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Official Newsletter of the WANA Seed Network
No. 35, July 2008
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News, views, comments, and suggestions on varieties and seeds are included in this section. It is a forum for discussion among seed sector professionals.

Evolution of the Seed Industry in the Past Three Decades (This article is based on a presentation at the 2007 ISTA Congress (with few updates) and appeared in ISTA News Bulletin No 134 October 2007. It is reproduced here with permission)

During the last three decades, the seed industry and its regulatory environment have changed drastically. The paper will briefly present the evolution of plant breeding and seed regulations in general and the evolution of seed production, seed markets and seed companies in particular.

1. Evolution of plant breeding
Three main aspects are worth considering regarding the evolution of plant breeding

 1.1 Development of F1 hybrids
In the 1960s, with noticeable exception of maize, most varieties were conventional varieties such as pure lines, synthetics or populations (often called open pollinated varieties (OPs) in maize). Today there is a long list of commercialized hybrid crops such as sunflower, sorghum, oilseed rape, rye, rice, several vegetables and lately millets, pigeon pea, alfalfa and cocksfoot. In some countries, 'OPs' are named as varieties and not the hybrids, though hybrids are also varieties. The evolution from 'OP' to hybrids has had several impacts on seed industry in terms of production and financial turnover.

1.2 Genetic engineering
The first stable genetic transformations in plants were reported in 1983 and the first transgenic crops (GMOs) were commercialized in 1995. Since then the area planted to GMOs, mainly soybean, maize and oilseed rape, has steadily increased to reach 114.3 million ha, in 2007 (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Area planted to biotech crops, 1996-07

1.3 Molecular assisted selection
To speed up the development of new varieties, breeders have always looked for early selection markers i.e. phenotypic or biochemical, particularly for crops with long development cycle. In the mid-1980s, the development of DNA markers in plants has initiated marker assisted selection (MAS). It is used to track genes/traits of interest in the progeny of a cross. First used to track qualitative traits linked to single gene or few genes, MAS is now applicable for more complex traits using 'quantitative trait loci' (QTL). The development of MAS requires quite sophisticated and expensive laboratories without any impact on concentration of the seed industry.

2. Evolution of international regulations
Three main areas deserve specific consideration: intellectual property protection (IPR), regulation for certification and regulations in emerging new sectors.

2.1 Protection of intellectual property
The protection of plant breeders' rights, with exception of Plant Patent Acts of 1930 for vegetatively propagating plants (excluding tubers) in USA and attempts in some European countries, is quite new. The milestones in protection of intellectual property in plants are as follows:
•
 1961: Adoption of the UPOV Convention
•
 1980: US Supreme Court decision allowing the patentability of living organisms
•
 1991: Adoption of UPOV Convention granting extended rights to plant breeders and introducing the concept of 'essential derivation' to prevent 'plagiarism'
•
 1994: TRIPS Agreement of the World Trade Organization

In fact, in the early 1970s only very few countries were allowing the protection of plant varieties and of biological inventions. Today a possible protection exists in most of the countries with large seed markets even if enforcement of the rights is often still difficult (Figure 2). This protection of intellectual property has encouraged large investment in agricultural research and variety development particularly in the private sector.

2.2 Regulations for seed certification
Seed certification is a process to guarantee a certain level of seed quality such as varietal identity and purity, phytosanitary status, etc and, in some countries, based on compulsory standards. In the past, certification was the responsibility of government agencies or specialized accredited agencies. To date certification is characterized by sharing tasks between the public and private sectors through 'accreditation' of private entities or seed companies, for doing some regulatory tasks under the supervision of governments.
Figure 2. UPOV member countries, 1970-07

2.2.1 Varietal certification
Varietal identity and purity is a cornerstone of varietal certification scheme. The OECD Seed Schemes for varietal certification of seed moving in international trade regulates certification at an international level whereas the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) and EU at the regional levels. Whilst accreditation of seed companies was accepted in some European countries since the 1950s, this was not recognized at international level. In the mid-1990s, upon the request of the ISF, a derogating experiment was conducted within the OECD Seed Schemes to check the quality of results obtained by private seed companies in the certification process. The experiment started with field inspection (1995) and later on extended to seed sampling, testing and labelling (2000). After ten years of intense debate and given the results obtained by seed companies, is identical to those obtained by government agencies, the accreditation of seed companies for field inspection, seed sampling, testing and labelling was introduced to the OECD Schemes in 2005.

2.2.2 Phytosanitary certification
The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) regulates the phytosanitary certification of seed moving in international trade. This Convention allows accreditation of seed company employees for field inspection. The main change in the Convention that entered into force in December 2005 is the possibility to replace field inspection by laboratory checks. This opens a new era for globally accepting seed health testing methods. It is certainly a new field of activity where ISTA and ISF should be very active in collaboration with IPPC.

