b'COVID-19 Opened Doors to See Problems in the Asia Pacific RegionDr. May Chodchoey, executive director of the Asia & Pacific Seed Association (APSA), says that while COVID-19 had some major negative impacts in Asia, its uncovered some improvements that could be made in the seed industry. Seed World (SW): What majorwe hope that they maintain this policy challenges are facing the Asian seedgoing forward. National and international sector at the moment? seed production as well as international May Chodchoey (MC): I would sayseed movements are crucial to achievingthe major challenges include a lack ofself-resilience and sustainable agriculture awareness on the importance of high- and food systems. Thus, we advocate quality seed production, intellectualand work with governments to align property rights protection, agriculturalnational policies with the international innovations and international seedframework for seed production and movements across countries and regions.trade. Cooperation on these matters Besides this, we need to ensure good andwill surely contribute to self-resilience safe trade so farmers have access to high- or sustainability in agriculture and thus quality seeds in a timely manner ahead ofensure nutritious food for the world. their planting schedules. SW: What is APSA doing to mitigate SW: How is the Asian seed sectorsome of these hurdles?doing under the pandemic? MC: We have already started working MC: APSA conducted a series of surveyson initiatives for plant variety starting last year amongst our membersprotection (PVP) and safe trade. We and stakeholders in the seed sector.understand more on the topics we We started to monitor the impact ofneed to collaborate more on with our COVID-19 in April and May 2020 whenstakeholders, such as UPOV, ISF and most countries started to impose travelOECD Seed Scheme and also look for a restrictions. We collected data frompossibility to link with our regional and 132 companies, which were mostlynational stakeholders. SMEs. We found that more than 60% ofWeve asked each stakeholder what respondents reported a reduction in seedreported to have had strongly negativekind of resources we can pull together demand, as well as in their capacity toeffects, had started recovering signifi- and what kind of knowledge that we can conduct research and development. Thecantly. Nonetheless, there is still room fortransfer to our members. Beside webi-aspect that was most negatively affectedimprovementespecially in internationalnars, were also continuing to consult on was international seed shipments, whichseed movements.how to harmonize the phytosanitary mea-was due to high freight costs, delayssures with NPPOs in the region. We get in the lead time for getting customsSW: How can national and regionalvery good support from our stakehold-clearance and acquiring import permits.policymakers help overcome theseers, like ISF, with whom we will continue We recently conducted a follow- hurdles? to work together more closely so as to up survey, this time amongst a focusMC: Since the start of the pandemic,understand more about what would it will group of 34 APSA company members.governments have recognizedtake to implement ISPM 38 throughout We found that most aspects previouslyagricultural products as essential. So,our region.SW66/ SEEDWORLD.COMINTERNATIONAL EDITION 2022'