Quality Seed | Quality Life
July 2024 Newsletter
Dear members and partners of APSA,
The clear highlight in the month of July was the regional workshop on seed sector development. Held in Hanoi last July 15 to 19, it was attended by more than 100 participants from the governments of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, along with representatives from the private sector. It was an intense exercise in building knowledge, capacity, and most importantly cultivating trust between the public and private sectors.
The discussions centered on plant variety protection, intellectual property, genome editing and seed movement – topics that will shape the future of our industry in the coming years.
This workshop was the latest one in a series of workshops that started 5 years ago when APSA first began working with the Mekong US Partnership. We want to thank all our partners for making this possible; the USDA, Vietnam Department of Crop Production, American Seed Trade Association, ISF, UPOV, Vietnam Seed Trade Association, and CropLIfe Asia.
Though we’ve made a lot of progress in deepening understanding among regulators of the importance of these topics, we are nowhere near done – and probably never will be. Technology, society, and our natural environment will continue to evolve – and both policymaking and business must evolve with them.
So, expect to see more initiatives from APSA in advocating for policies that will support seed trade and innovation, in cooperation with regulators and policymakers in the region.
Best regards,
Francine Sayoc
Executive Director
Ms. Francine Sayoc
APSA Executive Director
THANK YOU to our digital media sponsors
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APSA - ISF Plant Breeding Innovation Webinar
Organized by APSA Standing Committee of Plant Breeding Innovation, with the support of the International Seed Federation (ISF), a webinar on Plant Breeding Innovation (PBI) will be held on Tuesday, 13 August from 2:00pm – 3:00pm (GMT+7). The purpose of this webinar is to give all APSA members and APSA Seed Association members an update on the global regulatory framework on Plant Breeding Innovations.
Participation for this webinar is FREE for ALL ACTIVE APSA Members, but pre-registration is required. To view the webinar agenda, speaker profile & for registration, please visit the official evet webpage at https://web.apsaseed.org/events/apsa-isf-pbi-webinar
2024 Asian Solanaceous & Cucurbits Round Table (ASCRT 2024)
The 2024 Asian Solanaceous & Cucurbits Round Table (ASCRT 2024), which will focus on "Harnessing New Breeding Technologies for climate change-resilient vegetables" will be held from the 24th to the 26th of September 2024 at the Chia Tai Headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand.
We cordially invite everyone to register and join us for 3 days of insightful discussions on crucial topics, including Modern Breeding Techniques, Germplasm Diversity, Genomics & Genome Editing, AI and Digital Technology for High Throughput Phenotyping, and more. Engage in technology platform demonstrations, explore training needs, and discover the potential of public-private partnerships.
For more details on agenda, registration fees and how to register, please visit the official event page at https://web.apsaseed.org/events/apsa-ascrt-2024
2024 APSA Large Seed Vegetables & Brassicaceae Okra (LSVBO) Thank God It's Friday – Session 3
APSA will be holding Session 3 of the 2024 APSA LSVBO TGIF Webinar on Friday the 27th of September 2024 and will focus on Cauliflower. As we are currently finalizing the speaker and their topics, please stay tuned for updates. But if you wish to see more details regarding this event, please visit the official event page at https://web.apsaseed.org/events/2024-apsa-lsvbo-tgif-webinar-session-3
APSA Vietnam Rice & Corn Study Tour
The APSA Special Interest Group for Field Crops Committee, in collaboration with IRRI Vietnam is planning on holding a Rice & Corn Study Tour to Vietnam. The study tour will be held from September 29 - October 5, 2024, and will visit various companies and field demonstrations in various cities throughout the country, and provide participants with new insights into rice and corn seed production, and offers the opportunity to exchange practices and knowledge with institutions and seed companies in Vietnam.
For more details regarding the study tour agenda, registration fee and other details, please visit https://web.apsaseed.org/events/apsa-vietnam-rice-corn-study-tour
2024 Asian Seed Congress
The 2024 Asian Seed Congress will be held at the Mangrove Tree Resort Convention Center in Sanya, Hainan, China from the 2nd to the 6th of December 2024, and is co-hosted by the China National Seed Trade Association (CNSTA) with support from Sanya City Government and Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City (YZBTSC).
We are happy to announce that we have already surpassed 1,000 registered delegates. We currently have a total of 1,073 delegates, consisting of 391 voting reps, 682 delegates and 21 accompanying persons. For those who have yet to register, please do so immediately as Normal Registration Period will end in 2 months, on 30 SSeptember.
