Quality Seed | Quality Life
Welcome to the final newsletter of 2020. The APSA Secretariat and Executive Committee hope that everyone is doing great and ready to enjoy the upcoming holiday break with their family (if possible).
First of all, we’d like to thank all APSA members for their strong support this year, and especially during the virtual Annual General Meeting, held 26 November.
The AGM minutes will be available in the member documents folder of the Members Dashboard from January, 2021. In short, many agenda items were approved, including a revised budget for 2021 and 2022; adopting of plant breeding position paper (which is already published on our website here); a re-admission fee for lapsed members effective from 2022; amendments to the constitution; as well as the announcement for the 2021 Asian Seed Congress 2021 to be held in Shenzhen, China. Moreover, we also elected a new Executive Committee member, Ms Amanda Forster, and welcomed our new President, Mr. Wichai Laochroenpornkul.
The APSA Secretariat would like to thank outgoing President, Mr, Tahir Saleemi for his strong and effective leadership during his two-year tenure. He will continue to serve on the APSA EC and as an Office Bearer (OB) as Immediate Past President for the coming year, as part of the new OB team, which alsco includes the president, Mr. Wichai Laochroenpornkul, Vice President, Dr. Manish Patel and Treasurer, Mr Koh Teck Wah. Read more about APSA leadership news here.
With that, our 16-member Executive Committee is now complete, and with its many hundred years of combined experience and leadership, stands to bring a lot of great value to our members in 2021!
Our priorities will continue to be plant variety protection, genetic resources, seed trade, seed quality and innovation in breeding technology. Hence, look forward to seeing more activities promoting and advocating these topics in 2021. With that, we are pleased to share with you one of our newest educational videos, which highlights the importance of plant breeding innovation:
There will be many more new initiatives we are in 2021 so be sure to stay connected through our social media channels (see links at end of newsletter).
Also, APSA members please be informed that we will begin processing applications for new membership applications and renewals, starting from 1 January, 2021. Conditions for renewals and new applications can be found on our website, or by contacting our Membership Coordination Manager, Mr. Bobbie via email (komsak@apsaseed.org).
With that, the APSA Secretariat would like to wish all a Happy New Year. We do really hope to meet all of you in person in the near future. Following are updates from our Technical Affairs and News Desks.
First, following up with our recent Virtual Technical Sessions (23-25 November) we sent out feedback questionnaires to all attendees, and here are some highlights:
We had more than 378 participants join five five virtual technical sessions (some members joined more than one session). The top 10 countries of participants were India, Japan, China, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Pakistan, Australia and South Korea, respectively.
Videos will be available for APSA members in January 2021.
From our questionnaire responses, we found that participants were generally satisfied with the topics, despite a few minor technical issues, for which we must apologize. We are also pleased to report that we are receiving growing interest from APSA members to join our technical committees (SIGs and SCs), of which our members will next meet in January to cement our direction and activities moving forward. Any inquiries, please email kunaporn Phuntunil <kuna@apsaseed.org> .
Next, as mentioned in the introduction, APSA is pleased to officially share with you the APSA Position Paper on Plant Breeding Innovation (PBI). The full version can be found on APSA website under “Paper” Section. Here is the direct link to all of our papers and materials, or download the new position paper here.
We have also shared this position paper with our National Seed Associations members and associates.
Following is a summary of the Position”
The Asia-Pacific seed industry believes that the adoption of science-based, consistent policies for the regulation of products derived from the latest plant breeding methods (e.g. CRISPR-mediated genome editing) across Asia would facilitate the development and deployment of advanced, innovative breeding applications by private and public breeders and benefit the region’s agricultural economy across the entire value chain, from farmers to consumers.
Aside from the paper, we’d also like to remind you that we have produced educational videos on Plant Breeding Innovation (PBI) in Chinese, English and Japanese. You can also find these videos on our website via the link above. Here is the links on Youtube.
