More than 1,800 delegates join historic Asian Seed Congress in China Meet the board APSA EC thanks retirees, re-elects, and welcomes new members. Flagship phyto ISPM 21, 38, 45, Systems Approach and ePhyto tabled. Seed stats Corn, wheat, & rice planting prospects, as veg seed trade in APAC flourishes. VOL.31 NO.1 JAN-MAR 25 apsaseed.org Strength to strength All eyes shift to India after historic Congress in China
the largest regional seed association in the world 10 great reasons to become an APSA member Contact: komsak@apsaseed.org
Asian Seed & Planting Material Volume 31, January - March 2025 Official Publication ISSN 0859-1776 APSA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2025 Office Bearers President Mr Koh Teck Wah Vice President Mr Takahiro Ando Treasurer Dr Chua Kim Aik Immediate Past President Dr Manish Patel Executive Committee Members Dr Kwanghong Lee Dr MD Ali Afzal Mr Farhan Tahir Dr Frisco Malabanan Mr Rahul Pagar Ms Chia-Hui (Linda) Chang Mr John Mizicko Dr Sumitra Kantrong Mr Nicolas Perrin Ms Yingjie Jia Mr Nouman Ahmed Ms Chu Linfeng Eexcutive Director Ms Francine Sayoc Technical Advisor Dr Shivendra Bajaj Membership Coordination Manager Mr Komsak Kamjing Technical Program Manager Mrs Xiaofeng Li Event Manager Mr Mike Kingpayom Technical Coordination Manager Mrs Kunaporn Phuntunil Chief Accountant Ms Narima Setapanich Partnership and Compliance Manager Ms Weeranuch Mhadlhoo Communications Manager Mr Steven Layne ICT Officer Mr Visavesa Chuaysiri P.O. Box 1030, Kasetsart, Bangkok 10903, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 2-940-5464 Fax: +66 (0) 2-940-5467 Email: apsa@apsaseed.org www.apsaseed.org Asian Seed & Planting Material is published quarterly as the official publication of the Asia & Pacific Seed Association (APSA). APSA is a provident organisation dedicated to the promotion and improvement of the seed industry in Asia Pacific. 18 2024 Asian Seed Congress highlights The record-breaking event that was attended by more than 1,800 delegates sprouted great memories, and made APSA history. 32 Phyto flagship event grows from strength to strength APSA's 2025 Phytosanitary Expert Consultation tabled sustained dialogue and continued cooperation in a number of key areas to ensure the movement of quality seeds to, from and within the AsiaPacific region. Page 4 6 8 12 24 26 30 35 Contents President's Address Director's Desk Seed World Group international news APAC seed news and events Meet APSA's 2025 Board APSA Technical Affairs The women shaping seed in APAC Stats: field crops planting, veg seed trade Asian Seed has a pass-on readership of 3,500 worldwide. Eighty per cent of our subscribers reside in the Asia-Pacific region and include senior executives in seed enterprises, government agencies, universities and national seed associations. Subscriptions are available on the APSA website or from the Secretariat. Editorial contributions and advertising enquiries should be sent to the Secretariat or by email to apsa@apsaseed.org. APSA holds the right to accept or reject contributions. The contents of this magazine may only be reproduced with the written consent of APSA. ASIAN SEED − 3
RESIDENT’S MESSAGE Beckoning a bright future for APSA, & sector overall Mr. Koh Teck Wah APSA President Dear APSA Members and Seed Industry Colleagues, As we embark on an exciting new chapter in APSA’s illustrious history, I am both honored and humbled to address you as the newly elected President of the Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance. Having assumed this role at our momentous Asian Seed Congress 2024 in Sanya, China, I am filled with a profound sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for the journey that lies ahead of us. First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our immediate past President, Dr. Manish Patel. Under his astute leadership, APSA has not only navigated the complex challenges of recent years but has emerged stronger and more resilient than ever. Dr. Manish’s dedication, vision, and tireless efforts have laid a solid foundation for our future growth and success. His legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire us as we move forward. I would also like to welcome the newly elected and re-elected members of our Executive Committee: Ms Linfeng Chu (China Seed Association), Ms Yingjie Jia (Shanghai Wells Seed Co.), Mr Nouman Ahmed (Green Gold Agri Seeds Pakistan), Mr Lee Kwanghong (Korea Seed & Variety Service), and Mr Nicolas Perrin (SEMAE). I look forward to working with them and the rest of our Executive Committee members in the strategic governance of our Association. The Asian Seed Congress 2024 in Sanya was truly a landmark event in every sense. As we celebrated APSA’s 30th Anniversary, we not only reflected on our rich history and remarkable achievements but also 4 − ASIAN SEED set our sights firmly on the future. The energy, enthusiasm, and spirit of collaboration that permeated the Congress were palpable, reaffirming the vital role that APSA plays in our region’s seed industry. It was heartening to see the diverse representation from across the AsiaPacific region. A key highlight of the Congress was the launch of our new APSA Strategic Roadmap 2025 to 2027. This comprehensive plan, developed through extensive consultation with our members and stakeholders, outlines our vision and goals for the coming years. As we step into 2025, our focus shifts to the implementation of this ambitious Roadmap. The