This page features a compilation and selection of Singapore seed industry news briefs, summaries and leads,
with an emphasis on events that impact or affect provinces, regions, counties, cities and locales in Singapore
The news covers trends and events regarding seed regulation, testing, legislation, phytosanitary issues, intellectual property rights, biotechnology (genomics, gene-editing) plant breeding, agronomy and cropping, with original sources linked.
This page will be updated throughout the year, with most recent briefs listed first.
Successful GLP training enhances agricultural researchers' skill: May 9: The Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) recently organized a highly successful Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) training program in Singapore from 2 to 5 May 2023. The program aimed to enhance the skills and knowledge of agricultural researchers, laboratory managers, and technicians in GLP to ensure high quality and safety in their research. The training was a part of the STDF funded project "Pesticide Residue Mitigation through the Promotion of Biopesticides." In collaboration with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Ag Aligned Global, USA, APAARI conducted the four-day training program, which attracted 16 participants from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. The comprehensive training covered various aspects of GLP, such as principles, sample processing, instrumental analysis, data management, and reporting. Source
BASF sets up regional hub: August 23: BASF has inaugurated a new €40 million production site in Singapore, which will serve as the firm’s regional hub to support the needs of 20 million hectares of farmland in the Asia-Pacific. The Tuas site is BASF’s four production facility in the island republic, and where i will produce BASF’s latest innovations solutions based on patented active ingredients Inscalis®, and Revysol®, designed to handle six different liquid formulation technologies and will scale up its operations progressively. The site has initial production capacity of 7,000 kl per year, employing over 30 technicians and professionals. Source.
Bayer gets new PR boss at Bayer: Cherie Tan has started as APAC Head of Public Affairs, Science and Sustainability at Bayer. Based in Singapore, she was previously with Asia Pacific Rayon (APR) where she was Vice President Communications and Sustainability.Connect with Cherie at cherie.tan@bayer.com or on LinkedIn.
Charity farming filling the need: A charity “Food from the Heart” is partnering with retailer, “The Local Farm”, to provide fresh vegetables and fruits for up to 2,000 needy families as part of a year -long pilot project, planned to launch this coming January. Up to now, four farms have joined the scheme, in which produce is provided to the recipients, who can choose from seven items such as leafy vegetables, mushrooms and eggs. In a similar charitable initiative, charity, “Free Food For All” is also supporting local farmers by buying their “container farm grown” produce to supply food to neighborhoods. See original report here.
Singapore reverts to ‘heightened alert’ as cases return: July 27: Despite the widely touted success of vaccination drive, a COVID case spike returned to Singapore in late July, prompting authorities to revert to phase two “heightened alert” restrictions and double down on its mass inoculation strategy. A spike in cases was reported on July 20, which was attributed to an infected crew from an Indonesian fishing boat, and local karaoke bars or KTVs. Under phase two restrictions, social gatherings are limited to two people, and with no more than two gatherings per day. Restaurants and bars can only offer takeaway service, and all live events cannot exceed 100 persons, and must impose mandatory pre-event testing and mask wearing. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs Singapore’s the multi-ministry task force concerned with Covid-response measures, told Parliament that restrictions would be reviewed by mid-August, specifically to ease restrictions only for fully vaccinated persons, who he proposed would be allowed to attend a large event or a religious service, dine in at a restaurant or work out in a gym. Singapore had plans to open up in September when it is expected that around 80% of the population would be fully vaccinated, up from around 50% currently. The current outbreak has again heavily impacted businesses. See this article as well as this one for more information.
Fully automated ‘super tower’ to cultivate strawberries: July 23. A partnership between German vertical farming company and Italian manufacturing company that specializes in automatic vertical warehouses will look to launch fully automated farming systems for high-value fruity crops such as strawberries in the heart of Singapore and elsewhere. The first four “Super Towers”, will be installed in Singapore in March 2022. See story here.
AUGUST 2020
Cotton seeds for the elderly during gap year
Three 19-year old college kids during their gap year, decided to join forces to procure cotton seeds for elderly people According to this article in the Straits Times the students wanting to do something positive during their gap year decided that cotton plant seed kits for seniors were ideal because the plants grew fast and easily.