January 2026 Newsletter
Dear Members & Partners,
Happy New Year to our members and partners across the Asia-Pacific seed sector. We begin 2026 with a full agenda and several important updates that reflect APSA’s ongoing focus on practical coordination, policy dialogue, and member engagement.
Beginning next week, APSA will transition its membership system to the Glue Up platform. Members will receive a formal system migration notice by email, followed by step-by-step instructions on how to set up a new APSA account. We encourage you to keep an eye on your inbox for further details.
This month marks our transition to a new membership platform, designed to support clearer communication, easier access to member services, and more efficient coordination across APSA activities. We appreciate members’ cooperation as we complete this move and settle into the new system.
We are also pleased to confirm that the 31st Asian Seed Congress (ASC 2026) will take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from December 1-5, 2026. With the destination now announced, planning is underway, and we look forward to sharing further details as preparations progress.
Closer in the calendar, APSA will convene the 2026 Phytosanitary Expert Consultation (PEC) on 10–11 February 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia. This annual flagship consultation remains a key regional platform for public–private engagement on the safe and efficient movement of seed. Members are welcome to join online; pre-registration is required, and the registration link has been shared by email.
We also invite you to join an upcoming webinar on February 5, 2026, which will examine progress on the implementation of the DSI Multilateral Mechanism and the Cali Fund. The session offers an opportunity to take stock of current developments and outstanding issues in an evolving policy area relevant to the seed sector.
We look forward to reconnecting with you again in February through our upcoming consultations and member activities. We wish you a productive month ahead!
Warm regards,
The APSA Secretariat
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Stay tuned for more updates!
Standing Committee on International Trade & Quarantines
The newly formed Standing Committee on International Trade & Quarantine kicked off the year with its first meeting on Jan 13, opening their 3-year term serving as the members in the committee. Dr. Kanokwan (May) Chodchoey from Thai Seed Trade Association was elected as the Chair of the committee.
The members refined the agenda of the APSA 2026 Phytosanitary Expert Consultation, which will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia on Feb 10-11. The members also talked about objectives and priorities of the year 2026, including activity planning and policy engagement.
Standing Committee on IPR & Biodiversity
The Standing Committee on IPR & Biodiversity met online for its first meeting on Jan 21 as the official kick off of their 3-year term. Dr. Nguyen Thuy Ha from Bayer Southeast Asia was appointed as the Chair of the committee.
At the beginning of the meeting, An overview of the committee was introduced to the members, highlighting its achievements and future golds, and the future work towards harmonizing PVP systems, addressing country-specific issues, and the promoting global collaboration.
The members then talked about the objectives and plans for year 2026 including the APSA 2026 Regional Plant Variety Protection Consultation and other advocacy activitites.
Standing Committee on Plant Breeding Innovation
The Standing Committee on Plant Breeding Innovation had its first committee meeting on Jan 23 as the official kick off for the new term for 3 years. The meetings started with the introduction of members and the objectives of the committee. Mr. Michael Leader from Bayer Southeast Asia was re-elected as the Chair of the committee.
The members discussed the objectives and priorities of year 2026, the most important one is the APSA 2026 Regional Plant Breeding Innovation which will be held in Denpasar, Indonesia on April 22-23. They also discussed other policy and advocacy work including a webinar to update the policy developments, revising the APSA position paper on PBI.
Standing Committee on Seed Technology
While our first quarterly meeting is scheduled for February, the Seed Technology Committee is proud to kick off the year by celebrating a significant professional milestone for one of our own. Committee member Mr. MD Azizul Haque has achieved international recognition for his research on rice seed pathogens, highlighting the high caliber of expertise within our group and our commitment to global seed health standards.
Mr. Haque’s extensive work has been formally reviewed, approved, and published in the ISTA Seed Health Image Database by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) Seed Health Committee. His research identifies critical seed-borne pathogens, specifically Curvularia lunata and Alternaria alternata, providing a vital reference tool for seed health professionals worldwide. We encourage members to explore these resources via the published database entries at Image 188 and Image 189 as we look forward to discussing more technical advancements in our upcoming February session.
Special Interest Group on Vegetables and Ornamentals
The Special Interest Group on Vegetables and Ornamentals (SIG V&O) officially commenced its 2026 activities on January 19th, bringing together a dedicated group of 18 returning and new members. The meeting was opened by Ms. Linda Chang, Co-Chair assigned by the APSA Executive Committee, who set a collaborative tone for the session.
During the session, Ms Francine Sayoc encouraged the members to think more broadly about the SIG Veg & Orn mission, urging them to find innovative ways to utilize their specialized expertise. By focusing on long-term effectiveness rather than just individual activities, the group aims to maximize its overall impact within the industry.
The Working Group of Integrated Vegetable Seed Companies or WIC
The group is planning for the midterm WIC meeting tentatively in April 2026 to combine with one of the APSA flagship Consultations. Stay tuned for more updates.