plan addresses critical areas such as: • • • • • Enhancing regional cooperation in seed policies and regulations; Promoting sustainable and climate-resilient seed technologies; Fostering innovation and research in plant breeding; Strengthening capacity building and knowledge sharing among members; and Advocating for intellectual property rights and quality seed systems Throughout the pages of this magazine, you will find the different ways in which we have already made significant strides in implementing our Roadmap. Our success in implementing this Roadmap will depend on the collective efforts of not only the Executive Committee and the APSA Secretariat, but also all APSA members. I call upon each of you to actively engage in our initiatives, share your expertise, and contribute to our shared goals. Together, we can turn this vision into reality and create lasting positive impact across our region. As we navigate the complexities of our rapidly evolving industry, APSA remains committed to being the leading voice of the seed industry in Asia and the Pacific. We will continue to work closely with national seed associations, government bodies, and international organizations to address challenges and seize opportunities for growth, by: • • • • advocating for harmonized seed regulations across the region to facilitate trade and innovation; promoting the adoption of new breeding technologies to develop climate-resilient crop varieties; expanding our capacity- building programs to support emerging seed companies and young professionals in the industry; strengthening our partnerships with research institutions to drive innovation in plant breeding and seed technology; and developing new digital tools to streamline seed quality assurance and certification processes. As we look to the future, it is crucial that we not only focus on our immediate goals but also ensure the long-term sustainability of our organization. With this in mind, I am pleased to announce that we have launched a dedicated task force to examine and enhance the Financial Sustainability of APSA. This Task
Aik Chua and is made up of a subset of the Executive Committee. This Task Force has been charged with the critical mission of developing strategies and recommendations to ensure that APSA remains financially sound and vibrant for the next 30 to 50 years and beyond. The work of this group will be fundamental in securing our ability to serve the seed industry and agricultural sector in the Asia-Pacific region for generations to come. • The Financial Sustainability Task Force will explore various avenues, including:- I want to emphasize that this initiative is not just about numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about securing APSA’s ability to continue its vital work in supporting the seed industry, promoting innovation, and contributing to food security in our region for decades to come. By strengthening our financial foundation, we ensure that APSA can remain a powerful advocate, collaborator, and catalyst for progress in the Asia-Pacific seed sector. • • • • • Diversifying revenue streams to reduce dependence on any single source of funding; Optimizing our operational efficiency and resource allocation; Exploring innovative funding models and partnerships; Developing long-term investment strategies for APSA’s reserves; Enhancing the value proposition of APSA membership to attract and retain members; and Identifying new services and initiatives that can generate sustainable income while serving our members’ needs The Task Force will work closely with the rest of the APSA Executive Committee and Secretariat and will regularly update the membership on their progress. We anticipate their initial findings and recommendations to be presented at our next Asian Seed Congress. In closing, I want to express my confidence in the bright future that lies ahead for APSA and our industry. The seed sector plays a crucial role in ensuring food security, promoting sustainable agriculture, and driving economic growth in our region. Together, we have the knowledge, resources, and determination to make a lasting positive impact. As we celebrate our past achievements and look to the future, let us remember that “the seeds we sow today will determine the harvest of tomorrow”. Our work has never been more important, and our potential for positive impact has never been greater. Together with the Executive Committee and the APSA Secretariat, I look forward to working with all of you as we write the next chapter in APSA’s story. Let us move forward with enthusiasm, unity, and a shared commitment to excellence in all that we do. Together, we can cultivate a future of prosperity, sustainability, and food security for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Thank you for your trust and support. Here’s to a productive, innovative, and successful year ahead! Gratitude: During the AGM, outgoing EC members and president were thanked for their service: from left, Yang Yasheng, Zhu Xiaobo, Dr. Manish Patel, Kwanghong Lee and Nicolas Perrin From left: Ahmed Nouman; Nicolas Perrin; Kwanghong Lee; Yingjie Jia and Linfeng Chu APSA’s new president Koh Teck Wah addressing APSA members at the close of the 2024 AGM. APSA’s incoming president Koh Teck Wah with outgoing president Dr. Manish Patel ASIAN SEED − 5
