ASIAN SEED • 16 average rates were Vietnam ($73/kg); Japan ($60/ kg), Pakistan ($59/kg) and India ($52/kg) The 3,688 t of imported veg seed, which was worth $125.3mn, had an average price of $33,973/ tonne. Though these seeds came from 47 nations, 88% of the seeds came from just five countries: namely, New Zealand (1,324 t, 36%); China (903 t, 24.5%); Italy (426 t, 11.5%); USA (319 t, 9%) and Denmark (260 t, 7%). Korea’s top ten veg seed suppliers were China ($28.2 mn, 22.5% of total value); Japan ($18.9mn, 15%); New Zealand ($12mn, 9.6%), Thailand ($10.9mn, 8.7%), Italy ($10.5mn, 8.7%), Chile ($8.5mn, 7%), India ($6mn, 4.8%), Peru ($5mn, 4%), USA ($4.8mn, 3.8%) and Netherlands ($3.6mn, 2.9%). The remaining 37 countries that exported veg seed to Korea during the focus period accounted for 21.7% of the total import market. The pie graph highlights top importers of Korean vegetable seeds during a recent 20-month period, shown as a percentage of the total value of Korean veg seed exports, worth US$99.2 million. Position Company/Organization Name President Hyundai Seed Co., Ltd. Lee, Jong-Woo Vice President Korean Seed Association Kim, Sang-Geun Director Koregon Co., Ltd. Yang, Dong Hyun Director Nongwoo Bio Co., Ltd. Choi, You-Hyun Director Sakata Korea Co., Ltd. Byun, Sang Ji Director Samsung Seed Co., Ltd Lee, Sung Yong Director Farm Hannong Co., Ltd. Kim, Yong Hwan Director Asia Seed Co. Ltd. Ryu, Kyoung Ou Director NONGHYUP Seed Cho, Nam Shik Director Taewoo Seed Co., Ltd. Cho, Hang Jin Director Kwonnong Seed Co. Kwon, Oh Ha Director PPS Co., Ltd. Park, Sang Gyeon Director Biotong Yoon, Jun Choel Audit Good Seed Co., Ltd. An, Young Sik Audit Sun Seed Co., Ltd. Lee, Ju Sung Spinach Latent Virus among 28 pests, pathogens on revised Korean Non-Quarantine List Consignments of spinach seeds imported into South Korea will no longer be screened for Spinach Latent Virus (SpLV). The Korean Seed Association (KOSA) confirmed the news after the Plant and Animal Quarantine Agency, which is the National Plant Protection Office (NPPO) of South Korea, on 9 February published a revised list of 28 “Non-Quarantine Pests” to its website. According to KOSA, SpLV in spinach seeds had been on the NPPO’s radar in recent years; however, after consultation with KOSA and concerned companies, the list was reviewed last year with recent data and scientific evidence, prompting the NPPO to revise the list. Updates from the Korean Seed Industry 2018 Korea Seed Expo The 2nd Korea Seed Expo is set to be held from 23–26 October at the K-Seed Valley, a state-of-the-art seed and breeding R&D complex in Gimje-si Jeollabuk-do. Organized by the Foundation of Agri. Tech. Commercialization & Transfer (FACT) the event is sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Jeollabuk-do Province and Gimje City, and supported by a number of key seed industry organizations including the Korean Seed Association (KOSA) and the Korea Seed & Variety Service (KSVS). It will feature a number of exhibitions and demonstrations aimed at promoting the Korean seed industry development through international seed trade opportunities. Watch this space for more updates and details. New board elected at KOSA 2018 General Assembly At their annual meeting last January, the Korean Seed Association (KOSA) elected a new President, Vice President, 11 Directors and two Auditors, whose tenures are effective 2018–2019. Their positions, organizations and names are listed in the table to the right. Jong-Woo Lee Sang-Geun Kim