b'CONTENT FROM APSAAsia-Pacifics premier seed business meeting returns to Bangkok APSA and THASTA ink agreement to organize the 2022 Asian Seed Congress, welcome home the international seed sector Bangkok, Thailand: The Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA) and the Thai Seed Trade Association (THASTA) are partnering to organize the 2022 Asian Seed Congress (ASC), which is Asia-Pacific regions premier seed trade and business networking event. On January 20, the presidents of the two associationsDr. Boonyanat Nathwong of THASTA and Mr. Wichai Laocharoenpornkul of APSAsigned a National Organizing Committee agreement as an initial step in preparation for the grand affair. Also, in attendance was special invited guests Dr. Sombat Tongtao - Deputy Director General, Department of Agriculture (DOA) Thailand and Ms. Viraporn MongkolchaisitExecutive Vice President, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Executive Director, Agricultural Technology and Innovation Management Institute (AIMI). Planned for 1418 November 2022, this will be the first in-person ASC since the 26 thedition was organized by APSA and the National Seed Association of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in November 2019. The for-members and by-invitation-only event will feature business meetings, entertainment, a trade exhibition, technical sessions and APSAs Annual General Meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday the 17 thof November 2022. The location of the Congress rotates among APSA member countries yearly in cooperation with a National Organizing Committee (NOC) of the designated host country. This will be the seventh Congress hosted in Thailand. In addition to the inaugural Congress held in Chiang Mai in 1994, the premier seed industry event has also been organized in Bangkok four timesin 1999, 2003, 2009 and 2017and once in Pattaya, in 2011. We are currently implementing our THASTA 5-Year Strategic Plan to The ASC has also been organized in Manila, the Philippines (three times);facilitate effective seed movements and trading while promoting training Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (twice) and once each in Brisbane, Australia;and knowledge-sharing at local, regional, and global levels. Aside from Shanghai, Macau and Kaohsiung in China; Goa, New Delhi, Bangalore andgiving you more details about this, we also want to update you on several Hyderabad in India; Chiba and Kobe in Japan; Jakarta and Bali in Indonesia;significant seed industry developments happening in Thailand despite Seoul and Incheon in South Korea and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. See fullthese most trying times.list of past ASCs here. Thailand is one of the leading exporters of sowingWe hope to see you all again in Asian Seed Congress 2022 as we continue seeds in the region. In 2014, the Department of Agriculture, Nationalto make the global seed industry a major driving force that has seen us Science and Technology Development Agency, and formed a collaborationeven through the worst of the pandemic. to set up and implement the Seed Hub Policy. This aims to strengthen Thailand as a hub for breeding, seed production, and seed business inAdded APSA President Wichai Laocharoenpornkul: As an Executive the region. During the implementation of this Policy, Thailand was able toCommittee member of both APSA and THASTA, I have much confidence achieve a total export value of 236 million US dollars of corn and vegetablethat this coming Congress will be all that we have been missing and more. seeds in 2019.The relationship between our two associations goes back decades, and The following year, with severe drought in agriculture and even with theeach of our foundations are interlinked. Several THASTA EC members and impact of COVID19 to the whole value chain of seed industry, Thailand wasadvisors are also active APSA members, and Past Presidents.still able to manage a slightly higher seed export value of 239 million USSuffice to say, the Executive Committees of APSA and THASTA have dollars, proving the strength and flexibility of the Thai seed industry even incombined experience and expertise totalling many centuries if not the face of various challenges. millennia, and we can only hope to apply our wealth of knowledge, contacts Noted THASTA President, Dr. Boonyanath Nathwong: Every time we hostand resources to meet and exceed all expectations, . . . and welcoming you the Asian Seed Congress, Thailand has always given that welcome homeall back to Southeast Asia for an in-person, face-to-face Congress.feeling to all our delegates as it is home to APSAs first Seed Congress. This will be our first physical Congress in post-Covid times, so we are As the global seed community comes towards completely overcoming thislooking forward to hosting a large crowd. Many things have to be worked covid-19 pandemic and reclaim the vibrancy of our industry, it is but fittingout and I am confident that many of the challenges that have kept us virtual to hold it again in Thailand after not being able to do so for two succeedingsince the start of 2020 will have been addressed by then. I am confident years now. in both of our Secretariats to make it happen, and I look forward to the process of putting everything together in the coming months.64/ SEEDWORLD.COMINTERNATIONAL EDITION 2022'