Also available at this year’s congress will be 204 trading tables (SOLD OUT), 16 semi-private meeting rooms (SOLD OUT), 4 private meeting rooms (SOLD OUT) and 62 regular exhibition booths (2 regular booths remaining) and 16 super booths (2 super booths remaining).
We highly recommend all APSA Members to register early since acquiring a visa to enter China may take some time. And if you are planning on bringing in any seeds to China to showcase during the congress, please make sure to fill out all necessary documents for Import & Quarantine.
For more information on congress agenda, official floor plan, China Visa & Import Policy, how to register and other congress related details, please visit the official event page at https://web.apsaseed.org/asc2024
Mike Kingapayom
APSA Event Manager
APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium
A special project entitled “Rapid Access to Successful Tomato Hybrids” is newly launched under the 2024 APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium. Interested companies can get seeds of selected hybrids of their choice for testing at their locations and obtain information and seeds of the parental lines of the selected hybrids. Registration will be closed by the end of August. For more details, please click the link HERE.
A new training “Molecular Breeding - from trait mapping to marker-assisted selection” was recently launched by World Vegetable Center, to provide hands-on experience for seed company staff in plant genotyping, QTL mapping, and marker development for marker-assisted selection. The training is open to the public, and the consortium members can enjoy a 100$ discount. For more details, pls click the link HERE.
Another project entitled “Advanced multi-disease resistant tomato lines as a key element for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to control whitefly and tomato leaf miner” will be re-launched soon under the 2024 APSA-WorldVeg Vegetable Breeding Consortium, please stay tuned for more information.
If you have any problem or need help from APSA Secretariat, pls contact APSA Technical Program Manager Ms. Xiaofeng Li at xiaofeng@apsaseed.org
Ms. Xiaofeng Li
APSA Partnership Program Manager
Standing Committees and Special Interest Groups
The APSA Secretariat successfully organized the 2024 Mekong-U.S. Partnership Regional Workshop on Seed Sector Development for Ensuring Food Security from the 15th to the 19th of July 2024 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The workshop saw the participation of 107 attendees, both in person and online, including representatives from the public and private sectors of our participating Mekong countries (Viet Nam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos), as well as observers from Bangladesh, Myanmar, and the Philippines.
The workshop, held in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service Office of Global Programs (FAS/GP), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Department of Crop Production (CPD) - Vietnam, and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), focused on enhancing food security through seed sector development. Key topics included Plant Variety Protection (PVP), intellectual property rights, plant breeding innovation, and seed movement.
Onsite attendees included government officials from the Lower Mekong Countries and representatives from the private sector, while online participation welcomed relevant government officials, APSA Committee members including chairs and co-chairs, seed associations, partner organizations, and universities. Simultaneous interpretation was available in English, Khmer, Lao, Thai, and Vietnamese.
This event highlighted the collaboration of the three APSA Standing Committees: SC IPR & Biodiversity, SC Plant Breeding Innovations, and SC International Trade & Quarantines. Several committee members served as speakers, including Mr. Fabrice Mattei (Chair of APSA SC IPR & Biodiversity), Mr. Michael Leader (Chair of SC PBI), and Dr. Ha Thuy Nguyen (WIC Co-Chair and SC ITQ member). We trust that this public-private partnership will facilitate the global trading of quality seeds and contribute significantly to food security.
Let us move to an update from Standing Committee on Seed Technology:
The 2024 APSA Seed Technology Webinar Session 2 on seed health testing was successfully conducted on July 11th, attracting the highest number of participants among the APSA webinar series. The webinar featured two prominent speakers who provided exclusive information on seed health testing. Mr. Ruud Barnhoorn discussed essential seed health testing techniques for detecting seed-borne pathogens in vegetable and field crops, while Dr. M Krishna Reddy presented on Asian seed-borne pathogens, disinfection, and seed treatment in managing vegetable crop diseases.
Next is an update from SIG Field Crops:
Join the 2024 APSA Hybrid Rice and Corn Study Tour in Vietnam!
APSA Special Interest Group for Field Crops, in collaboration with IRRI Vietnam, is excited to announce the 2024 APSA Hybrid Rice and Corn Study Tour from September 29 to October 5, 2024. This tour promises an immersive and educational experience for all participants, featuring live field demonstrations, visits to research institutes, and interactions with industry leaders in Vietnam's vibrant agricultural sector.
