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 Green line - jan/feb 2008
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Seed Processing
SEED News has received a beautiful catalog from Seed Processing Holland on machines used to process horticultural seeds. These are not easy to find machines due to its specificity. The company works with from individual equipments to turn key projects through out the world. More information: www.seedprocessing.nl
Seed treatment
Improving seed performance is a procedure that can be considered as normal for many crops like horticultural, hybrids and soybeans. Aware of this, ISF is planning a workshop on seed treatment to be held next May, after its annual congress. Information: www.worldseed.org
Investment
Seed companies are investing large amount of money to keep track with the innovations, accuracy and the speed that the research is conducted. The Don Mario Seed Company of Argentina is one good example where the directors have invested on top line equipment and on human resource. Who does not invest gets behind.
Recognition
The Union for Plant Protection (UPOV) in its last meeting of 2007 honored dr. Bernard Le Buanec with a Golden Medal for his outstanding work toward the use of more and better seeds. Procedures like this are things that we expect when someone does a great work, and this was certainly the case. Le Buanec has worked for more than 15 years, as the secretary general of ISF.
ASIA
The Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA) held its 14th Congress in Manila, Philippines, last November. There were over 700 participants from more than 40 countries not only from the region but also from all the other continents! This was the largest attendance at any APSA Congress, apart from that held in Shanghai in 2005. The trade exhibition attracted 37 exhibitors, mostly seed companies, associated service providers and national seed associations. Like the ISF Congress, APSA provides an efficient forum for seed trading, and with the emphasis on vegetable seeds which are of great importance in the Asian region.
Since its establishment in 1994 under a Danish-funded FAO project, APSA has been a remarkable success, now having 452 members in 43 countries. It has a secure financial base and an expanding programme of activities coordinated by the Secretariat in Bangkok. The 2008 Asian Seed Congress will take place in Hyderabad, which is becoming a major centre for the Indian Seed Industry. Further information about APSA is available from their website at www.apsaseed.org.
America
In the Americas there two regional organizations the Felas (Latin American Association of Seed Associations) and SAA (Seed Associations of the Americas). The first one is more related to seed science and technology and the second one related to the seed trade. They got together last December and agreed that each one will have its congress every two years, so it will not overlap with each other. It is important when people work with common sense.
Single soybean plant
In the state of Mato Grosso do Sul - Brazil an annual competition among soybean growers is held to determine who is able to come up with the plant bearing the maximum number of pods. This is no easy achievement since it requires several management practices that only an experienced soybean grower can devise. It is worth noting that an isolated soybean plant is able to produce some 10,000 (ten thousand) pods, being that for a standard population of about 300,000 plants per hectare the average is less than 100 pods per plant.
Seed certification
The seed certification under the OECD seed schemes is one of the tools that the seed trade has became used to it, due to its transparency, easy to follow and relatively low cost to implement. However, considering that even good things can be improved, the OECD seed schemes are under discussion to keep track with the new challenges. Dr. Michael Ryan will use his experience to coordinate this matter among the OECD members.
Africa
Brazil is working on a strategy to develop joint ventures in agribusiness with some African countries, through its agriculture research company, Embrapa. Several countries showed interest in participating in relation to the seed sector, as some of their representatives participated of the XV Brazilian Seed Congress and ISTA Congress, and became interested on the subject. Such is the case of Zambia, which through its representative Mary Chipili gave a warm reception to the Embrapa staff that visited the country.
Experience
The Union for Plant Protection (UPOV) has now as president of the commission dr. Carmen Giani from Argentina. She has a large experience on Intellectual Property Rights which in turns will help the organization to deal with the matter among the members spread through out the word. Argentina has a sound and large seed business that will, of course, be of reference to many situations. It is important to share experience with leaderships from different regions involving cultural aspects as well as the way to do things.
Participation
The Seed Association of the Americas (SAA) even young is beginning to be very active in order to keep track with what is going on the seed trade. Has formed four working groups and participated on important meeting from organization related to the seed trade like the ASTA meeting and UPOV where protection rights is the central issue. In business information and knowledge are essential.
Intellectual Property
An unique resource in intellectual property (IP) and innovation management has been launched: the Online version of the Handbook of Best Practices. This will allow to achieve the goals within the evolving IP framework. These new ways can help to better mobilize the resources to take a product through the process of innovation. These include creative licensing practices that ensure global access and affordability, improved institutional IP management capabilities, the formulation of comprehensive national IP policies, and the strengthening of IP court systems and patent offices. Please visit www.iphandbook.org
Tropical Seeds
The Unipasto (Brazilian tropical forage seed association) after six years in partnership with Embrapa, is releasing its first cultivar of Brachiaria for the tropics. There are millions of hectares to renew each year, and when with high quality seeds of improved cultivars the impact can be easily seen.
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