Chinese version: https://youtu.be/E55pKD1ICXc
English version: https://youtu.be/ZRIxbagsVws
Japanese version: https://youtu.be/IDahIdvMPpU
Next an update following APSA’s new Asian Solanaceous and Cucurbits Roundtable (ASCRT) webinar series. On December 16, we successfully held our first session, under the theme of “Breeding for Heat Stress Management”. About 200 participants joined this online webinar.
In the webinar, Dr Kartikeya Srivastava from Banaras Hindu University presented on the “Heat-set tomatoes breeding approaches and perspectives”, while Dr Derek Barchenger from World Vegetable Center presented a topic of “Heat stress tolerance of tomato and pepper.” We received a lot of interesting questions from participants and it was a very informative session.
The ASCRT will be arranged as a series of 'Crop Improvement Expert Talk Webinars'. There will be one webinar every two months, with the second session planned for February, 2021. Stay tuned and see the Events section below for further updates on this. Any questions about ASCRT, please email Muhammad Moazzam <moazzam@apsaseed.org>.
Last but not least, an update from the APSA-World Vegetable Center Vegetable Breeding Consortium. We will open 2021 registration from 4 January, via APSA’s website. Should you have any questions, please email Liaison Manager, Mrs Xiaofeng Li <xiaofeng_APSA@163.com>.
And now for some updates from our Events Desk.
Following are some confirmed seed industry upcoming events, organized by APSA’s members and associates:
Regarding the Asian Solanaceous and Cucurbits Roundtable, or ASCRT, we are pleased to to announce that the 2nd Session will be held on the 17th of February 2021 under the theme of Evolution and Emergence of Viruses in Asia Pacific Region. For more details, please visit the official ASCRT event page on our website here.
Another event happening in February 2021 is an event from the American Seed Trade Association. Join representatives in the vegetable and flower seed business from over 35 countries for tremendous networking and educational opportunities. Now in its 60th year, ASTA's Vegetable & Flower Seed Conference has steadily grown to over double its size in the past 15 years. With the addition of virtual capabilities for business appointments, 2021 promises to be a bigger year than ever to connect with business partners in the seed industry.
The conference will be offered within a very robust virtual platform, built for the crucial educational content and easy-to-use, business to business video appointments that are key to the value of this event. We'll take the Trading Room for a fun, virtual spin this year with creative twists, interactive games and prizes and a full list of participating companies!
For more details, please visit their official event page here.
Another event update from one of our stakeholders, the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions, or better known as APAARI. They have decided to reschedule their General Assembly Meeting to April 2021. The 16th APAARI General Assembly Meeting will be held on the 8 - 9 of April 2021 via zoom.
In regards to the World Seed Congress 2021 in Barcelona, Spain, due to recent developments, ISF and the NOC have decided to move the dates of the Congress from 17-19 May to 5-7 July 2021.
For the 2021 Congress, they have prioritized the needs of their delegates and partners for a business-centered event in both physical and virtual settings. The new Congress format will allow participants to trade on site, Sponsors and Exhibitors to present themselves on site, and delegates to network and participate on site.
Aside from the physical event, there will also be a virtual platform where selected parts of the congress will be broadcast live through a live streaming platform Channel World Seed. There will be no social events, such as the Welcome Party and Gala Dinner, and no program for accompanying persons.
The ISF World Seed Congress 2021 will have a single registration fee, considering that many of the delegates have limited visibility over the possibility of their participation. Registration will open in early February.
For more details, please visit the official event page here.
And finally, I would like to remind everyone that next year’s Asian Seed Congress 2021 will be held in Shenzhen, China from the 7th to the 11th of December, where the congress will be held as a mixture of both a physical and virtual event. More details to follow soon.
That’s all for now, now on to some Seed Industry News.
Asia-Pacific
Access to Seeds 2021 Index open for feedback on methodology: December 2020: The Access to Seeds Index has published its draft methodology for the 2021 Access to Seeds Index. This draft methodology including the already released scope of the Index will be open for public consultation for a six-weeks public consultation period, from December 16 until January 31. Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback by filling in the downloadable feedback form provided on the website and sending an email ….
