ASIAN SEED • 22 APSA Midterm Agenda Detailed discussion and action points on the following can be downloaded from the members section of APSA’s website (apsaseed.org): • Harmonizing industry terminology with respect to PBI and developing available training materials for Asian countries. • Identifying speakers and topics for the upcoming Pre- Congress Workshop (PCW) and technical program for the Asian Seed Congress in November 2018. • Programs for other upcoming APSA activities: Asian Cucurbit Round Table (ACRT) this July, and Fourth Expert Consultation on Phytosanitary Measures in Asia-Pacific in August, as well as a few planned Study Tours to China. • Sharing activities of the R&D Advisory Group including ASRT II and TOSPO Project I from 2017 and ongoing collaboration with key stakeholders in the academic sectors through ACRT I conference and TOSPO Project II proposal. • Intellectual Property/Plant Variety Protection Initiatives in Asia: Proposal to establish the Seed Innovation and Protection Initiative (SIPI) using Anti-Infringement Bureau (AIB) and (Seed Innovation and Protection Alliance (SIPA) as a model and Introduction of the Nagoya protocol and International Treaty (FAO) by SC IPR and Biodiversity. • Develop disease resistance terminology specific to crop and pathogens as a reference for DUS. A working group was nominated. • Devising a Code of Ethics for plant breeders, seed producers and sellers to curb practices conducive to infringement: a committee was named to begin the drafting process. • Promotion of the “Vegetable Seed Production Good Practice Guide” developed by APSA SIG V&O and ISF Working Group for Vegetable Seed Production. • Plant and Seed Health -- International Year of Seed Health 2020 introduction. • Systems approach initiative for phytosanitary certification procedures introduction. • Pest list databases harmonization by gathering lists from NPPOs for the Asian region (starting from key identified crops). • Announcing the FAO seed study survey concerned with international PVP treaties; WIC committee to nominate responders from each company. concluded last year, was to de- velop a disease screening proto- col involving inoculation of plants with tospoviruses, a destructive negative-RNA virus that still evades eradication nearly a cen- tury after discovery and infects no fewer than 800 plant species. Nonetheless, thanks to the latest screening methods and the dedication of keen pathologists and breeders, it is only a matter of time before genotypes with promising tospovirus resistance are confirmed – and APSA is alert to progress in the field: “This initial phase of the TO- SPO project between APSA and BIOTEC was completed in the given time frame and the result- ing screening method specific to TNRV and CaCV (two target tospoviruses) was transferred to participating companies,” Dr. Chodchoey announced. Listening to further recommen- dations from key stakeholders, APSA’s R&D Committee will shift immediate research focus to cu- curbits, another key economic crop family encompassing cucumber, watermelon, melon, bitter gourd and pumpkin. “We are excited to hold our first Asian Cucurbits Round Ta- ble,” said Dr. Chodchoey, “which will be held in Bangkok and Nak- hon Pathom from 19 – 21 July. It is modelled on a similar platform as the ASRT and any researchers who have a stake in cucurbits, are encouraged to get involved.” Dr Chodchoey noted that collaboration between APSA and BIOTEC is set to proceed with a second phase of tospo- virus screening research: “TO- SPO Phase II will focus on viral disease resistance screening specific to India, with an ob- jective of identifying promising germplasms that demonstrate resistance to TNRV and CaCV in tomato,” she explained. All APSA members can find the current activities and meeting summaries on APSA’s website (apsaseed.org) – so stay tuned and participate.