2.2.3 Seed quality certification
In most countries, official seed quality standards exist for certification. Commercial contracts between seed companies also often require a given level of physical and physiological quality. It was important to have at international level an agreed system of seed testing to avoid disputes. Today the most recognized document is the ISTA orange certificate which was established in the early 1930s at the request of ISF. Until recently, only governmental laboratories had the right to become ISTA member and to issue the orange certificate. In 1995, private laboratories were allowed to join ISTA but still without the authorization to issue orange certificates. Here again, as for OECD certification, after intense debate an experiment was put in place in 1999. Given the accuracy and quality of their results, the private ISTA member laboratories were allowed to issue orange certificates in 2005. The immediate impact is an increasing number of private laboratories becoming ISTA members (Table 1).
ISTA members
1997
2002
2007
Public laboratories
132
121
121
Private laboratories
13
32
47
Total
145
153
168
Table 1. Number of seed testing laboratories with membership of ISTA, 1997-07

2.3 Regulations for new sectors
2.3.1 Organic seed
According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the area under organic agriculture (i.e. field crops and vegetables) has increased steadily during the past 20 years, reaching about 20 million ha in 2006. This has had an impact on the seed industry. First seed treated with synthetic chemical compounds not allowed for organic agriculture. More recently, in most countries, organic farmers have, subject to some exceptions, to use seed produced organically ('organic seed'). This has an impact on international trade, as standards for organic agriculture differs among countries, leading to technical trade barriers. A next logical step, the compulsory use of 'organic varieties', will make even more difficult both the development of new varieties and the seed trade.

2.3.2 GM varieties
The development of GM varieties has been significant during the past 10 years. In 2000, this has led to the adoption of a new binding international instrument, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The protocol, now ratified by 141 countries, affects the seed industry mainly in two areas: (i) registration of new GM varieties regarding their possible impact on the environment, and (ii) transboundary movement of GM seeds.

The environmental safety assessment, besides the food and feed safety assessment is very cumbersome and costly. The main consequence is that today only large multinational companies can afford to market new transgenic traits, with a de facto exclusion of small and medium companies and public research institutions. The transboundary movement is subject to prior informed consent of the receiving party where handling, transport, packaging and identification are regulated.


3. Evolution of seed production
In the broadest sense, seed production includes all activities from planting basic seed to sale of certified seed to farmers. During the last 30 years some technical practices (e.g. isolation distances) have remained the same whereas some have followed the general evolution of mechanization and globalization but specific to the seed industry. Four areas deserve attention in the evolution of seed production: seed quality during production, seed testing, geographic specialization, and seed treatments.

3.1 Field seed production
It is not possible to give details on the complex issues of seed quality during field seed production.
•
 The process to maintain varietal identity and purity, as stated above, remained stable based on the OECD Seed Schemes at international level
•
 Progress in managing physical purity particularly control of other seeds and weeds through better use of herbicides and effective cropping systems
•
 A better understanding of mechanisms in determining germination potential, such as impact of weather on dormancy, maturity, water stress, seed position, and harvesting time to enhance seed producers knowledge
•
 Significant progresses made in diagnostic methods, epidemiology and pest management improving seed health. The emphasis mainly on fungi in the 1960s, were it is extended to bacteria, viruses and nematodes in the 1980s and 1990s.

3.2 Seed testing
A wide range of physiological tests has been perfected for routine germination and vigor tests. More recently, image analysis provide size classification of seed lots and determining the mechanics of germination. There are now sensitive tests to detect pathogens in seeds using immuno-fluorescence and PCR techniques.

3.3 Geographic specialization
International seed trade is not new and the International Seed Trade Federation was established in 1924. However, seed import/export was low compared to domestic markets and almost all countries, with few exceptions, was able to produce their own seeds. This has changed during the past three decades for several reasons:
•
 The development of cheap and fast transportation providing advantage for favorable climatic zones such as East African highlands and Idaho for beans and Central America for flowers
•
 A more recent regional specialization in production of hybrids because of specific conditions and needs for skilled labor and agro-climatic conditions. For example, the difference in flowering time between male and female maize hybrids require specific climatic conditions, and the production of hybrid vegetables requires skilled labor at reasonable price. Thus, hybrid maize production in Europe is mainly located in Austria, France and Hungary; and hybrid vegetables in south east Asia; and mono-germ sugar beet in France, Italy and USA (Oregon).
•
 Accelerating all breeding and commercial processes leading to the development of counter-season cropping in the southern hemisphere by companies of the northern hemisphere. For example, seed exports from Chile have increased from US$ 10 million in 1985, to $ 70 million in 1995 to $195 million in 2006.