UN drug body reclassifies cannabis: A simple, narrow majority of 53 Member State representatives on the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) voted on December 2 to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. Only four Asia-Pacific countries were among the 27 voting in favor of the removal of cannabis from the ‘risky’ schedule category. They were Thailand, India, Nepal and Australia. The other 10 Asia-Pacific reps on the CND -- Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Bahrain, Japan and China -- all voted against. (See also cannabis news from Korea, Nepal, Thailand and New Zealand below).
Solomon Islands expands seeds program: The government (The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock) of Solomon Islands is extending a program to distribute vegetable seeds and farming tools across its provinces. As of December 1, a total of 12,933 packets of seeds had been distributed …
FAO Food Price Index rises sharp: Global food commodity prices rose to a nearly six-year high in November, according to a December 3 press release from the The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The monthly increase was the sharpest since July 2012, putting the index at its highest level since December 2014 ….
Click Here to Asia-Pacific Industry News page
Australia
Biosecurity officers continue to intercept, get informed of ‘mystery seeds’: December 2020: No less than 260 unidentified, unsolicited, or mystery seed parcels have been intercepted in parcels across Australia this year. ...
New ‘green jobs’ in Western Australia include seeding, planting: December 2020: The government of the State of Western Australia is making good of its AU$4 million Green Jobs Plan, which has been initiated in the Marlee Reserve in the Mandurah area. …
City council hires horticulturalist to harvest tree seeds ahead of road construction: December 2020: Seeds are being harvested from native trees that will be removed to make way for construction of a new road in Orange, New South Wales. The horticulturist was hired to “harvest the seeds and propagate trees into advanced tube stock to be planted nearby once the road is finished.” …
What’ll happen to Wattle in Australia’s Space Program: December 2020: The Gorokan Public School (GPS) is one of 150 schools in Australia that was selected to take part in a science experiment to find out ‘What’ll Happen to the Wattle’ under space conditions. ...
Myrtle Rust surveillance appeal in NSW: December 2020: The New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) is renewing appeals for Central Coast residents to be on the lookout for two local species susceptible to myrtle rust. ...
Breeding white strawberry in Queensland: December 2020: Strawberry breeding activities by the Queensland Department of Agriculture's Maroochy research centre on the Sunshine Coast, have been focused on increasing shelf life, reducing waste and improving taste ….
Bangladesh
Reports of low-quality paddy seed circulating in Dinajpur and Begerhat: December 2020: Seed shops and farmers in Dinajpur have reportedly been flooded with low quality paddy seeds...
Theft of onion seedlings rampant, as prices soar: December 2020: Local media reports that the price of onions is among the highest of all produce at the moment -- ranging from 50 to 100 rupees per kg. Hence, onions and onion sprouts are reportedly being stolen from farms in rural areas, prompting farmers to guard their fields at night in groups of two or three….
Govt distributes flood, Rabi relief seeds in Sirajganj: December 2020: The government is providing fertilizer and seeds worth more than Tk 101.7 million ($20,000) for 136,700 farmers in 9 upazilas of Sirajganj district as part of relief package and to bolster Rabi (winter) season planting. ...
Demand for seed potatoes on the rise in Rajshahi: December 2020: Farmers in Rajshahi region have been busy cultivating potatoes lately; according to the Rajshahi Regional Agriculture Extension Department, the area target for potato cultivation in Naogaon, Natore and Chapainawabganj districts of Rajshahi this year was set at 56,006 hectares ...
Relief wheat seeds seized by locals: December 2020: Some 20 400kg sacks of government-subsidized wheat seeds had reportedly been seized by locales in the Roumari sub-district of Kurigram. The seeds, which were intended to be distributed as part of relief packages for flood-affected farmers, were seized on December 6...
Zinc rich paddy seeds distributed: December 2020: As part of a campaign to increase the production of high yielding zinc-rich rice to meet zinc deficiencies in the local diet, zinc-rich paddy seeds have been distributed to some 25,000 farmers in the Thakurgaon district. …
Click Here to Bangladesh Seed Industry News page
Cambodia
Minister of Agriculture updates seeds, cropping situation: December 2020: The Minister of Forestry and Fisheries, Mr. Veng Sakhon on December 10 gave a status update on cropping and seed supply matters following devastating floods earlier in the month….
