This Activity is a component of the Seed Trade Capacity Building Project in the Lower Mekong Region funded under the Mekong – U.S. Partnership (MUSP), formerly known as Lower Mekong Initiative. Following the successful first Mekong Regional workshop on seeds on 25th – 29th November 2019, a second workshop was conducted virtually on 8th – 10th June 2021 and the third workshop on 25th – 27th July 2022. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service is inviting Country Representative from the Seed Offices of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam as well as observers from the private sector of the above countries to participate in the Regional workshop of MUSP in 2023.
The representatives will participate in an educational session in line with recommendations from all countries during the workshop. Key representatives from each participating country will be expected to share the update on the country’s roadmap to build the capacity of seed system as well as any support required from an expert country in each topic. The three full day meeting will be organized in Bangkok, Thailand from 24th – 26th October 2023 with provisions for some online participation especially for the resource persons.
The themes of the workshop are: PVP as a tool to enhance research and development for food security (Day I), Ensuring high seed quality to farmers at the right quality and the right time (Day II), and Enhancing the production of high quality seed through seed testing standard, commercial variety registration and seed certification (Day III).It is expected that the representatives of the participating countries will present the updates on the topics: Update on the country’s roadmap to build the capacity of PVP system, Phytosanitary affairs, Seed testing standard (ISTA lab accreditation) and support required from an expert country. Discussion groups will be organized to review the priority, and capacity building needs.
Through this workshop, it is expected that following objectives can be achieved:
AGENDA:
| TIME (GMT+7) | AGENDA | SPEAKER |
| 08.30 – 09.00 |
Starting onsite registration and zoom system |
|
| 09.00 – 09.10 | Welcome remarks by APSA Presiden | [Online] Dr Manish Patel, APSA President |
| 09.10 – 09.20 |
Opening remarks by Director General, Department of Agriculture, Thailand |
Mr. Rapibhat Chandarasrivongs, DG, DOA Thailand TBC |
| 09.20 – 09.30 | Opening remarks by Global Programs USDA Foreign Agricultural Service | [Online] TBC |
| 09.30 – 09.45 |
MUSP project update by the State Department, U.S Department of State |
[Online] TBC |
|
09.45 – 10.05 |
Building Plant Variety Protection under UPOV and its impact on Food Security in Vietnam |
Ms Tran Thi Hoa, Director of PVP Office, Deputy Director General of the Department of Crop Protection, Vietnam |
| 10.05 – 10.20 |
Photo session and Coffee break |
|
| 10.20 – 10.35 | Registration of new varieties under the new PVP system in Vietnam | Dr Nguyen Thanh Minh Director, Vietnam Seed Support Service Center (VSC) |
|
10.35 – 11.00 |
IP protection practices for seed production by the seed sector in Asia |
Dr Kanokwan Chodchoey, Group Head, Public Affairs, East-West Seeds Company |
| 11.00 – 11.15 | Q&A session | Led by the Moderator |
| 11.15 – 11.55 |
Status of MUSP countries in relation to UPOV and relevant activities by UPOV secretariat |
[Online] Mr Manabu Suzuki, Technical/Regional Officer (Asia), UPOV |
| 11.55 – 12.30 | Q&A session with UPOV secretariat (clarifying on key topics including EDV, harvested materials and propagating materials and farm saved seed) | Led by the Moderator |
| 12.30 – 13.30 | Lunch | |
| 13.30 – 15.30 |
Update on the country’s roadmap to build the capacity of PVP system and support required from an expert country (Vietnam) |
Countries' update by the representative (30 mins/country) |
|
15.30 – 15.45 |
Coffee break |
|
| 15.45 – 16.05 |
TBC Topic, Presentation from United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) |
TBC, United States Patent and Trademark Office |