The evolution is also illustrated by the development of international seed trade (Figure 3). In 1985, the international seed trade, represented about 7% of the total seed market and in 2006, it reached around 15%.

Figure 3. Evolution of international seed trade, 1975-05

3.4 Seed treatment
Seed treatment comprises different aspects:
•
 Physiological treatment or 'priming'
•
 Coating and pelleting
•
 Phytosanitary treatment
•
 Microbial inoculation

According to an ISF survey, to date almost 95% of all commercialized seed are treated. This evolution is well illustrated in lettuce (Figure 5).

In addition to the genetic, the seed is now a concentrate of technology, with a significant impact on seed price (Figure 4).

Table 2 illustrates the evolution of the global seed treatment sales.

Figure 4. Elements of seed prices (Source: Pierre Ferraton)

4. Seed markets and seed companies
4.1 Seed markets
The global seed market has almost tripled during the past three decades from US$ 12 billion in 1975 to US$ 34 billion in 2006 (Table 3). If we include non-commercial seed, the total value of seed used at global level may reach about US$ 50 billion. This increase is due to several factors:
•
 Development of hybrids
•
 Increase of seed treatment
•
 Development of transgenic varieties (Table 4)
•
 Development of new markets, in particular in developing countries.

Figure 5. Sophistication of seed treatment in lettuce (Source: Pierre Ferraton)

4.2 Seed companies
The key word illustrating the evolution of seed companies certainly is 'concentration'. That concentration started in the 1970s with the arrival of pharmaceutical and oil companies.

A new wave of acquisitions took place in the 1980s and the process is still continuing actively with new deals every month. This evolution may be illustrated by the turnover of major seed companies from 1985 to 2006. Today the top five companies represent 31.3% of the total seed market compared to 8% in 1985 (Tables 7, 8) and huge investment in research and development (Figure 6).
1997
2002
2007 (estimates*)
700
920
1550
Table 2. Evolution of global seed treatment sales (million US$), 1997-07

1975
1985
1996
2006
12
18
30
34
Table 3. Global seed markets (billion US$), 1975-06

1996
2000
2004
2006
2007
115
2703
4663
6150
6900
Table 4. GM seed markets (million US$), 1996-07

Country
Value
Country
Value
USA
7080
Italy
670
China
4000
Canada
550
France
1915
Russia
500
Japan
1500
Korea
400
Brazil
1500
Australia
400
India
1300
Mexico
350
Germany
1000
Taiwan
300
Argentina
850
Spain
300
Table 5. Domestic seed markets (million US$)

1968
Purchase of Asgrow by Upjohn
1970
Purchase of Nickerson by Shell
1974
Purchase of Funk by Ciba-Geigy
1974
Purchase of Rogers Brothers by Sandoz
1976
Purchase of Northrup King by Sandoz
1976
Purchase of Zaadunie by Sandoz
Table 6. First wave of concentration, 1966-76

Number of companies
1985
1996
2006
Five top companies
8.0
12.9
31.3
Ten top companies
11.9
14.2
37.7
Fifteen top companies
14.7
20.2
41.3
Table 7. Level of market concentration (%), 1985-06

1985
US $
1996
US $
2006
US $
Pioneer
735
Pioneer
1500
Monsanto
4028
Sandoz
290
Novartis
900
DuPont-Pioneer
2781
Dekalb
201
 Limagrain
650
 Syngenta
1743
Upjohn-Asgrow
200
 Advanta
460
 Limagrain
1475
Limagrain
180
 Seminis
375
 KWS Saat
615
Shell Nickerson
175
 Takii
320
 Land O'Lakes
550
Takii
175
 Sakata
300
 Bayer BioScience
465
Ciba Geigy
152
 KWS
255
 Delta PineLand
417
VanderHave
150
 Dekalb
250
 Sakata
410
CACBA
130
 Cargill
250
 DLF Trifolium
365
Sakata
120
 Pau Euralis
175
 Takii
342
Orsan
115
 Monsanto
170
 Dow Mycogen
302
Cargill 115 Sigma 160 Barenbrug 197
Lubrizol 110 Saaten Union 155 Saaten Union 187
Volvo 97 RAGT 140 Desprez 186
ICT 90 Svalöf Weibull 140 RAGT 149
Royal Sluis 80 Cebeco 140 Svalöf Weibull 137
Cebeco 80 DLF 135 InVivo 116
KWS 75 Barenbrug 133    
Total
3270
  
