 Opens in Bangkok: March 12, Bangkok: VIV Asia 2025, Asia’s largest agri-food and animal protein trade show, officially opened at . . .
Durum Crop at Risk Due to Drought: March 7: Turkey’s durum wheat production faces uncertainty as rainfall is 39.6% lower than last year and 28.4% below average. . .
Agriculture and Environment Ministries Merged: March 1, Vietnam has merged the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. . .
HortEx Vietnam 2025 and Agritechnica Asia Opens: March 12, Ho Chi Minh City – HortEx Vietnam 2025 and Agritechnica Asia 2025 kicked off at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre. . .
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Asian Seed magazine Vol. 31 No.1 (Quarter 1, 2025)
In this Q1 issue of Asian Seed & Planting Material, we open with the first quarterly address from APSA's incoming President, Mr. Teck Wah Koh, who shares key governance and strategy updates. This is complemented by a letter from the Executive Director’s desk, where Francine Sayoc provides timely updates from the Secretariat.
The issue is packed with regional news, including Seed & Grain New Zealand’s rebranding, a leadership change at the Philippine Seed Industry Association, and key takeaways from the Indian Seed Congress and the National Seed Forum in Hainan, China. We also summarize highlights from the 2024 Asian Seed Congress and insights from the recent Phytosanitary Expert Consultation in Bangkok, which underscored progress in cross-border seed movement collaboration.
Readers can also get to know APSA’s Board and new members of APSA technical committees, along with a special feature on women in the Asia-Pacific seed industry, celebrating their wisdom and achievements. Rounding out the issue, we present the latest USDA data on planting and harvesting prospects for key food crops—maize, wheat, and rice—alongside fresh insights into vegetable seed trade trends across Asia and Oceania.
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