Participants will begin their journey in Ho Chi Minh City and travel to Can Tho, where they will witness mechanized direct seeding and harvesting technologies in action. Visits to the Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute (CLRRI) and various rice processing facilities will provide deep insights into Vietnam's advancements in rice production and post-harvest handling.
The tour continues with a visit to Syngenta Vietnam's corn fields and key dealers in Dong Nai, followed by a flight to Hanoi. In the northern part of Vietnam, attendees will meet with Thai Binh Seed Group, explore hybrid rice fields in Nam Dinh, and enjoy the scenic Trang An Eco Agri Tourism Site in Ninh Binh, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
On the final days, participants will visit the Maize Research Institute and the IRRI Office in Hanoi. The tour offers a unique opportunity to learn about the latest innovations in rice and corn production, network with industry experts, and experience Vietnam's rich agricultural heritage.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and connect with fellow professionals in the field. Register now to secure your spot on the 2024 APSA Hybrid Rice and Corn Study Tour in Vietnam via this link!
Moving to the Special Interest Group on Vegetables and Ornamentals and the Working Group of Integrated Vegetable Seed Companies or WIC did not have a committee meeting this month. However, they still keep each other updated on the sub-group activities to finalize speakers for ASC Technical sessions and prepare for WIC December meeting. Stay tuned.
The R&D Advisory Group
The R&D AG group are busy with the preparation of APSA Asian Solanaceous Cucurbit Roundtable “Harnessing New Breeding Technologies for Climate Change-Resilient Vegetables” to be held on September 24 – 26, 2024 at Chia Tai Headquarter, Bangkok, Thailand. The organizing committee has organized a meeting every 2 weeks to update each other to ensure the agenda is attractive with speakers. Register now!
The Disease Resistance Terminology Working Group or DRT,
The bitter gourd powdery mildew subgroup had a meeting with members to discuss if the number of current bitter gourds seeds are enough to send to international and local members after going through the phytosanitary test. In the meantime, the watermelon fusarium wilt subgroup also had a meeting to update each member on the number of watermelon seeds, mailing address and import license to start sending seeds to members.
The Standing Committee on Plant Breeding Innovation, with the support of the International Seed Federation (ISF), is going to hold a webinar on Plant Breeding Innovation (PBI) with the purpose to give all APSA members and members of Seed Associations in the region an update on the global regulatory framework on plant breeding Innovations. The webinar will be held on Aug 13, 2-3pm BKK time. We warmly welcome all the members to the webinar.
This is all for now for the short SC/SIG updates. Thank you very much and stay tuned for more updates next month.
Kunaporn Phuntunil
APSA Technical Coordination Manager
AustraliaRoyalty Disputes Threaten Investment in Plant Breeding Innovation: Jul 10: A growing dispute over royalty payments in Australia's plant breeding industry is raising concerns among breeders and seed companies. The Australian Seed Federation reports that many farmers are not . . .
La Niña Impact Australia's Winter Crop Outlook: Jun 3: Rabobank reports a projected increase in Australia's winter crop planting for the 2024/25 season, driven by positive conditions in New South Wales and Queensland, despite a dry start in Western Australia and other regions. . . .
More from Australia seed industry news
BangladeshFarmers' Congress Calls for Agricultural Reforms: Jul 15: The Rural Economic and Social Welfare Organization (RESWO) and The Asia Foundation held a Farmers' Congress in Chuadanga, Bangladesh, highlighting the achievements of the . . .
Drought Risks and Need for Sustainable Agriculture Highlighted: June 10: At a seminar on 'Sustainable Agricultural Practices for Drought Resilience' in Dhaka on June 9, 2024, experts warned of the critical situation in Bangladesh due to declining groundwater levels, increasing land pollution, and the loss of rivers, leading to widespread drought risk. . . .
More from Bangladesh seed industry news
China
Largest Grain Output Increase in Nine Years Reported: July 24: China reported its largest grain output increase in nine years, driven by a bumper wheat harvest, with 23 million hectares harvested this summer, an increase of 475,000 hectares from last year. . . .
Extreme Weather Causes Drought and Devastating Floods: July 22: Farmers in Henan province faced extreme weather swings from drought to floods, leading to significant agricultural and economic losses. In recent weeks, severe rain inundated croplands and displaced over 100,000 people, highlighting the challenges of climate change. . .