Rice sowing machines for flood-stricken provinces: December 2020: Some 150 rice sowing machines were distributed by the Ministry of Agriculture to agriculturalists in Pursat, Battambang and Banteay Meanchey provinces as part of flood relief efforts…
Kampong Chhnang farming families get Covid-19 relief rice seeds: December 2020: a total of 4 tons and 77 kilograms of rice seeds were distributed to 40 families in Kampong Chhnang province. The seeds were distributed by …
Garlic seed trialing in Mondulkiri Province: December 2020: With the guidance of Mr. Veng Sakhon, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Mondulkiri Province Bring has distributed garlic seeds to …
Click Here to Cambodia Seed Industry News page
China
Hainan seed hub blossoming: During the period from 2018 to 2020, Hainan Province officials had given approval for 79 new rice varieties, 86 new varieties of major crops and 88 new varieties of non-major crops. During this period, there were 214 applications for the protection of new plant varieties, 31 authorizations; 124 high-quality new varieties were selected and promoted, and 217 agricultural technology demonstration bases were established in 11 central and western cities and counties….
Chongqing city seed and seedling market self-inspection: As part of ongoing efforts to regulate the seed and seedling market the Chongqing Municipal Agriculture and Rural Committee issued the "Notice on Carrying out the Quarantine Inspection of the Seed and Seedling Market in the City", requiring districts and counties to carry out self-inspection to ensure entities are in full compliance with the laws and regulations….
58 crop varieties in Ningxia subsidized this year: December 2020: The Ningxia Autonomous Region’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs revealed that this year the Autonomous Region’s Seed Workstation has subsidized 58 crop varieties in the region, with subsidies and incentives totaling 620,000 yuan ($94,737)....
Students study space vegetable breeding at "Moon Palace": December 2020: Seeds previously sent to space aboard the Chang'e-5 are being studied and nurtured into plants by Beijing primary and secondary school students. As part of coursework organized by faculty of and collaboration between Beihang University and Beihang Primary School, students are learning to cultivate vegetables...
Reviewing ‘typical’ PVP infringement cases in China: December 2020: A symposium has identified 10 typical PVP infringement case examples from the past two years, and specifically how the courts and authorities ruled. The examples were discussed at the National Symposium on the Protection of New Varieties of Agricultural Plants in Shouguang, Shandong Province...
Click Here to China Seed Industry News page
India
UP govt vows to distribute vegetable seeds to farmers: UP State Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi promised to provide vegetable seeds for free. The announcement was made during a December 11 workshop….
Bayer enters India’s home veg garden segment: December 2020: Bayer has revealed plans to market mini packs of its Seminis vegetable seeds. The mini seed packs initially will be launched for vegetables such as bitter gourd, bottle gourd, okra and beans, and will gradually extend the mini packs across the entire range of its Seminis hybrid seeds….
Haryana Agricultural University churning out HQ seeds: The Haryana Agricultural University in Hisar can now produce a large quantity of quality seeds thanks to advancements in knowledge and technology over the past two decades….
Government considers hiking import duty oilseeds to bolster domestic production: December 2020: With the aim of bolstering domestic oilseed production in North India, especially in Punjab and Haryana, the Indian government is considering raising import duties for imported oilseeds. The idea was discussed by senior officials at the end of November….
Poor germination of seeds cited for farmers going indy: According to an article by The Hindu Business Online “early germination failure of soyabean seeds this July saw … an increasing number of soybean and onion farmers deciding to develop seed plots, so that they don’t have to buy seeds from private seed companies.”...
Maharashtra govt tells firms to disclose hybrid seed production tech on packets: The government of Maharashtra State has reportedly ordered companies selling hybrid cotton seeds to specify on packets details about technology used in production….
Click Here to India Seed Industry News page
Indonesia
Counterfeit corn seed syndicate interrupted: December 2020: Three persons have been arrested as suspects of “a network of counterfeiters of superior corn seeds with billions of rupiah in turnover”. ...