IRECTORʼS DESK Sustaining steam in the Secretariat Ms Francine Sayoc APSA Executive Director In the first three months of the year, APSA has been focused on translating vision into action. Last year, 2024, marked an important year with the launch of APSA’s Strategic Roadmap, outlining key priorities to strengthen our role as the leading seed industry platform in the Asia-Pacific. Now, in 2025, we are driving this vision forward. A primary focus this year is ensuring alignment between APSA’s policy and advocacy efforts, knowledge programs and business facilitation initiatives, and strengthening our operations through cross-functional projects led by the Secretariat, designed to deliver tangible outcomes for our members and stakeholders. Between January to March 2025, we have completed several initiatives. The first of our three regional flagship consultations, the Phytosanitary Expert Consultation, gathered representatives of national plant protection organizations (NPPOs) from 16 countries to advance practical regulations for seed movement. (page 31) The other two consultations on Plant Breeding Innovation and PVP and Biodiversity are being planned for Q2 and Q3. As part of our members and partners engagement, APSA was present in Horti-Agri Next Asia 2025, the Indian Seed Congress, and the China Seed Congress. We are constantly seeking ways to promote APSA’s benefits to current and potential members. A new brochure listing “10 great reasons to be an APSA member” is now available in English and Chinese, and soon in other languages too. We’ve also launched our calendar of webinars for the year, giving our members a whole suite of knowledge programs accessible online. Take advantage of these opportunities for your professional development. (page 38) These and many more activities support the implementation of Strategic Roadmap, which will serve as our compass for the next three years. We will measure our success not just by plans, but by impact. Whether through strengthened public-private partnerships, improved seed policies, or expanded capacity-building programs, APSA is committed to delivering value to our members. This requires collaboration and action—within the Secretariat, across our standing committees and special interest groups, and among our diverse partner network. Read through the activities of our SCs and SIGs, and the people driving these important actions. (page 26-30) Underpinning all of this is APSA’s enhanced effort to communicate: I hope you have noticed the active content push across our social media channels. If you are not following us yet, please do so – you wouldn’t want to miss the latest from APSA! Another exciting development: we have completed the renovation of the APSA Secretariat office in Bangkok. (page 7) This refreshed space reflects a modern and professional association, and one that empowers our team to collaborate and innovate. We welcome our members to visit and have a coffee with us if you are in Bangkok. I invite you all to stay engaged and help shape the future of the seed industry in the Asia-Pacific. On May 13, we had an Office Warming ceremony for our newly-rennovated Secretariat base in Bangkok, Thailand. We were honored to have our friends and partners from Thailand's Department of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, and the World Vegetable Center, among others, join us on this refreshing occassion. For all other friends planning your next Bangkok visit, please reach out. 6 − ASIAN SEED
| SEEDWORLD.COM Leading the Way in the Seed Industry’s Next Chapter It’s about being part of something bigger than ourselves. By Sarah Wilbanks, CEO, AOSCA FOR AS LONG AS I can remember, agriculture has inspired me. It is the basic foundation for all human survival and the backbone of all economies and cultures. For me, it’s never been just about seeds — it’s about feeding our communities. Each seed we plant represents hope: hope for a healthy meal on someone’s table, for resilient farms, and for a sustainable food system. That hope is what drew me to this industry and continues to fuel my passion for the work we do at the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA). It’s about being part of something bigger than ourselves, ensuring that agriculture continues to meet the needs of generations to come. It’s demanding work but deeply rewarding. Achieving These Goals Takes All of Us O, AOSCA. Sarah Wilbanks, CE IDA OS: PRIMUS VISUALS, ORLANDO, FLOR PHOT Leadership in the seed industry isn’t just about individual organizations or even personal careers. It’s about stepping forward to guide the entire sector. Now more than ever, we need leaders who are willing to take bold action to secure the future of global agriculture. Through my leadership in AOSCA, it is my goal to encompass the qualities that empower while also driving progress and achieving goals. To me, the agricultural way of life is the definition of integrity, and leading with empathy and resilience is key to protecting an everchanging industry. Which leads to the question: how can we effectively guide our teams toward long term goals? Lens of Opportunity We must start looking at the ‘challenges’ we are facing within our industry (such as consolidation, rapid technological advancements, increasing pressures around sustainability and food security, etc.) through a new lens — that of opportunity. By changing the perspective, we can analyze challenges and redefine business opportunities. I say this a lot, but we don’t have to do things the way they have always been done. Thinking creatively drives the innovation we need within our industry. I’ve seen this firsthand at AOSCA. For over 100 years, AOSCA has played an integral role in ensuring seed quality through certification, adapting to an ever-changing industry. While we have a legacy of 8 − ASIAN SEED
