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| 25th Asian Seed Congress Gathers World’s Seed Experts |
Considered as the biggest gathering of seed industry players in the world, this year’s ASC anchors on the theme “Seed the Future” with an aim to recognize the essential role of seeds as the main source of food, clothes, and fuel, among many other things.
The said conference is organized in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Seed Association (APSA) and the Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA). With more than 600 members from 50 countries, APSA is the biggest regional seed trade association.
According to PSIA President Mary Ann Sayoc, the Asian Seed Congress is an event that the seed industry look forward to every year as it is the perfect avenue to learn new seed technologies and know more about new ways and opportunities to help farmers grow their businesses.
“The Philippines is proud to once again host this year’s Asian Seed Congress, especially as it celebrates its 25th year. We are also excited on the business that will be generated in the trading tables knowing that our regional seed industry is the strongest around the world,” Sayoc shared.
Adding to this, APSA Secretariat Acting Director May Chodchoey said that “the Asian Seed Congress facilitates a prime opportunity for stakeholders to get together in one place where delegates can network, grow their business and get updates on the latest industry developments and technologies, to gain an edge in the most populous and lucrative region in the world.”
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food Senator Cynthia Villar addressed that while the Philippines is regarded as one of the emerging countries, there is still a significant need to explore growth in the seed and agriculture sector and to ensure that the right regulatory framework is being implemented.
Villar leads the filing of Senate Bill 322 which seeks to set up a continuing national program for hybrid and other quality seeds production which hopes to complement the two-decade-old SEED Industry Development Act (SIDA).