6608
  
14,465
Table 8. Changes in company turnovers from 1985 to 2006 (million US$)

Figure 6. Investment strategies for R&D (Source: Phillips McDougall; Syngenta, 2003)

The concentration trend is clear, but it must be noted that the seed industry is still relatively fragmented, compared to some other agriculture input providers, such as crop protection industry where the top five companies represent more than 90% of the market. The concentration has several reasons:
•
 The evolution of technologies increasingly sophisticated requiring high investments in research/development and production.
•
 An increasing need of speed in all business sectors leading to loss of specialization in some activities and a vertical integration
•
 Multiple pressures linked to an increasing competition due to globalization

Conclusions
During the past three decades, the seed industry has made tremendous progress in terms of technology, markets and regulations. Thirty years ago seed companies, mainly of small and medium size, were selling seed mainly of lines, synthetics and populations. Today an increasing number of multinational companies are selling mainly seed of hybrids that are not only of genetics but also carrier of many technologies depending on various and increasingly stringent regulations. At present, the international seed trade is increasing and stands at around US$ 5 billion where as the global seed market is close to US$ 35 billion.

Bernard Le Buanec, former Secretary General, ISF, Geneva, Switzerland; e-mail: b.lebuanec@seedworld.com


New Technology Solutions for Seed Industry
The search for seed technology solutions started since the beginning of agriculture, for example, for cleaning seeds prior to planting. With progress in agriculture and seed technology, new techniques emerged including soaking, priming, disinfecting, and treatment using slurry, dusting, coating, pelleting and encrusting technology. These technologies, for example cleaning and treatment, were initially custom-applied by specialized companies, but later on handled in-house by big seed companies. With the development of new and simple technologies, some of the techniques for quality testing and seed treatment are now available for use by small seed companies or local seed producer groups.

Barriers to technology
The major constraint in introducing many beneficial new technology products in the seed industry is the cost especially for small-scale farmers. Moreover, the knowledge of applying the technology remains problematic particularly the choice of technology and its large-scale application. The other barrier is the traditional attitude of farmers towards new technology. Introducing a new product is not very simple, the benefits of technology on yield and quality must be demonstrated locally. All these factors make it difficult to make new seed technology become available and accessible in many areas, which theoretically could benefit many farmers.

Quality assurance technology
Apart from traditional views of farmers, practical research in seed technology is focusing on conventional solutions and applications. Identifying, testing and using new technologies applied in other industries could give quicker and easier breakthrough for new developments. One of the best examples is the development of the Q2 technology from the food industry. The Q2 technology measures oxygen consumption in a non-invasive way and is objective and reproducible. Seed germination goes with energy consumption involving water and oxygen uptake. Oxygen consumption can be used as a parameter to evaluate seed quality (for details visit www.astec-global.com). Different seed lots could be compared for tolerance to extreme conditions such as heat, cold or wet. The measurement is non-invasive and is on individual seed basis not on a result of 400 seeds as in germination tests. You can also get an individual reading which can be used to evaluate all 400 seeds.

The Q2 equipment costs €35,500 including data analysis program. Standard Elisa plates including a specially developed seal can be used for the Q2 tests (see Q2 machine with ELISA plates). A re-usable container is under development for the test and the cost of each container will be roughly €0.2 to €0.3. There is no test method available which will give as much information per individual seed as the Q2.

Seed treatment technology
Another breakthrough is the wider application of rotary technology in seed treatment. It can be used for seed applied crop protection, coating, pelleting and encrusting. Rotary coating equipment is much cheaper than side vented pans originally from the pharmaceutical industry for very accurate rate of applications. It is available in different sizes and types on the market.

Basic versions of rotary coaters from China and India costs between €2,500 to €5000 while more advanced models from the US and Europe are sold between €5,000 to €10,000. With the correct protocols, both types of rotary coaters can replace expensive vented pan equipment from the pharmaceutical technology which costs about tenfold.

Another good example is pelleting as traditional planting devices were size limited. However, modern planting machines are pneumatic without any limitation by seed size. A small increase in seed size could be sufficient; and can be achieved by encrusting. The weight increase of up to 10 times is possible or otherwise calibration of the encrusted seeds will be needed which will increase costs for equipment, material, energy and labor. A basic cost comparison will demonstrate this. A kilo of onions would cost roughly around €300 for pelleting while encrusting with a weight increase of up to five times, would cost between €25 to €57.5. A lot of cost but much cheaper than pelleting and probably as effective in properly spacing seeds in the field. This principle is applicable in many types of seeds (see lettuce pellets and encrusted buffel grass).
Q2 equipment with Elisa plates (top) and MarQ testing maize seedlings

New systemic molecules (fungicides and insecticides) are being increasingly used in seed applied crop protection replacing traditional slurry or dusting treatments. This is better for the environment, the users and the applicators. You do not need a high-tech seed technology factory anymore to apply it. With the right protocols and equipment this could be done locally.

