Quality Seed | Quality Life
August 2022 Newsletter
Welcome everyone to the August newsletter and podcast. I hope all of you are staying safe and healthy.
This month, we continue with the activities focusing on public and private partnership (PPP). Starting with collaboration among World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), APSA and ISF, on a Roundtable Discussion on Enabling Environment. The objective of this session was to understand the priorities from the seed companies and national seed associations from Thailand and India represented in the session to improve the policy environment for seed sector development in APAC region. The companies presenting at the roundtable discussion were selected according to the index reported by the Access to Seed Index. The summary of the session will be published in Q3 of Asian Seed Magazine and will be presented during the technical session on 15th November by Ms Alice Ingabire, Access to Seed Index Lead.
At the end of August, we organized the 8th APSA Phytosanitary expert consultation under the theme of “Public – Private Partnership for enhancing seed trade in the Asia and Pacific Region”. The meeting consultation was attended physically by NPPOs from Australia, Cambodia, India, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam and attended online from Bangladesh, China and Indonesia. In addition, our resource persons from the American Seed Trade Association, International Seed Federation, CGIAR and CropLife Asia together with our committee of International Trade and Quarantine also participated in the consultation to provide updates from the private sector. The objectives of our meeting were met as all NPPOs could exchange their current update on ePhyto, re-exporting process, lab accreditation and ISPM 38 implementation.
For the upcoming activities in September, APSA in collaboration with Plantum will bring our delegates from APSA members to explore the Dutch Seed Industry during 26 – 30 September. The program has been planned very well so that all delegates will meet vegetable and flower companies in the Netherlands and also be able to participate at the Seed Meets Technology, Naktuinbown, Wageningen University and Research, Flower auction and plant raisers. We are really excited for our delegates and we believe that our delegates will get the most of this study tour organized by APSA’s SIG Vegetables and Ornamental.
Moving on to updates for the Asian Seed Congress: As our situation on the quarantine still restrict our friends from some countries to participate in the congress, we decided that we will not impose late registration fees this year. Thus, our members can register at the rate of 750 USD until the end of October 2022. We are really looking forward to welcoming our friends all around the world to the Asian Seed Congress in Bangkok, Thailand.
Regarding our upcoming AGM: on August 19th, we stopped accepting EC nomination submissions and this year we have received very good candidates for the election. The candidates who are eligible to stand for an election will be announced by mid-September. This year, there are nine (9) vacant seats to be filled and we are really looking forward to the new EC team in 2023.
And again as a reminder, this year our Standing Committee on Seed Technology has initiated a recognition award program for the “Most Influential Seed Technologist in APAC region”. We extended the nomination submission deadline for this award until the end of September. The awardee will be recognized during the Asian Seed Congress 2022. We are really thrilled about this recognition award as the critical role of seed technologists cannot be overlooked. Without their great innovation to maintain and enhance seed quality, it would be difficult if not impossible for seed companies to ensure farmers get high-quality seeds. So, if you know someone deserving of this prestigious recognition award, please consider nominating them.
Finally, I would like to express appreciation and gratitude to all colleagues, and committee members for all their sustained efforts, dedication, commitment, and perseverance, which has been key to our success and achievements thus far. Thank you very much and again I would like to thank all APSA members for sustained support More updates on upcoming events and technical affairs and news follow.
Take care.
If you have any suggestions on our activities, the key issues you are facing in your seed business and possible collaborations, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at may@apsaseed.org.
May Chodchoey,
APSA Executive Director
may@apsaseed.org.
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APSA Membership term is 1 January through 31 December. APSA Membership Fees are non-refundable and we do not provide pro rata of membership rates. As of now, we have 412 active members who paid membership for 2022.
The Asian Seed Congress 2022 will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from the 14th to the 18th of November 2022 at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre. As of now, we have 775 Participates registered, 141 trading tables reserved, 15 Semi-private meeting room reserved, 2 private meeting room reserved, 26 Regular booths reserved and 1 Super Booth reserved.
ASC2022 registration is open and we welcome all members to register for the 2022 Asian Seed Congress.
