For more than 32 years, Michel Devarrewaere has dedicated his working life to improving seed quality in Asia through a combination of persistence, innovation and dedication. Michel has overseen numerous projects putting innovation and technology at the forefront for the betterment of farmers and consumers in Asia. He is recognized for his active role in introducing innovation and technology in Asia, including seed coating, which is now ubiquitous in the region, and has enabled farmers in Southeast Asia to greatly reduce pesticide usage at the early stage of the growing cycle. Michel also oversaw the development of seed priming protocols that both enhanced and sped up the germination process on certain Asian crops. This was in addition to his role in pioneering Quality Assurance measures that were developed and implemented in-house, for example using DNA techniques to check the genetic purity of the seed. He also introduced vigor and seed health testing. He has placed great importance on East-West Seed’s laboratories being run at international standards and seeing through the adoption of ERP software for East-West Seed companies. By acting as a first mover and a pioneer in these areas, Michel set the bar high for other local companies to follow suit, in turn raising the quality of the seed industry overall.