For over a century, the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) has been a driving force behind high-quality seeds and planting materials worldwide. Founded in 1919, AOSCA works with seed certifying agencies across North America, South America, and even as far as Australia and South Africa. Its goal? To make sure farmers have access to seeds that grown to the highest quality standards, are pure, reliable, and ready to perform in the field. At its core, AOSCA sets rigorous standards for seed quality — checking everything from genetic purity to germination rates to ensure seeds of high-quality varieties are available to meet the needs of growers. These benchmarks give farmers confidence that what they’re planting will yield strong, consistent crops without contaminants like weed seeds. AOSCA’s member- agencies certify over 4.3 million acres worldwide, but the traditional seed certification program is not the only program that is available for growers. AOSCA’s member agencies’ work goes beyond traditional seed certification. Its Quality Assurance (QA) programs offer a quality control system for seeds that don’t fall into the usual certification classes. Meanwhile, its Identity Preserved (IP) programs track seeds from navigating change, today’s challenges demand even more. The seed sector needs leaders with the vision to anticipate the industry’s needs five, 10, or 20 years into the future — and the resolve to build the systems and relationships that will help us get there. Strategic Partnerships None of us know everything about our industry. Oftentimes we become niche specific. Defining your own strengths and weaknesses will allow you to develop a team in which you can pool resources and expertise. This allows for collaboration on topics in which experts are at the table with diverse perspectives. The development of relationships built on trust, confidence, and integrity are the key to filling the seats you want to have at your table. Having diverse expertise minimizes the team’s risks as well as bridges the gaps in our industry. This is an imperative part in organizational work as it is part of all seed organizations’ missions to advance the sector as a whole. We have to work together to do this. Taking Initiative We all have the opportunity to sit around a board room and talk about the things we need to fix. But, how to enact change? How do we really do something about it? It comes down to the actions we take. Like the old adage says, “Actions speak louder than words.” As leaders, we have to help shape the conversations with strategic priorities in mind. Defining what needs to be done, the steps it takes to achieve it, and who is respon- planting all the way to shipping and processing, ensuring that the crop’s identity — whether it’s a specialty variety or grown for a unique purpose — stays intact. AOSCA also overseeds the National Variety Review Board (NVRB), which functions as a kind of gatekeeper for new seed varieties. Plant breeders submit their latest innovations — whether it’s a new drought-resistant wheat or a hardier hemp — and NVRB reviews applications to ensure the variety is unique, uniform and stable. These boards, made up of breeders, seed organizations, industry experts, and agencies like the USDA, help keep innovation in agriculture both trustworthy and transparent. Through all these efforts, AOSCA plays a critical role in supporting farmers, boosting crop production, and helping feed the world. By ensuring seed quality, it gives farmers confidence in what they plant — because as we in the seed value chain all know: when you start with good seed, you set the stage for a great harvest. From the field to the future, AOSCA remains committed to advancing agriculture through collaboration, innovation, and integrity. sible is imperative to facilitating growth. It’s all of our responsibility to put ourselves in roles, paid and unpaid, to fill the gaps as our industry desperately needs. For example, when we launched the AOSCA Academy, our vision went beyond simply training new directors; we wanted to prepare future leaders to tackle the unique challenges of this sector. By equipping leaders with tools, knowledge and resources they need, we’re strengthening not only AOSCA but the entire seed industry. We are doing something about the succession ‘challenge’ within our organization. A Call to Action Today’s seed industry needs leaders who are ready to step up and drive change, even when its challenging. This is my call to action: Lead boldly, think creatively, and work collaboratively. Whether you’re part of a certification agency, a breeding program, a seed company or an advocacy group, your voice matters. As we look to 2025 and beyond, let’s ask the hard questions. How can we better connect with growers, companies and policymakers? How can we position the seed sector as a solution to global challenges like food security and climate change? Together, we can cultivate relationships, foster innovation, and ensure that every grower — no matter their size — has access to the seeds they need to thrive. Let’s lead with purpose, plant seeds of change and grow a future that we can all be proud of. Are you ready? SW ASIAN SEED − 9
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