If you have any questions, or if there is anything else we can assist you with please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Mr. Komsak Kamjing (Bobbie)
APSA Membership Coordination Manager
2022 APSA Cucurbinars - Thank God It's Friday – Session 2
The 2022 APSA Cucurbinars - Thank God It's Friday webinar series consisting of 6 sessions covering Cucurbit crops in Asia and Pacific Region (Watermelon, Melon, Bitter gourd, Cucumber, Pumpkin & Squash and other gourds). Each session is to be held on Friday each month from July to December 2022. This series is exclusively for APSA members and will give them the opportunity to learn about Abiotic and biotic stress; Improvement in breeding and cultivation; and New variety release from participating companies. One-time registration to attend all 6 sessions with additional benefits of 6 months access to APSA seed academy platform with certificate of attendance and record of each session and special 5% discount for the same person register to an in-person ACRT in 2023.
For more information on registration fee, on how to register please visit the official event page 2022 APSA Cucurbinars - TGIF
2022 APSA Seed Technology Webinar – Session 3
On Friday the 7th of October 2022 from 13.00 - 15.00 hrs. (ICT/GMT+7), APSA will be holding Session 3 of the 2022 APSA Seed Technology Webinar. This session will focus on the Application of Nanotechnology in Seed Enhancement. We are currently finalizing agenda and guest speakers, so please stay tuned for more details.
2022 APSA Field Crops Webinar - Session 2
On Thursday the 20th of October 2022 from 13.00 - 15.00 hrs. (ICT/GMT+7), APSA will be holding Session 3 of the 2022 APSA Field Crops Webinar. This session will focus on Yield Enhancement Technology in Field Crops. We are currently finalizing agenda and guest speakers, so please stay tuned for more details.
Exploring the Dutch Seed Industry Study Tour
APSA’s Special Interest Group for Vegetable and Ornamental Committee, in collaboration with Plantum would like to invite all APSA members to attend a special Study Tour to the world's leading seed exporter, the Netherlands. The Study Tour will be held from the 26th to the 30th of September 2022 and has been designed for participants to exchange practices and knowledge with seed breeding companies in the Netherlands as well as the National Seed Association. The program itinerary also includes a visit of leading vegetable seed production companies and local seed production sites in the Netherlands, as well as Plantum, the Seed Meets Technology, Naktuinbouw, Floriade exhibition, flower auction and flower breeding and plant raiser companies. Also included are visits to public research institutes specialized in breeding, phytosanitary testing and DUS registrations, including Wageningen University & Research. If you interested, registration opens early July. Participation for the Study Tour is only 3,000 USD per person and will cover meals, transportation and hotel accommodations in the Netherlands. Maximum participants allowed is 25 persons, where all delegates are responsible to cover their travel from their country to Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherland.
For more details on the event, please visit the official event page. Exploring the Dutch Seed Industry Study Tour
39th International Vegetable Training Course
WorldVeg is pleased to announce that the 39th International Vegetable Training Course: Post-Harvest Management for Fruit and Vegetables will be held on 21 - 25 November 2022 at WorldVeg's Research & Training Station, Kamphaeng Saen, Thailand, after suspending 2 years. The objective of the course is to provide participants with the knowledge and hands-on experience on good postharvest management of fresh fruit and vegetables. The course is taught by experts from Kasetsart University, Mahidol University (Institute of Nutrition), the Royal Project Foundation and World Vegetable Center. The language of instruction will be in English. The training methods will be a blend of classroom lectures, hands-on exercises and excursions. Originally USD 1,950 including training fees, accommodation, meals, local transportation, excursions, and local health insurance. All APSA members are welcome to participate. WorldVeg offers a 20% discount on course tuition to all 2022 APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium members, and this benefit extends to all employees of a Consortium Company. Participants of the 2022 consortium members will be offered a USD 80 discount per person. The maximum number of participants is 20. Registration operates on a first-come, first-serve basis. Payments must be received by 30 September 2022. The organizers will assist in the visa application process, but it is the applicant's responsibility to obtain a valid visa remains. Application Deadline is 31 August 2022.
For more details on the event, please visit the official event page. https://web.apsaseed.org/events/39th-ivtc
2022 Asian Seed Congress (ASC 2022)
We are now less than 3 months away until the 2022 Asian Seed Congress (ASC 2022), which will be held in in Bangkok, Thailand from the 14th to the 18th of November 2022 at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre. This year’s congress will feature 200 trading tables, 30 semi-private meeting rooms, 5 private meeting rooms and over 30 exhibition booths, all located on a single floor. Please see below for further updates:
Registration Update:
Invitation Letter
Please be advised that all paid delegates will receive a Normal Invitation Letter to attend the 2022 Asian Seed Congress. All invitation letters will ONLY be sent to paid registered delegates and will be sent by the National Organizing Committee directly to the delegate’s email address. For those who require a Special Invitation Letter for Visa Application, please contact APSA’s Event Manager, Mr. Mike Kingpayom at mike@apsaseed.org
Import/Export & Quarantine Procedures
For any participating company that wishes to bring in their product and/or machinery into Thailand to display at the 2022 Asian Seed Congress, it is very important that you fill-out the required document. Please CLICK HERE to view and download the ASC 2022 Seed Import Declaration Form. Please make sure to send the filled document to APSA’s Event Manager, Mr. Mike Kingpayom at mike@apsaseed.org
Post-Congress Tour
We are also now happy to inform you that registration is now open for the 2022 Asian Seed Congress Post-Congress Tour. This year we are offering 2 tours: East-West Seed – NSTDA Tour and the NSTDA – Chia Tai Tour. Registration fee is only 50 USD per person. For more details on ASC 2022 Post-Congress Tour Agenda and how to register, please visit https://web.apsaseed.org/asc2022/post-congress-tours
Please don’t forget to visit the official 2022 Asian Seed Congress Webpage at https://web.apsaseed.org/asc2022 for more information on congress agenda, official floor plan, COVID-19 Travel regulations to Thailand, and other related details.
That is all for Upcoming APSA Events. Now for some details regarding upcoming seed industry events from around the world.
List of Upcoming APSA Webinars
For more information regarding agenda and registration for the upcoming 2022 APSA Webinars, please stay tuned for more details.
That is all for Upcoming APSA Events. Now for some details regarding upcoming seed industry events from around the world.
Policy Considerations for Gene Editing: The Asian and Australian Perspective
ISAAA Inc., BioTrust Global, the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center, Murdoch University, and the National Seed Association Malaysia will hold the workshop Policy Considerations for Gene Editing: The Asian and Australian Perspective from August 23 to 25, 2022 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This workshop intends to inform local policymakers, regulators, and other stakeholders about how they can proactively play a role in developing their respective national policies for gene editing to support international harmonization of gene editing policies, enhance applications of gene editing and reduce trade barriers, and ultimately, support sustainable food security.
For more details on event agenda, registration fee and on how to register, please visit the official event page at https://web.apsaseed.org/events/gene-editing-the-asian-and-australian-perspective
8th Seed Congress of the Americas
The Seed Association of the Americas (SAA), in collaboration with the National Association of Seed Producers (ANAPROSE), the Uruguayan Chamber of Seeds (CUS), and the Uruguayan Plant Breeders Association (URUPOV), are pleased to invite you to attend the 8th Seed Congress of the Americas. This event will take place on September 26-28, in Punta del Este, Uruguay, one of the most exclusive resorts in Latin America and the most important in Uruguay. This two-and-a-half-day congress will gather regional seed professionals, seed leaders, breeders, researchers, policy makers, government officials and students, in an extraordinary opportunity to learn, connect, generate new business, promote your products and learn about the latest novelties.
Faithfull to the motto “Promoting Seed Business in the Americas”, the congress will focus mainly on trade and regulations. This exciting event will feature great sessions, expert speakers and an exceptional trading floor within a comfortable environment where business will sprout.
For more information, congress agenda, and registration details please visit their official website at https://www.saaseedcongress.org/
5th China International Import Expo (CIIE)
From the 5th to the 10 of November 2022, the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and Shanghai Municipal People's Government will hold the 5th China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China.
The China International Import Expo (CIIE) is one of China’s first import-themed national-level exhibition which provides great opportunities for foreign enterprises to showcase their products and technology wishing to enter and/or expand their Chinese market. The expo will also feature a forum of relevant government authorities, international organizations, scientific research institutes and representatives of domestic and foreign enterprises, who will come to discuss various topics such as new situations, new technology, new achievements and new equipment of the seed industry field, the establishment of an innovation system of the seed industry from a multi-dimension angle, build a business dialogue platform, advocate the intellectual property protection and focus on the innovative development demands of the seed industry.
