CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand's 'Garden City' is welcoming seed industry delegates from around the world for the 2023 Asian Seed Congress, taking place at the Ta Pae Convention Center 20-24 November.
Asia-Pacific's premier seed industry meeting was formally inaugurated during a spectacular ceremony in the exhibition hall of the newly-opened events facility this morning.
Hosted in New Zealand for the first time in the Asian Seed Congress’ 28-year history, the for-members and by-invitation-only event will feature business meetings, entertainment, a trade exhibition and technical sessions.
Congress will formally conclude with the Annual General Meeting of the event’s conveners, the Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA), scheduled to convene on Thursday, November 23.
The location of the ASC rotates among APSA member countries yearly in cooperation with a National Organizing Committee (NOC) of the designated host country, which is led this year by the New Zealand Grain and Seed Industry Association (NZGSTA) and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
The ASC has also been hosted in Thailand seven times (five times in Bangkok, once in Pattaya and the inaugural event was in Chiang Mai in 1994); as well as in Manila, the Philippines (three times); Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (twice) and once each in Brisbane, Australia; Shanghai, Macau and Kaohsiung in China; Goa, New Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad in India; Chiba and Kobe in Japan; Jakarta and Bali in Indonesia; Seoul and Incheon in South Korea and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. See full list of past ASCs here.
In addition to APSA’s AGM, private business meetings, a trade exhibition and technical sessions (see below), this year’s meeting will also host a special networking session of the APSA Young Club. As part of efforts to enable and uplift the “future generation” of seed professionals, the meeting will link up young professionals attending this year’s Congress with the aim of tackling a number of concerning challenges affecting seed and agriculture globally.
From left: Mrs. Charlotte Connoley (NZGSTA), Dr. John Roche (NZ MPI) and Dr. Manish Patel (APSA)