| 16.05 – 16.30 | Brainstorm on key activities and priorities on PVP | Moderated by Dr Kanokwan Chodchoey, Group Head, Public Affair, East-West Seed |
| 16.30 – 16.45 | Wrap up and closing | Mr Khalil Hamid, Program Manager, USDA FAS |
| 18.00 – 20.00 | Dinner |
| TIME (GMT+7) | AGENDA | SPEKAER |
| 08.30 – 09.00 | Starting onsite registration and zoom system. | |
| 09.00 – 09.05 | Welcome remarks by Moderator | Dr Shivendra Bajaj, Technical Advisor, Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA) |
| 09.05 – 09.30 | Improving phytosanitary regulations for efficient seed movement to ensure food security in Philippines | Ms Joan-May R. Tolentino, Supervising Agriculturist, National Plant Quarantine Service Division, NPPO Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, Philippines |
| 09.30 – 09.50 | Engagement and collaboration of seed sector with the governments on seed movement | Ms Thelma Soriano, Seed Regulatory Affairs Director, CropLife Asia |
| 09.50 – 10.15 | Update on current program in the region on PPP for seed trade enhancement by APAARI and APSA | Dr Shivendra Bajaj, Technical Advisor, Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA) |
| 10.15 – 10.30 | Coffee break | |
| 10.30 – 10.50 | Enabling high quality seed for farmers- Phytosanitary reforms in Thailand to adopt global standards on seed movement. | Ms Sukhontip Sombat, Agricultural Research Officer, Department of Agriculture, Thailand |
| 10.50 – 11.15 | Industry perspective on seed trade enhancement by ASTA | Dr Samuel Crowell - American Seed Trade Association |
| 11.15 – 11.35 | Experience of seed sector on phytosanitary reforms in Thailand. | Dr Boonyanath Nathwong, President, Thai Seed Trade Association (THASTA) |
| 11.35 – 11.55 | Current situation of phytosanitary regulations in Vietnam- Expectations from Vietnam seed sector | Dr Nguyen Thanh Minh, Director, Vietnam Seed Support Service Center (VSC) |
| 11.55 – 12.30 | Q&A session | Led by the Moderator |
| 12.30 – 13.30 | Lunch | |
| 13.30 – 13.50 | Seeds as a starting point of food security: Global view on public and private partnership by ISF secretariat | [Online] Dr Rose Souza Richards, Seed Health Manager, International Seed Federation (ISF) |
| 13.50 – 15.30 | Update on the country’s roadmap to build the capacity of phytosanitary affairs and support required from an expert country (Thailand) | Countries' update by the representative (30 mins/country) |
| 15:30 – 15;45 | Coffee break | |
| 15:45 – 16.15 | Brainstorming on key activities and priorities on Phytosanitary affairs | Led by Moderator |
| 16.15 – 16:30 | Wrap up and closing | Dr Shivendra Bajaj, Technical Advisor, Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA) |
| TIME (GMT+7) | AGENDA | SPEAKER |
| 08.30 – 09.00 | Starting onsite registration and zoom system | |
| 09.00 – 09.05 | Welcome remarks by Moderator | Dr Samuel Crowell - American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) |
| 09.05 – 09.45 | AUS/NZ experience on OECD seed scheme – Possible model for Mekong countries | [Online] Mr Bill Fuller, CEO, Australian Seeds Authority |
| 09.45 – 10.25 | A roadmap to become ISTA accredited laboratory and benefits for the country | Dr Papassorn Wattanakulpakin, Agricultural Officer and Head of ISTA Accredited Seed Testing Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Thailand |
| 10.25 – 10.40 | Coffee break | |
| 10.40 – 11.15 | Current update from ISTA | [Online] Dr. Andreas Weis, ISTA Secretary General |
| 11.15 – 12.00 | Q&A session with ISTA and OECD seed scheme | Led by the Moderator |
| 12.00 – 13.00 | Lunch | |
| 13.00 – 14:30 | Update on the country’s roadmap to build the capacity of seed testing standard (ISTA lab accreditation) and support required from expert countries. | Countries' update by the representative (25 mins/country) |
| 14:30 – 15:00 | Concluding on priorities for MUSP from day1, day2 and day3. | APSA / ASTA |
| 15.00 – 16.00 | Suggestions for program improvement, wrap up and closing. | Mr. Khalil Hamid, Program Manager, USDA FAS |
| 16.00 | Coffee time |