If you are interested in joining this event, please visit the official event page for more details on registration (https://www.ciie.org/zbh/index.html)
If you have any questions regarding upcoming APSA events, or if there is anything else, I can assist you with please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Mike Kingapayom
APSA Event Manager
Welcome to Technical Affairs update. As usual, let’s start with the APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium.
We are happy to remind you that the registration for 2022 APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium（CLICK HERE to learn more about the consortium benefits）is on-going, please CLICK HERE to register.
A special project entitled “Growing new markets with better bitter gourd genetics: WorldVeg's monoecious, gynoecious and predominantly female lines of different market segments developed through recurrent selection to breed breakthrough hybrids” will be launched under the APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium with outputs on monoecious and gynoecious, predominantly female lines, promising F1 hybrids, and three significant biotech outputs including molecular markers associated with QTLs conferring resistance to Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), cucurbit powdery mildew, and gynoecy trait.
Registration will start on September 1st and will close on October 31st. Only the active members of the 2023 APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium are eligible to participate in this project. As seats are limit, the final participating list will be fixed on a first come, first serve basis. Please click here for more details.
I would also like to take this opportunity to give you an update on news in China.
The 2022 China Seed Congress and the Nanfan Agricultural Silicon Valley Forum kicked off in Sanya, Hainan province, on July 28-31, bringing together more than 2,000 government officials, seed industry scientists and private sector representatives to discuss the challenges facing China's seed industry.
APSA held a meeting with China members on Jul 28th in Sanya during the China Seed Congress. Representatives from around 40 seed companies attended the four-hour meeting, including APSA active members and potential APSA members. This meeting was convened to facilitate a face-to-face discussion with China APSA members to review APSA’s key priorities and our strategic plan, promote awareness of the numerous benefits of APSA membership, beyond its trading platform, as well as discuss the cooperation opportunity in the future. More details in seed industry news below.
If you have any problem or need help from APSA Secretariat, pls contact APSA Partnership Program Manager Ms. Xiaofeng Li at xiaofeng@apsaseed.org
Ms. Xiaofeng Li
APSA Partnership Program Manager
Hi everyone, Kuna here again with updates from APSA’s Standing Committees and Special Interest Groups.
Starting with an update from our Standing Committee on Seed Technology:
The committee had a meeting on August 17 and were very pleased with a summary of the survey results of APSA Seed Technology Webinar Session 2 on the Application of the digital tools for quality enhancement held on August 3rd. Dr Bert van Duijn presented on the Fundamentals of digital tools on seed quality determination while Dr. Jens Michael Carstensen and Dr. Sarel Ashkenazy presented on the Practical digital tools for seed quality determination and the topic of Using Vision and AI Technology to Elevate the Performance of Every Seed/ Grain lot, respectively. The webinar was very successful with 200 participants joining. The organizing committee for the webinar Session 3 on Application of nanotechnology in seed enhancement are working tediously to invite outstanding speakers for October webinar. Besides, the committee also discussed updates on the Recognition Award for the most influential seed technologist in APAC region, APSA Seed Academy Program, Techno Commercial Demo Session, and Seed Tech technical session at the Asian Seed Congress. Stay tuned for more updates!
Next let us move to an update from the Standing Committee on International Trade & Quarantine
The committee had a successful APSA 8th Phytosanitary Expert Consultation held under the theme of Public – Private partnership for enhancing seed trade in the Asia Pacific region on August 29-30 in Bangkok. This closed meeting brought together officers from National Plant Protection Organizations from 13 countries, namely Australia, Cambodia, India, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, together with reps of national seed associations from Bangladesh, India, Japan, Philippines, Thailand and stakeholders who joined in person, while NPPO reps from Australia, China and Indonesia joined online. Discussions covered ePhyto implementation, ISPM 45, and addressing issues with phytosanitary certificates for re-exports, for example.
The SC ITQ committee also had a face-to-face committee meeting on August 31 to wrap up the expert consultation and planning for the SC ITQ technical session in November.
Let us move to an update from the Standing Committee on Intellectual Property Rights and Biodiversity
The committee had a productive meeting on August 23 to brainstorm on the agenda for the technical session of IPR & Biodiversity in the November Asian Seed Congress and on the plan moving forward in 2023 regarding advocacy for Access and Benefit sharing (ABS) and Digital Sequencing Information (DSI) for APSA members and national seed associations. The committee was also informed on the 2nd meeting of Working Group on Guidance concerning Smallholder Farmers in relation to private and non-commercial use (UPOV WG-SHF) on September 7.