Wheat Harvested from the Desert: June 18: China has successfully harvested wheat from a 400-hectare plot in the Taklimakan Desert, transforming arid land in Makit County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, into fertile agricultural land. . . .
More from China seed industry news
IndiaDecline in Maize Cultivation in Punjab Raises Concerns: July 20: Over the past 50 years, maize cultivation in Punjab has declined by 82%, dropping from 577,000 hectares in 1975-76 to just 103,624 hectares as of July 17, 2024. . . .
Summer Crop Planting Surges Amid Strong July Monsoon: July 16: Indian farmers have significantly increased the planting of summer-sown crops such as paddy, soybean, cotton, and corn, following above-average rainfall in July after a deficit in June. . .
Rabi Crop Pricing Policy at CACP Meeting: The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) held a meeting to discuss the Price Policy for the 2025-26 Rabi crops marketing season. Dr. M Prabhakar Rao, President of National Seed Association of India (NSAI), along with other representatives, attended this meeting . . .
Strengthening India's Seed Industry’s Self-Reliance: A meeting was held on June 25, 2024, with Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, to discuss proposals for strengthening the Indian Seed Industry as part of the "Atmanirbhar Krishi" initiative. Dr. M. Prabhakar Rao, President of the National Seed Association of India (NSAI), presented key suggestions, including . . .
National Round Table on Seeds: The National Round Table on Seeds, organized by the Indian Council of Food and Agriculture, gathered CEOs and senior officers from various seed organizations. . .
New Herbicide-Tolerant Basmati Varieties: The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has introduced two new Basmati rice varieties, Pusa Basmati 1979 and Pusa Basmati 1985, which are tolerant to Imazethapyr 10% SL herbicide, specifically for Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) cultivation. . . .
Haryana Farmers Shift Away from Cotton Due to Challenges: In Haryana's cotton belt, farmers are reducing cotton cultivation from 1.6 million acres to 1.1 million acres due to pest infestations, poor weather, and low market prices. . . .
Boosting Basmati Rice Exports Through Organic Cultivation: Experts, including Dr. SS Walia from Punjab Agricultural University, recommend organic cultivation of Basmati rice in Punjab. . .
HIgh Yield Rice Variety Gains Popularity: The PR 126 rice variety, developed by Punjab Agricultural University, is favored by farmers in water-scarce regions for its 25% lower water consumption compared to varieties like PUSA 44. . . .
More from India seed industry news
Japan Rice Prices Surge in Japan Amid Heat Damage and Tourism Boom: June 26: Rice prices in Japan have risen sharply, with the average cost per 5 kilograms reaching 1,978 yen (US$12) in early June, the highest in two years. . .
More from Japan seed industry news
MalaysiaVegetable Farmers Struggle Amid Diesel Subsidy Cuts: July 23: The removal of blanket diesel subsidies in Malaysia has led to a 50% increase in fuel prices, causing significant challenges for vegetable farmers who rely heavily on machinery. . . .
Urban Farming Initiatives in Malaysia Aim to Enhance Food Security: June 17: In response to recent global supply chain disruptions, Malaysia is promoting urban farming to strengthen food security and develop new agricultural entrepreneurs. . .
More from Malaysia seed industry news
PakistanSeed Industry Has Key Role in Development: July 25: Speaking at a workshop on "Advancement of Cotton Varieties through Hybridization Techniques," Dr. Fateh Marri, Vice Chancellor of Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), emphasized that developing Pakistan's seed industry could significantly impact the nation's economy. . .
MoU Signed for Climate-Resilient Agriculture: July 13: The All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters, Importers & Merchants Association (PFVA) and the Climate Vulnerable Forum-V20 Group of Finance Ministers (CVF-V20) have signed an MoU to . . .
Experts Warn Urbanization Threatens Food Security: July 9: Urbanization in Pakistan is rapidly depleting rural areas and converting fertile agricultural land into urban developments, according to a senior scientific officer at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC). . . .
TV Channel Planned to Aid Farmers in Climate Adaptation: July 7: Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, announced plans to launch Kisan TV, a dedicated channel aimed at helping Pakistani farmers tackle climate change impacts. . . .
