The Asian and pactific Seed Association Congress 2010 ended on November 12 with a closing dinner party at Kaohsiung Arena after four days of activities. Vice Minister Wang Cheng-teng of the Council of Agriculture (COA) congratulated some 1,000 representatives of seed industry, scholars and experts from 42 countries on making the congress a successful event and thanked the annual meeting for its contribution to the future development of international seed industry in response to global food crisis by promoting exchanges of technological information and business opportunities among participants. During the congress, the organizers also displayed some 500 species of major Taiwan vegetables and flowers at two demonstration nurseries, showing the strength of Taiwan seed industry which deeply impressed member countries of the Asia-Pacific Seed Association (APSA). Meanwhile, Director-general Junne-jih Chen of Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute was elected as a member of the APSA Executive Committee and he will take part in future APSA operations and decision-making process on behalf of Taiwan.

The COA said the APSA, which has 48 members, is a derivative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations established in 1994 and one of the most important private organizations for global seed trade. The Executive Committee is the APSA decision-making body and Mr. Chen Junne-jih was reelected as a committee member for another 3-year term because Taiwan has always actively participated in APSA activities. He will strive for the best interests of Taiwan seed industry in the future process of APSA decision-making so as to facilitate the local industry’s global deployment.

Sound Development of Seed Industry in Response to Impact of Global Climate Changes on Agriculture

Because climate changes in recent years have triggered a food security crisis, it is important to strengthen the research and development of such anti-stress species as drought-, heat-, cold-, pest- and disease-resistant to enhance food productivity. And the sound development of seed industry is a key to ensure food security. Therefore the organizers arranged a seminar on production and management of seeds with high quality during Asian Seed Congress 2010. In addition to discussing breeding, seed quality control, international trade, quarantine and intellectual property rights, participants also discussed the impact of climate changes on seed industry, and to create the driving force behind seed industry through cooperation between the public and private sectors, cultivate disease-resistant species with molecular breeding and other related subjects. All these will help APSA member countries deal with food crisis caused by global climate changes, said the COA.

Trade Negotiations and Global Seed Exhibition Provide a Bridge for Global Seed Trade

The Council pointed out that a total of 53 companies from 12 countries set up exhibition booths in the congress displaying their special products while the COA showed quality Taiwan seed and seedling R&D achievements at the Taiwan Hall. Moreover, 111 manufacturers from 23 countries held trade negotiations during the annual event and most of them came from India, Japan, China, Taiwan and Australia . Taiwan manufacturers also invited foreign buyers to visit seed production sites, which increased their willingness to purchase after gaining a better understanding of the quality of Taiwan seeds and seedlings.

Demonstration Nurseries and Post-Congress Visits Give Quality Taiwan Seeds and Seedlings More Exposure

Although previous sponsors of Asian Seed Congress made the arrangement for participants to visit a single seed company, the COA noted that Asian Seed Congress 2010 organizers set up two demonstration nurseries in Taiwan Seed Improvement and Propagation Station in Taichung and the Kaohsiung International Flower Co. displaying 408 species of vegetables and 21 species of flowers in cooperation with 13 local seed producers. While these arrangements completely demonstrated Taiwan’s quality seed development technology and species diversity, post-congress visits enabled international buyers to better understand excellent Taiwan deeds and seedlings produced with high technology and management and increased their willingness to purchase. And visits to AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center and Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, which made participants further understand Taiwan ’s dedication to promote international agricultural cooperation and its agricultural R&D strength, put a beautiful period to the 4-day Asian Seed Congress 2010.