And next is the Special Interest Group for Field Crops:
The SIG Field Crops committee successfully organized the APSA Field Crops Webinar session 2 held on August 11 held under the theme of Advance Breeding Technology for Field Crops. The two presenters did a fantastic job on their presentations, starting with Dr Gabriel O. Romero who presented on gene editing in corn and field crops and regulatory trend updates. This was followed by Dr Liu Guolan who presented on breeding and utilization of water-saving & drought-resistant rice varieties. The webinar would not have been successful without the great performance from our two Field Crops committee members, Mr Rogerio Andrade who did a great job to open and summarize the webinar, Dr Venkatram Vasantavada prepared very well to be an engaging moderator in this session.
On another note, the committee also had a meeting on August 24 to brainstorm potential speakers for the APSA Field Crops Webinar Session 3 on the theme of yield enhancement technology in field crops. The session is scheduled to be held on October 20.
Besides, the committee also agreed on the draft program for the upcoming Technical Session for Field Crops in the APSA Asian Seed Congress to be held on November 16th so stay tuned for more updates!
And now to SIG on Vegetables and Ornamentals:
Although the SIG Veg & Orn committee did not have a meeting this month. They have kept in touch, engaged virtually, brainstorming on potential topics for the Veg & Orn technical session in the APSA Asian Seed Congress. In the meantime, the committee is excited for the upcoming study tour “Exploring Seed Industry in the Netherlands” organized by APSA SIG Vegetables & Ornamentals Committee and Plantum on September 26-30 as Mike had mentioned. If you have not registered, hurry up!
Moving to the updates from the SIG on Vegetables and Ornamentals subgroups, The Working Group of Integrated Vegetable Seed Companies or WIC, the R&D advisory committee and the Disease Resistance Terminology Working Group or DRT
Starting with WIC updates:
This month the WIC Chair and Co-Chair had a meeting with APSA Secretariat to prepare for the physical WIC meeting at the Asian Seed Congress in Bangkok on November 13. Action points were reviewed to ensure a productive meeting. We will keep you posted.
Next is an update from the R&D Advisory Group
The R&D AG group has been very active in their monthly meetings to ensure the smoothness of all ongoing activities. This month the group had great success with their new webinar initiative- APSA Cucurbinars 2022 – Thank God It’s Friday (TGIF) Session 2 on Bitter gourd, which was organized on August 26. The session started with committee member, Dr Conrado Balatero welcoming everyone as moderator of the webinar. This was followed by videos promotion of new variety releases from participating companies. Then the first speaker, Ms. Cherry Relevante-Belagantol presented on the Bitter gourd-infecting Poleroviruses in Asia: Status and prospects. The second speaker, Dr Pulipati Gangadhara Rao presented on the Genetic analysis and QTL mapping of yield and fruit traits in bitter gourd. The last presentation was on the the collection and evaluation of germplasm and breeding of new varieties in bitter gourd presented by Dr Ziji Liu.
As Mike mentioned, stay tuned for the Cucurbinars TGIF Session 3 on cucucmber to be held on September 30.
Last but not least is an update from Disease Resistance Terminology Working Group or DRT WG, members of the DRT Watermelon Fusarium Wilt subgroup and Bitter Gourd Powdery Mildew subgroup did not meet this month. The committee keeps each other updated on follow-up action points from July meeting.
This is all for now for SC/SIG updates. All minutes of SIG/SC meetings can be viewed by APSA members by logging in APSA website and go to member area. Thank you very much and stay tuned for more updates next month. Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Kunaporn Phuntunil
APSA Technical Coordination Manager
Welcome to 2022 Seed Industry News briefs for our August 2022 newsletter. If you have any seed industry news updates or leads that you think deserve to be included in this newsletter, please contact Steven.
International
Alleged IP infringement with MNCs: August 15: Corteva Agriscience is suing Bayer CropScience LP and Monsanto Company (“Bayer”) for alleged infringement of Intellectual Property (IP) rights. . . .
FAO Food Index on the ‘rebound’ in July: August 5: The FAO Food Price Index averaged 140.9 points in July, representing a 8.6 percent drop from June. . . .