Riau boosts rice target for 2021: December 2020: The Riau Provincial Government (Pemprov) via the Food, Food Crops and Horticulture Service (DPTPH) has set a rice production target for 2021 to be 214,210 tons, which would be about 34 percent of the anticipated domestic consumption demand…
Promoting hybrid rice to boost yields, reduce seed requirement: December 2020: Among the many types of superior rice seeds now available, farmers in Indonesia are being encouraged to consider hybrid rice seeds. However, the use of hybrid rice among farmers is still not optimal…
Quality corn seeds distributed as economic aid: December 2020: Dozens of farmer groups in Rote Ndao Regency have received 11,250 tons of corn seed assistance as part of the government assistance program. ...
Cooperative Farmers protest ‘inferior’ rice seed: December 2020: A state-owned farmers cooperative has claimed it suffered “hundreds of millions of rupiah” in losses due to a Seed Trial Program….
Superior shallot, onion seeds distributed as Covid relief: December 2020: The price of shallots in Indonesia this year is very high compared to the previous year, owing in part to the failure of the onion harvest linked to flooding earlier in the year as well as Covid-19 related complications….
More superior corn seeds requested for Mukomuko: December 2020: The Agriculture Office of Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu Province, has requested assistance in the form of superior corn seeds, proposed to be planted on some 1,500 hectares of agricultural land….
University Hasanuddin and ICDF link up for quality rice seed R&D: December 2020: To support the development of quality rice seeds in Eastern Indonesia, University Hasanuddin’s Faculty of Agriculture has engaged the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) Taiwan….
Click Here to Indonesia Seed Industry News page
Japan
Gene-edited tomatoes get green light: December 2020: The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on December 11 approved the production and sale of a gene-edited tomato. The tomato was developed as a cooperation between startup, Sanatech Seed and the University of Tsukuba. The non trans-genic fruit reportedly took 15 years to develop….
Amended Seeds and Seedlings Law strict on IP: December 2020: A bill to amend Japan’s Seeds and Seedlings Law was passed by the Japanese Diet on December 2. The revised law, now dubbed the Seeds and Seedlings Protection law is expected to take effect in April, and will “allow plant breeders to designate areas where their varieties can be grown and export destinations when they register their species''. …
Click Here to Japan Seed Industry News page
Korea
Asia Seed reveals new Corporate Identity logo: APSA member, Asia Seed recently held a contest to design its new logo, and replace its old one, which had been in use for over 20 years...
Industrial, medical hemp Special Zone interview: Details about Korea’s promising 'Gyeongbuk Industrial Hemp Regulatory Free Zone', were highlighted in an interview with Andong Vice Mayor, Park Seong-soo ….
Disease-resistant varieties address labor-shortages, farmer needs: Highlighting a number of challenges the Korean agriculture sector has been facing, as well as listing several promising new, disease-resistant varieties of peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes that have been developed and launched by Korean companies ….
High Quality rice seeds secured for 2021 planting: Quality rice seed for 2021 planting has been secured for farmers. The National Seed Resources announced that a total of 15,063 tonnes of 29 varieties would be planted in early 2021. This includes 14,023 tons of 26 varieties of rice paddy, and 1,040 tons of 3 varieties of sticky rice ….
Preserving native Korean seeds at Svalbard Vault and at home: Efforts to preserve native Korean seeds through deposits of tens of thousands of samples at the so called ‘doomsday vault’ in Svalbard, Norway, as well as at Korean seed banks …
Investigation of illegal seed potato suppliers: AUGUST 2020: An investigation to prevent the distribution of non-compliant potato seeds and seedlings (seedlings) was carried out in Iksan, Wanju, Gunsan, Gimje, Buan, Jeonbuk, and Nonsan, Buyeo, and Seocheon in Chungnam ….
Bolstering NK potato production with superior seeds: December 2020: North Korean authorities are switching out older generation researchers for new ones to push forward the country’s “seed revolution,” ….
