It is with great sorrow to announce that APSA’s ‘Founding Father’, Mogens Lemonius has passed away
He left this realm on June 30, which was his 85th birthday.
A pioneer and visionary in the field of agriculture, Mogens was born in 1939 as the eldest of three children to a Danish farming family.
Mogens' life was deeply rooted in agriculture from the very beginning. His father, originally from St. Petersburg, moved to Denmark in 1928 and established a successful farming career. Mogens followed in his father's footsteps, gaining practical farming experience before pursuing higher education. He earned his M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the Danish Royal Veterinary and Agricultural College in 1965.
Mogens' career took a significant turn in 1972 when he was approached by the Federation of Danish Seed Growers’ Associations to become their national advisor. Despite his initial unfamiliarity with the seed industry, Mogens accepted the challenge and quickly became a key figure in the sector.
In 1982, Mogens joined the FAO’s Seed Service, where he managed national and regional seed projects, first in Swaziland and later in Asia. His work in Asia spanned 15 years, during which he provided invaluable policy advice, strengthened seed centers, and facilitated training programs across nine countries.
The idea of APSA was born out of these experiences. Despite initial skepticism, Mogens spearheaded the development of what would become the Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA). His tireless efforts in organizing and promoting the association culminated in the foundation meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in September 1994, attended by over 240 delegates.
Mogens' leadership and vision have left a lasting legacy in the agricultural community. His contributions to the seed industry and his dedication to fostering international collaboration have been instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture in the Asia-Pacific region.
Mogens' impact on the agricultural world and his legacy with APSA will continue to inspire future generations. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.
Mogens is survived by his partner Ellen, his children Søren, Lars and Christina and seven grandchildren, were a source of immense pride for him.
As a special tribute, APSA will be republishing Mogens’ story about APSA’s founding, in his own words through an interview conducted in 2017.
Members and former colleagues who would like to share any memories or tributes of Mogens, and the early APSA days are invited to do so via our dedicated 30-year anniversary website, or reach out to Steven (@apsaseed.org) directly.