Canada, Japan inject millions into FAO grain storage relief: August 2: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a US$ 40 million (CA$ 52 million) Canada-funded project to further address grain storage shortages in Ukraine. . . .
Read more on International Seed Industry News.
Australia
Bayer cotton awards: August 26: Results are in for the 2022 Bayer Cotton Grower of the year and the AgriRisk High Achiever of the Year, which were announced at the Australian Cotton Conference Awards dinner . . .
Pacific Seeds appoints new territory manager: August 25: Pacific Seeds is excited to announce the appointment of Ella McDonald as the new Territory Manager for Central Western Australia. . . .
ASF held in-person annual biz meeting: August 18: The Australian Seed Federation welcomed its members to Brisbane for its 2022 Seed Business Convention, convening for the first time in-person since 2019. . . .
Grains Australia names new CEO: August 16: Richard Simonaitis was named chief executive officer of Grains Australia. . . .
New $3 million seed-based project built on UWA seeding science: August 16: The The University of Western Australia have announced details about a new AU$3 million seed-based land rehabilitation project in Western Australia’s South West. . .
Pacific Seeds release two canola hybrids: August 2: Pacific Seeds has released two new canola hybrids: Hyola Regiment XC and Hyola Solstice CL, which offer farmers “outstanding performance. . .
BASF Australia in rural paddock initiative: July 20: BASF Australia is teaming up with rural grain growers in northwest Victoria to supply the company’s range of crop protection solutions. . .
More from Australia seed industry news
Bangladesh
Crops drying up in summer heat: August 25: Following “unprecedented’ flash floods in June that submerged 15,852 hectares in northeastern Bangladesh, farmers are now facing drought. . .
BRRI and IRRI in modern rice breeding training: August 22: Some 60 rice researchers from Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) took part in a virtual training in modern rice breeding techniques and technologies. . .
IRRI bolsters Bangladeshi capacity in certified seed: August 2: The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Bangladesh and the Seed Certification Agency (SCA) trained 25 participants from a number of private seed companies . . .
Flood-affected farmers get free seeds, fertilizer: July 30: The government has distributed free seeds and fertilizers worth BDT 110 million ($1.1 million) to 185,000 farmers in 17 districts affected by recent floods. . .
CABI-led research to tackle fall armyworm: July 16: Research led by the Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), published in the CABI Agriculture and Bioscience journal, and carried out in conjunction with the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), proposes to establish . . .
More from Bangladesh Seed Industry news
Central Asia
Ag fields, residences inundated by flooding: August 21: Floods have inundated large swathes of Afghanistan farms and settlements, inflincting “heavy financial losses” on the citizens, and a tragic casualty count. . . .
Afghan wheat landrace shows promise for rust resistance: August 16: A wheat landrace from Afghanistan, which has demonstrated resistance to leaf rust and stripe rust, could be used to breed other disease-resistant wheat varieties. . . .
More from Central Asia seed industry news.
China
‘Hottest summer on record’ droughts spell concern for ag sector: August 24: Food production and thus security is threatened by what has been described by media as ‘the hottest summer on record’. . . .
Nanfan shines as new Chinese ‘seed capital: August 3: The 2022 China Seed Congress and Nanfan Agricultural Silicon Valley Forum was held from July 28 to 31 in the city of Sanya, Hainan Province. Co-hosted by the MARA and nine other organizations, the Congress’s main theme and focus was . . .
Ag scientists, industry leaders call for R&D boost to ensure food security: July 29::Agriculture scientists and seed industry representatives participating in the China Seed Congress 2022’s main forum called for boosting efforts in research and development of crop seeds to address and mitigate food security concerns. . .
APSA reinforces importance of China to regional seed industry: July 28: Another important forum held during this year’s Congress was a meeting amongst China’s APSA (Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance). Attended by representatives from around 40 seed companies, including current and past APSA executive committee members. . . .
More from China seed industry news
India
IRRI and Assam extend rural rice collaboration: August 24: An Assam government body, the Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services (ARIAS) Society, and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have inked an extension of collaboration. . .
Rice dwarf disease narrowed: August 23: Researchers say they have narrowed down the cause of a “mystery disease” causing the ‘dwarfing’ of rice plants in Punjab and Haryana to be . . .
