b"population, there is an urgent needand triticale.to have innovative breeding andBob Yang, BrettYoungs senior research in important crop plants,account manager for the China region, especially for securing food andsays while the intellectual property nutritional security. APSA recognizesframework in China needs bolstering, UPOV 91 as the best system of planta major key to the companys success variety protection and encourageshas been to cultivate strong relation-countries in the region to ratify andships with its Chinese partners.implement it. While we do encounter chal-There is a need to regulate thelenges with IP, its not as pronounced seed industry to prevent malprac- as you see with other products made tice. Laws and regulations shouldby other industries, he says. be framed in a way that encour- For us, we have a pretty good ages compliance. Overregulationunderstanding of the market andBob Yang serves as BrettYoung Seeds' senior may actually increase malpractice,our customers there. They workaccount manager for China.Chodchoey adds. A forum for regularwith our local dealers to protect consultation between all stakehold- our brand and our varieties. TheThe FAO Report: Key Findingsers in the public and private sectorslocal companies we deal with have is needed. There is an importantbecome defenders of our rights. AsThe report Status of Seed Legislation role for national seed associations toa Canadian company 10,000 milesand Policies in the Asia-Pacific Region engage the private sector in policy- away, we cant solve those problemswas recently released by the Food making. by ourselves. Lets say someoneand Agriculture Organization of the As the market is growing rapidlycopies our bagthe local dealersUnited Nations (FAO). Three key in Asia-Pacific region, the intellectualwe work with will help us report itfindings illustrate some important property rights protection system hasto the authorities so they can try andchallenges faced by the seed industry to be very strong to ensure a growthstop it. Having that connection goesin the region.of innovation for agriculture invest- a long way.ment in this region. Recently, APSAChodchoey knows firsthand how The structure of the seed industry took part in a project with the Foodharmful IP infringement can be. Inin Asia and the Pacific has changed and Agriculture Organization of theher previous role as a regional qual- rapidly in the past 30 years due to United Nations to provide up-to-dateity assurance lead for a leading mul- the acceleration of private sector information on the status of seedtinational seed company, she becamebreeding, particularly in hybrid crops legislation and policies in countrieswell-versed in how much a companyand vegetables. However, progress of the Asia-Pacific region and theirhas to invest in R&D to create onein regulatory reform has not been effects on the development of thecommercial variety. uniform, leading to a wide spectrum private and public seed sector. TheThe FAO study found that newof experiences across the region. study was done in 22 countries in thetechnologies can play a role in help-region involving both the private anding the seed industry to adapt to Where technology has run ahead public sectors.changing circumstances. For exam- of legislation this has created One key finding was that repu- ple, the use of codes can enableproblems for stakeholders. Variety table seed companies maintain highfarmers to check the authenticity oftesting systems that were established quality standards in order to protectseed packages from their phones,long ago for staple food crops are their brand image, and this reducesand also obtain more informationno longer appropriate. An example burden on the system. However, asabout varieties. Governments couldis stringent DUS and VCU testing more farmers buy high-value seed,enhance this by making the nationalrequirements for vegetables found in there is an increased risk of counter- variety list searchable online andsome countries. feiting and this requires serious atten- with links to additional information. tion because of the risk to companiesIt will take work, but APSA In contrast, the private seed sector and farmers.doesnt shy away from that. A cur- has made little progress in self-rent priority is strengthening ASPAspollinated food crops. For these Partnerships Crucial presence in Thailand and continuingcrops, variety development has Despite the challenges, progress isto build its membership accordingremained largely in the public sector being made. Manitobas BrettYoungAPSAs strategic plan. domain, unless a hybrid option Seeds has broken into the ChineseAll members have to feel valued.becomes available, notably in rice. market. Over the past 17 years it hasWe have to make them feel welcome, gone from doing virtually no businessfeel heard, and feel engagedthatSource: https://doi.org/10.4060/there to selling millions of poundsis the meaning of an association, andCA7599ENannually of forage, turf, reclamationits what we try to do better every species, and cereals like fall rye, oatsday. 48GERMINATION.CAJULY 2020"