Click Here to Korea Seed Industry News page
Middle East
Iran 95 percent seed self-sufficient, claims Ag Minister: According to an article citing Iran’s Minister of Agriculture, Kazem Khavazi, Iran “has achieved self-sufficiency in producing nearly all varieties of seeds.” ….
ICARDA Syrian seed conservation, distribution highlighted in paper: NOVEMBER 2020: The dedicated seed conservation and distribution efforts of the International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in recent months and years are thoroughly documented in a paper
Click Here to Middle East Seed Industry News page
Myanmar
USAID report touches quality assurance, seed sector improvement: December 2020: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) 's Feed the Future Myanmar Agriculture and Food System Development Project has recently published a report exploring ways to develop value-added livestock and agricultural products…
Watermelon prices double: December 2020: Reportedly as a result of the impacts from Covid-19 and border movement restrictions between China and Myanmar since the beginning of 2020, watermelon prices in Myanmar have doubled. …
New markets for Burmese watermelons: December 2020: For the past 30 years, Burmese watermelons have relied solely on the Chinese market, but now new markets are opening up for Burmese seedless varieties, namely in …
Expanding coffee plantations in Pyinmana: December 2020: Coffee cultivation is being expanded in the mountainous area east of Nay Pyi Tawas part of a community-based tourism development project. ...
Drought affects peanut crop in Ayeyarwady region: October 2020: Peanut farmers in the Ayeyarwady region have been affected by low rainfall this year and the lack of nutrient supply from peanut leaves due to the drought, which has reduced peanut yields and reduced yields by about half. …
Concerns about maize inflows, outflows: September 2020: Negotiations were reportedly held between maize farmers and trade officials regarding the inflows and outflows of maize, which had been allowed to be exported to China and Thailand, creating concerns for domestic supply…
Click Here to Myanmar Seed Industry News page
Nepal
Nepal votes to remove cannabis from UN drug schedule: Nepal’s ambassador to Austria, Prakash Kumar Suvedi, who is the Member State representative on the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), on 2 December voted to remove cannabis from the CND’s Schedule IV. A bill to legalize cannabis in Nepal, which would overturn a 1976 law that formally criminalized the cultivation, sale and consumption of cannabis, is being considered by Parliament.
Click Here to Nepal Seed Industry News page
New Zealand
Legal Cannabis vote fails to pass: A narrow, simple majority of New Zealand voters on November 6 voted not to legalise cannabis in a national referendum. According to media reports, “The yes vote for legalising cannabis finished with 48.4% of the vote, trailing the no vote on 50.7%” ….
Click Here to New Zealand Seed Industry News page
Pakistan
Seed Association opposes proposal to delegate seed inspection powers: The Seed Association of Pakistan (SAP) has expressed opposition to a proposal to delegate powers of seed inspection to provincial governments instead of the Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department….
Hybrid seed production farm model: December 2020: The Mamonkanjan Seed Production Farm has been touted by the Secretary of Agriculture as private sector model for hybrid vegetable seed production in Pakistan….
Distributing subsidized seeds in mountainous Punjab: December 2020: The Punjab government is reportedly implementing various schemes with Rs 189 million ($1.18 million) worth of capital, which will be used towards providing subsidized seeds to tribal people in the Suleman Mountain Range….
Khyber farmers get wheat seed training: December 2020: Some 50 wheat farmers from Bara tehsil of Khyber had recently received capacity-building training related to wheat seeds and cultivation. The farmers, whose livelihoods were affected by ...
Seed ball reforestation of Margalla Hills: December 2020: Citizens are being urged to participate a 'throw and grow' campaign to reforest areas along trails of Margalla Hills of Islamabad….
Punjab planning to promote medicinal plant cultivation: December 2020: The Punjab government is planning to promote the cultivation of various types of medicinal plants, including ....
Click Here to Pakistan Seed Industry News page
Thailand
Covid-19 relief seeds on the way: December 2020: The Project “ตู้เย็นข้างบ้านต้านภัย COVID– 19” which literally translates to “fridge on the side of your house [home food garden] to protect against Covid-19” has seen lots of demand. So far 245,524 seed kits out of 300,000 had been sent to farmers and citizens….