Seed certification body rejects 3,000 applications on uniqueness ground: August 22: The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Right Authority (PPVFRA) conducting field testing and assessments of more than 11,000 crop seed varieties has reportedly rejected 3,000 applications that failed to meet criteria for uniqueness. . . .
‘Speed breeding’ extension in UP: August 16: Delegates representing the national agricultural research and extension system (NARES) recently received training in speed breeding for rice. . . .
CIMMYT makes available new South Asian maize hybrids: August 16: The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is now accepting applications for licenses to utilize maize hybrids . . .
New optical sorter facilities launched in Bengaluru: August 9: Bühler India inaugurated its new state-of-the-art color sorter manufacturing facility in Bühler Bengaluru. The investment, which supports the company’s “Make in India” initiative . . .
ICRISAT welcomes new assis DG: August 8: The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has welcomed Mr Sanjay Agarwal as its new Assistant Director General. . . .
UP to increase oilseed planting: August 5: The government of Uttar Pradesh has announced plans to increase land planted with oilseeds to be from 2.2 million hectares currently to 2.7 million ha and thus achieve a . . .
ICRISAT releases two superior pearl millet varieties: August 5: The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has released two varieties of pearl millet with superior forage yields to address the anticipated . . .
Concerns of faltering rice output: August 3: The area planted with rice in India has reportedly declined 13% this season, which is being linked to lack of rainfall in key areas, including . . .
Genome edited rice variety release eyed for 2026: July 21: A gene-edited, drought-resistant variety could be released by 2026, India agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, citing sanctions given to Indian Agricultural Research Institute, . . .
More from India seed industry news
Indonesia
Bolstering staple grain alternatives: August 20: Indonesia is looking to boost output of corn and wheat substitutes like sorghum, sago and cassava as part of efforts to mitigate food security concerns fueled by . . .
Rice self-sufficiency achievement: August 16: The International Rice Resarch Institute (IRRI) has formally commended Indonesia for its “strong efforts to achieve rice self-sufficiency”. . .
Parliament member speaks on illegal rice seeds issues: August 16: A member of Indonesia’s national assembly has publicized his opinions about the process to amend the Rice and Rice Control Bill 2022 (Amendment) which was debated on August 10.. . .
Seed regulations and investment landscape: August 1: The Indonesian Seed Association, Asbenindo has informed APSA of the latest landscape for seed industry regulations in the world’s third most populous country . . .
More from Indonesia Seed Industry news.
Japan
Japan injects $17mn in FAO project to boost Ukraine grain storage: July 5: Funding from Japan worth some $17million will be used toward a project carried out by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) . . .
More from Japan seed industry news
Korea
North Korean farm woes persist throughout summer: August 25: Farmland and crops in some parts of North Korea’s Hwanghae provinces, have been devastated by rains and winds. The two provinces are considered the country’s breadbasket. . . .
WorldVeg screening of RDA Korea pumpkins in Thailand: A project of the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg) to collect and evaluate cucurbitaceous germplasm continues to look for and to identify multiple virus resistance in pumpkin . . .
More from Korea seed industry news
Nepal
CIMMYT support helps Nepal farmer increase market independence: August 11: Market support from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) as part of its Nepal Seed and Fertilizer (NSAF) project, has enabled . . .
More from Nepal seed industry news.
New Zealand
MPI considering amending pest list based on industry input: August: The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries recently held a public consultation to amend its Import Health Standard (IHS): Seeds for Sowing (155.02.05). . . .
Certis Belchim BV acquires assets of Henry Manufacturing Limited, New Zealand: August 8: Certis Belchim BV announced that it has reached agreement with Henry Manufacturing Limited (HML) to acquire all . . .
More from New Zealand seed industry news
Pakistan
‘More rain than ever’ causes untold devastation for farmers, lives and infrastructure: August 22: Farmers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) have been devastated by torrential downpours that have resulted in the flooding of their crops. . . .
More from Pakistan seed industry news
Philippines
P130 million farm damage assessment in Maguindanao floods: August 24: Heavy rain-induced flooding in the upland has destroyed 130-million-peso (US$2.3 million) worth of crops and farm products,. . .
Study highlights gene-editing opportunity for root plasticity in rice: August 25: A collaborative study of selected rice germplasm in the Philippines, conducted by researchers from . . .