For the R&D Advisory Group
The R&D Advisory Group officially launched the new year with its first quarterly meeting on January 27th, marked by a significant expansion of its expertise. We are thrilled to welcome 16 new members to the team, bringing fresh perspectives and renewed energy to our collaborative efforts. Dr Sumitra Kantrong, Co-Chair, has led this meeting.
A pivotal moment of the meeting was the appointment of our new leadership. Mr. Marcel Sturre was elected as the Chair of the group by a unanimous vote of the members present. We look forward to a more dynamic and active year ahead, filled with impactful initiatives and strengthened engagement.
Last but not least, we look forward to the first quarter meeting of the Special Interest Group on Field, Special Interest Group on Seed Production and the Disease Resistance Terminology Working Group (DRT) to be held in February.
APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium
The 2026 APSA WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium will open registration in February. Meanwhile, mark your calendar for the 2026 APSA–WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium Annual Workshop and Post-Workshop Tour (5–7 May 2026).
Click here to see the exclusive benefit only for consortium members this year.
This is all for now for the short SC/SIG updates. Thank you very much and stay tuned for more updates next month.
The following country seed industry news pages have been updated with recent news briefs. To read full briefs, click the respective flag below, which links to the respective national seed industry news landing pages, where you can find all recent news briefs from that country:
China, Huawei Build AI Hub to Speed Seed Breeding: Date: China is establishing an AI‑driven breeding hub in Yazhou Bay, Sanya, aiming to shorten new variety development from 8–10 years to 3–4 years . . . Read
India’s Rabi Sowing Picks Up With Wheat And Pulse Areas Above Long-Term Averages: Agricultural market reporting from Argus Media shows that in the 2025-26 rabi season the sown acreage for key crops in India is higher year-on-year and above long-term averages . . . Read
Cocoa Benchmark Price Falls on West Africa Supply: Indonesia has lowered its January 2026 cocoa reference price to USD 5,662.38/MT, a drop of USD 315.08 (5.27%) from December . . . Read
Japan Budget Funds Heat-Resistant Rice Seeds: Japan’s government has approved a draft FY2026 budget that includes ¥1.5 billion to support the supply of heat-resistant rice seeds and the adoption of water-saving . . . Read
Pakistan Digitizes 22 Agriculture Services To Strengthen Governance: Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research has digitized 22 regulatory and operational services as part of efforts to improve transparency, efficiency, and oversight across the agriculture sector . . . Read
Konya Agriculture 2026 Positions Türkiye As Gateway for MENA Partnerships: Türkiye will host the 22nd Konya Agriculture, Agricultural Mechanization and Field Technologies Fair from April 7–11, 2026 in Konya, positioning the event as a regional hub for agricultural machinery and technology partnerships with the Middle East and North Africa . . . Read
Seed Industry News by country in alphabetical order
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Australia |
Bangladesh |
Cambodia |
China |
India |
Indonesia |
Japan |
Korea, South |
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Laos |
Malaysia |
Myanmar |
Nepal |
New Zealand |
Pakistan |
Philippines |
Singapore |
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Sri Lanka |
Thailand |
Turkiye |
Vietnam |
Central Asia |
Middle East |
International |
A year defined by progress, partnership, and regional leadership. This publication brings together the key milestones, flagship initiatives, advocacy outcomes, and collaborations that shaped APSA’s work in 2025 and strengthened the Asia-Pacific seed sector’s capacity for innovation, trade, and sustainable growth.
Asian Seed magazine Vol. 31 No.4 (Quarter 4, 2025)
As the year draws to a close, Volume 31, Issue 4 of Asian Seed & Planting Material brings together reflection, leadership, and forward-looking insight from across the Asia-Pacific seed sector. This final issue of 2025 opens with comprehensive addresses from APSA President Teck Wah Koh and Executive Director Francine Sayoc, who together outline the association’s key achievements under the first year of APSA’s three-year Strategic Roadmap—spanning regulatory advocacy, member engagement, and organizational excellence. Anchoring this issue is the cover theme “Beej Kendra Bharat” — India as a Seed Hub, explored through in-depth interviews with leading members of the National Organizing Committee of the 2025 Asian Seed Congress. Their perspectives illuminate why India continues to emerge as a strategic center for seed R&D, production, innovation, and trade, and how its strengths position it at the heart of regional and global seed value chains. This edition also features exclusive interviews with two prominent Indian professionals now serving in influential regional roles within the global seed community—including the newly appointed Director of the Seed Innovation and Protection Initiative (SIPI) and an Asia-Pacific Advocate for the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA)—offering insight into policy, science, and international standard-setting from an Asian perspective. Beyond India, the magazine captures the breadth of APSA’s diverse membership. Readers will find analysis on how Chinese APSA members can better access global markets, strategic perspectives on the rising capabilities of Bangladesh’s seed sector, and contributions from across the region that highlight emerging opportunities, regulatory developments, and innovation trends.
Flipbook Version Click Here
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