More from Pakistan seed industry news
PhilippinesTechnology to Help Boost Food Security: July 24: The Department of Agriculture is holding a roadshow to showcase farm technologies for the rice value chain. The event aims to raise awareness about mechanization's role in food sufficiency, security, and affordability. . .
Cash Assistance to Rice Farmers by September: June 27: The Department of Agriculture (DA) will distribute around USD 200 million in cash assistance to rice farmers by September 2024, which is part of the excess tariffs collected from rice imports last year. . .
Continued Support for Farmers Amid Rice Tariff Cuts: June 6: Farmers will continue to receive subsidies through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) despite anticipated declines in revenue due to reduced tariffs on imported rice. . . .
More from Philippines seed industry news
Sri LankaSuccessful Pomegranate Harvest in Batticaloa: June 13: Sri Lanka's first pomegranate harvest from a pilot project in Chenkaladi, Batticaloa, has been successful, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries.
More from Sri Lanka seed industry news
ThailandField-Burning Farmers to No Longer Receive Subsidies: July 27: The Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is set to deny subsidies to farmers who burn their fields, a common practice that contributes significantly to PM2.5 air pollution. . .
Delays Expected in Fertiliser Subsidy Programme: July 16: The Thai government’s 30-billion-baht programme, aimed at subsidizing fertiliser costs for 4.68 million rice farmers, has raised questions over its transparency and practicality. . . .
Genome Editing Regulation Approved: July 15: In a landmark move, Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has introduced new regulations for the certification of genome-edited organisms in agriculture. . . .
More from Thailand seed industry news
VietnamFlooding Damages Rice Crops in Mekong Delta: July 26: Heavy rains in Vietnam's Mekong Delta have damaged significant portions of the rice crop, with around 7,000 hectares affected. . . .
Quality Rice Varieties Drive Rice Industry Growth: July 16: The Vietnamese rice industry has experienced significant growth due to high-quality seed varieties. . . .
Connecting Science and Business in Vietnam's Agriculture: July 11: At a conference in Hanoi organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), officials emphasized the need for better collaboration between scientists and businesses in Vietnam's agriculture sector. . . .
Rice By-Products and Circular Agriculture Potential: July 8: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) emphasizes the need for circular agricultural practices to maximize these by-products' value, reduce waste, and lower carbon emissions. . . .
Japanese Rice Expert Pilots Cultivation Project in Northern Vietnam: July 2: Sosuke Hanyu, a Japanese rice expert from a lineage with 38 generations in rice farming, is leading a project in northern Vietnam to cultivate Japanese rice varieties. Initially starting with two hectares in 2023, the project has expanded to 150 hectares. . . .
More from Vietnam seed industry news
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As part of APSA’s sustained digitalization and digitization efforts, in 2023 we’re offering active members even more ways to directly reach Asia-Pacific seed industry decision makers -- 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.
We are pleased to announce our 2023 Digital Media Sponsorship Rates and Media Kit:
Don’t hesitate, INQUIRE NOW!
Email: (komsak@apsaseed.org) or Mike (mike@apsaseed.org)
Asian Seed magazine Vol. 30 No.2 (Quarter 2, April - June 2024)
In this second issue of Volume 30 of Asian Seed & Planting Material, we bring you the latest news and updates from the Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA), as well as the greater APAC and global seed sectors. The issue opens with an address from APSA President Dr. Manish Patel, who reflects on various APSA initiatives over the past quarter and shares his experiences at the ISF World Seed Congress.
APSA Executive Director Francine Sayoc summarizes the association's most timely priorities after returning from Sanya, China, where the executive committee recently met to review progress and preparations for this year’s Asian Seed Congress in December. This issue also includes a wrap-up of the recent APSA-WorldVeg vegetable breeding annual workshop, and summaries from three important meetings that took place in Bangkok in April: the annual midterm meeting of the Working Group for Integrated Vegetable Seed Companies (WIC); the second annual in-person APAC Seed Associations meeting; and APSA's inaugural Regional Workshop on Genetic Resources, Plant Variety Protection, and Biodiversity.
Moreover, we bring you the latest from APSA Technical Affairs and committee activities, along with an exclusive feature on Sanya, China's transformation from a tourist haven to a significant global agricultural hub. Finally, we present a seed trade report with an analysis of import and export receipts for HS 1209 last year, covering all countries and territories in the Asia and Oceanic regions. The magazine concludes with four special tributes in celebration of APSA's 30th Anniversary.
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