New subspecies of Begonia identified in the Philippines: August 23. Begonia bangsamoro subp. Bagasa is the newest subspecies of bangamoro, recently identified in . . .
RCEF certified seeds broadcast to farmers: August 3: As an initiative of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) more than 10 million bags of certified seeds are bound for about one million farmers . . .
Golden rice at transplanting stage: August 2: Golden rice was reported to be at the transplanting stage for 40 hectares. . . .
Hybrid rice firm says subsidies will be key: July 31: SL Agritech Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Henry Lim Bon Liong said in an online interview that subsidies . . .
PhilRice, BPI launch digital rice info hub launched: July 27: The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) have launched an information system that will speed up rice seed-related transactions and processes.. . .
More from Philippines seed industry news
Singapore
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. . . .
More from Singapore seed industry news
Sri Lanka
Standing paddy stunted due to lack of fertilizer, yields plummet: August 17: Rice crop throughout most of the major growing belt of Sri Lanka is stunted for the second successive season due to deficiency of fertilizer, . . .
More from Sri Lanka seed industry news
Thailand
Cannabis food operators, handlers to be schooled: August 26: The Royal Gazette on August 25 published an announcement mandating new training requirements for food operators and handlers of food products with cannabis ingredients. . . .
Chia Tai launches ‘FarmInno’ ag solution platform: July 29: Chia Tai Company Limited, Thailand’s leading innovative agricultural company, launches a new business for agricultural solutions under "FarmInno (Thailand)" brand, paving its way towards becoming a . . .
More from Thailand seed industry news
Turkey
Yuksel Seeds opens trial station in China: August 16: Yuksel Seeds, an international seed company from Turkey involved in breeding of tomato, pepper, eggplant, cucumber, melon, and watermelon and present in more than 75 countries around the world, recently launched. . .
More from Turkey seed industry news
Vietnam
Viet Nam and Thailand cooperation looks to boost rice price: August 29: Officials from Viet Nam and Thailand – the 2nd and 3rd leading suppliers of rice in the world (after India) will cooperate in efforts to boost the global rice price. . . .
ISAAA, USDA and AGI showcase biotech for mitigating climate change: August 17: The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service Hanoi (USDA FAS Hanoi) and Vietnam's Agricultural Genetics Institute (AGI) on August 11 organized a. . .
More from Viet Nam seed industry news
The above is only a sample of what’s new. For more of all the latest news updates from around the region, visit our respective news portals by country:
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As part of APSA’s digitalization and digitization strategy, in 2022 we’re offering active members even more ways to directly reach Asia-Pacific seed industry decision makers directly -- in their inbox, on their desktop PCs, laptops, smartphone, tablets, and phablets alike, through our exciting new affiliate, sponsorship, marketing, communication, advertising and publicity opportunities.
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Asian Seed magazine Vol. 28 No.2 (Quarter 2, April - June 2022)
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It’s all about public-private partnership and collaboration in Asian Seed & Planting Material Volume 28, Quarter Two issue, which includes seed sector news, events, announcements and updates from throughout the Asia-Pacific region and world in April, May and June 2022. The cover theme emphasizes regional collaborations and public-private partnerships to enhance breeding R&D. The issue includes coverage of the 2022 World Seed Congress, held in May in Barcelona; as well as ISTA’s annual meeting in Cairo Egypt, APSA-WorldVeg vegetable breeding consortium 2022 Field Day and the 2022 Asian Solanaceous Round Table both held in Bengaluru, where APSA signed an MoU with ICAR. We also hear reflections and insights from Dr. Peter Hanson of WorldVeg who was recently named most influential vegetable breeder (public sector) by APSAThere is also content about leading companies of the most recent Access to Seeds Index sharing best practices, Ukraine seed supply, gene-editing rules being eased in India, New Breeding Techniques trends update from Seed World, a story on protection of seed IPR under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and inside details of Thailand decriminalizing the use and cultivation of cannabis flowers and seeds. Moreover, we have our usual quarterly updates from APSA’s Special Interest Groups and Standing Committees, as well as Events Calendar of upcoming seed industry events in the region, and other APSA initiatives and programs and plans announced by APSA President Wichai Laocharoenporrnkul and Executive Director Dr. Kanokwan Chodchoey.
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