b'Dr. Keshavulu Kunusoth LOOKING AT THE NEXT100 YEARS OF SEED TESTINGINTERVIEW WITH INCOMING ISTA PRESIDENT.BY: MARCEL BRUINSI n May 2022, the next congress of the International Seedand education across the globe and therefore making a valuable Testing Association (ISTA), will be taking place in Cairo,contribution to food security.Egypt. On the occasion of the congress, Dr. KeshavuluSo, I feel very proud to be a part of ISTA and looking forward Kunusoth will take over the role of ISTAs President, the firstfor a great journey ahead. President from the Asian continent. European Seed sat down with Keshavulu to find out more about his view on the role ofES: SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL, FROM PREVIOUS ISTA ISTA and where he sees ISTAs path in the next century of itsPRESIDENTS. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM YOUR existence. PREDECESSORS?KK:Yes, of course, it is a huge responsibility. I have been asso-EUROPEAN SEED (ES): KESHAVULU,ciated with ISTA since 2007, and worked in technical commit-CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING NOMINATED AS THEtees, working groups, a member of the Executive Committee and NEW ISTA PRESIDENT! HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT? Vice President. During this time, I have come across and inter-DR. KESHAVULU KUNUSOTH (KK):Thank you so much. It givesacted with several colleagues including predecessors, they are me immense pleasure to be on the ISTA Executive Committeerenowned seed scientists and great visionaries. Apart from the as President, and as the first President from the Asian area.knowledge about how ISTA works, I have learned many things Of course, it is also a great opportunity to learn, interact andof good governance, strategic planning, leadership skills, dedi-contribute to the global cause of achieving food security andcation to the work, and nature of hard work with a strong vision improved nutrition through sustainable agriculture. Increasingand a direction for uniformity in seed quality evaluation world-agricultural productivity and sustainable food production arewide. I think, I certainly can fill the expectations with these crucial to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Developmentlearnings and the experience that I have gained through my Goal 2: Zero hunger world. Timely availability and access todecade long association with ISTA. quality seeds plays an important role in augmenting agricul-tural productivity.ES: WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING DIFFERENTLY ISTA is recognised as a key organization for seed and foodCOMPARED TO PREVIOUS ISTA PRESIDENTS?security worldwide. As a part of its mission, ISTA is committedKK:As a President, it becomes very important to preserve and to developing, adopting and publishing standard procedures forcontinue the legacy of ISTA. I will put my sincere efforts to sampling and testing of seeds; promoting uniform applicationuphold ISTA as an authority in seed science and technology of these procedures for evaluation of seeds moving in domesticand continue the role of ISTA in the development of globally and international trade; and promotion of seed science researchadopted seed sampling and testing methods. I will continue to 16IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM'