Bangkok, Thailand, 18, March 2021: The Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA) and Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) have extended mutual commitments to promote seed sector collaboration, innovation and development in the region through to mid-2027.
An active Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NSTDA and APSA was formally extended with the signing of an amendment agreement during a ceremony on Thursday (March 18) at NSTDA's Business Center in Thailand Science Park, north of Bangkok.
Inking the amendment were APSA President, Mr. Wichai Laocharoenpornkul and NSTDA Executive Vice President, Prof. Dr. Prasit Palittapongarnpim, with NSTDA’s Ms. Wannipha Tongsima (Senior Division Director of RDI Management for National Strategy and Network for President) and APSA’s Dr. Kanokwan Chodchoey (Executive Director) also signing as witnesses in the presence of dozens of executives and staff from both organizations.
The original MoU, signed by representatives of the two organizations on 31, July 2019, was set to expire on 30, July 2022. See news here.
To ensure continuous progress with current and future projects, the two parties agreed to extend the MoUs validity period for an additional five years, or until 30, July 2027. All other articles of the original MoU remain unchanged and in full force and effect.
Prior to signing, the two organization’s main signatories gave remarks.
NSTDA Prof. Prasit Palittapongarnpim, M.D. Acting Executive Vice President commented: “We look forward to working with APSA in the future. To ensure our working plans are continuous, we think the MoU period validity should be extended for another five years. It is my hope that this MoU amendment signing will contribute to the sustainability of the Thai seed industry, food security and the strength of the private sector by creating income and improved livelihoods for farmers through quality seeds, having a continuous industrial impact.”
“APSA’s strategic objectives comprise five priority areas. These include ensuring the trade of quality seeds for the world, protection of intellectual property rights and biodiversity, public-private partnership, operational excellence and communications. Of these, public-private partnerships are especially important to facilitate breeding research and development, which is a starting point for quality seeds, and in turn, food and nutritional security,” said APSA President, Wichai.
The four main areas of cooperation covered in the MoU are: R&D, technology transfer, human resources development and information exchange and publicity.
APSA and NSTDA recently announced a project to screen for Tomato necrotic ringspot virus (TNRV) and Capsicum chlorosis virus (CaCV) in chili pepper.
Under the PPP model, this two-year project, which is set to commence in June, 2021, will be funded by APSA member companies, who can register their interest to join from now until 31, March 2021.
For more information and to register, click here.
APSA members can download the MoU and Amendment texts in full via this link (member login required).
Following the signing ceremony, reps from NSTDA and APSA toured the former’s National Omics Center and National Biobank of Thailand.