Three factors for East-West Seed success in 2020: December 2020: East-West Seed Thailand General Manager -- and APSA President -- Mr. Wichai Laocharoenpornkul revealed three factors for his company’s success in 2020...
Chia Tai launches rebrand ahead of 100 year anniversary: December 2020: Chia Tai has launched a rebranding campaign for its seed packets in anticipation for celebrating 100 years in the business. Details were revealed in ….
Cannabis seeds, other plant material to be delisted as ‘narcotics’: Thailand’s Narcotics Control Committee resolved on November 24 to exclude the seeds, leaves, branches, stems, trunks, bark, fibre and roots of cannabis and hemp from the government's narcotics list. Nonetheless, seeds and extracts would still be regulated, not be allowed to contain …
Click Here to Thailand Seed Industry News page
The Philippines
Tree planting around Pantanangan Dam and Cagayan River: The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) aims to complete the planting of trees around the Pantabangan Dam by April 2021, reports local media. Under the Watershed Management Program, 220 hectares of land will be planted with various types of trees ….
Typhoon aide includes seeds, fertilizer: About PHP 2 billion (US$41 million) worth of aide -- including in the form of rice, seeds and fertilizer -- had been prepared by the government to distribute in Cagayan Valley as part of relief efforts following the devastation of typhoons….
Digital tech to help deliver rice seeds in Tarlac, Nueva Ecija: The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has signed an agreement with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) to enhance delivery and distribution of rice seeds to farmers using digital technology. The “Binhi E-Padala”, which is a joint initiative with PhilRice, PayMaya Philippines Inc. and the Nueva Ecija Seed Growers Multipurpose Cooperative (NESGMC), is expected to benefit 5,000 farmers in the provinces of Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. ….
Click Here to Philippines Seed Industry News page
Turkey
Industry association to bolster Trakya region seed sector: Trakya Tohum A.Ş., which was established last year to fortify cooperation amongst various seed sector entities, institutions and organizations in the Thrace Region, plans to invest 13 million lira ($1.65 million), starting in 2021, to bolster seed R&D ...
Leading Turkish seed firm increases R&D budget: May Seed, which reportedly allocates 9 percent of its annual turnover towards R&D, determined its R&D budget for the 2020-2021 season to be 24 million lira (about US$3 million) …
Turkey domestic seed industry flourishing, touts minister: Bekir Pakdemirli, the Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, lauded the domestic seed industry during remarks at the award ceremony for the 11th "Agriculture, Forest and Human Photography Contest" ...
Click Here to Turkey Seed Industry News page
Vietnam
Vinaseed rated top Vietamese company again: December 2020: Vietnam National Seed Group (Vinaseed) was honored as a top 15 listed enterprises with the best business performance for the third consecutive year….
Seedless melons yielding fortunes in Nghe An: December 2020: Thanks to the planting of year-round seedless lemons according to VietGAP standards, many farming households in Do Luong district (Nghe An province) are able to earn great returns….
Pioneering coffee replanting in the Central Highlands: December 2020: With favorable climate and soil, in Lam Dong province, there is a move to bolster the cultivation of high quality coffee. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lam Dong province has been ...
Ruby Queen corn trials show promise in Long An: December 2020: Up to this point, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Khanh, living in Hamlet 3, Binh Tam Commune, Tan An City, Long An Province has planted ruby red corn seven times since first trialing the new variety from Thai seeds in 2019 ...
New crop protection, input fee schedule draft: December 2020: The Ministry of Finance has completed a draft revision for the schedules of fees concerning the regulation of phytosanitary, biosecurity and crop protection and agriculture input products and services….
Cherry blossoms in Sa Pa district: December 2020: In the Sa Pa district of Lào Cai province, there are two places to admire Japanese cherry blossoms (Prunus serrulata)....
Nghệ An Province tet flower planting commences: December 2020: Many farmers in Nghia Dan district and Thai Hoa town in Nghệ An Province have started sowing of traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) season flowers, including various types of chrysanthemum, lilies and roses….
Click Here to Vietnam Seed Industry News page
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