Information Technology
There is an increasing trend using IT in seed technology. To date there are several relatively cheap equipment to monitor certain quality parameters per unit of seed.
Pelleted cabbage (left) and encrusted buffel (right) seeds

For example, simple and small data loggers can monitor the temperature and RH of seed during transport. Once the seed arrives at destination, the information could be uploaded on a computer or internet using a small reading device. You can directly read the exact conditions under which the seed was transported. Previously this was expensive, time consuming and monitored with big data loggers.

The MarQ is an inexpensive device used to protect your IP. You can detect if the seeds or varieties planted in the field are yours. This is a very good protection against incorrect claims or theft from your genetics. Readings can be made directly on seeds and up to eight weeks after planting (see eight-week corn plant and MarQ reader)

The Writetech is a small device used in laboratories or for companies handling large data sets from different locations. All data written with the pen are stored through a cradle in a computer. Written field data are automatically transferred into a database and the information is available centrally and accessible directly.

New technologies are required in the coming years as the demand for food supply is increasing with a growing world population. Unfortunately, there are fewer natural resources available: land, water and energy. Only new developments and technologies can increase the efficiency of agricultural and horticultural production worldwide.

Frederick Schreurs, ASTEC-Global, Amsterdamsestraatweg 523, 3553 Utrecht, the Netherlands; E-mail: freek@astec-global.com


 World Seed Congress 2008
The annual ISF World Seed Congress was held from 26-28 May 2008 in the Czech Republic, the home country of Gregor Mendel, the founder of modern genetics. Members of the seed industry from 59 countries, including a good number from Central and Eastern Europe, totaling 1480 persons attended the congress. International organizations such as FAO, ISTA and UPOV, and the regional associations AFSTA, APSA, ESA and SAA participated in the debates. Numerous presentations on interesting topics such as drought tolerance in maize, hybrid cereals, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the Clean Seed program were made.

Topics on the agenda included overviews from the Czech seed industry on the different crop groups, GM vegetables, royalty collection, adventitious presence, essential derivation and seed health testing, just to name a few. A proposed position paper on Essential Derivation was discussed at great length before deciding that further input was required of the relevant Working Group. The ISF Trade and Arbitration Rules Committee (TARC) proposed numerous amendments to the ISF Rules and Usages for the Trade in Seeds for Sowing Purposes as part of the regular review process. ISF Members approved the adoption of most of the changes and the remaining few will be on the TARC's agenda in preparation for the next congress.

The General Assembly voted in favor of merging of the Cereal & Pulse, the Maize and Sorghum and the Industrial Crops Sections into a new Field Crops Section. In the past, there was a great deal of overlap between meeting participation and agenda topics, and this merger will streamline the working of the Federation.

The General Assembly approved the presidency of Mr. Orlando de Ponti, who will take over from Mr. Deon van Rooyen. The new ISF President expressed his content that agriculture and food were back at the top of the world agenda. He spoke of the role the seed industry can and will play in alleviating the current food crisis. He reminded the audience of the words 'Seed is Life' on the ISF logo.

In his keynote address to the congress participants, Mr. Bernard Le Buanec, Senior Advisor to ISF spoke of the "Evolution of the Seed Industry during the Past 40 years" and emphasized once again the importance of a good national seed association.

In conjunction with the congress, a Seed Treatment Seminar was organized on 29 May in Prague. It drew 120 participants and saw interesting presentations on seed treatment processes, stewardship in seed treatment and commercial aspects of seed treatment.

The next annual World Seed Congress will be in Antalya, Turkey from 25-27 May 2009. The post congress seminar on phytosanitary matters will be on 28 May 2009.

Radha, Ranganathan, ISF Secretariat, Chemin du Reposoir 7, 1260 Nyon, Switzerland


ISTA Discontinues Green Certificate

ISTA issues three types of certificates for seed moving in international seed trade: orange, blue and green. ISTA is pleased to announce that the proposal to discontinue the ISTA Green International Seed Lot Certificate was adopted by voting delegates on behalf of their respective Governments at the ISTA Congress in Iguaçu Falls, Brazil in 2007. The new version of Chapter 17 on ISTA Seed Analysis Certificates came into force on 1 January 2008.

From here on, seed testing results will be reported on ISTA Blue and ISTA Orange Certificates only. The results of tests reported on ISTA Blue Seed Sample Certificates will refer to the quality of the sample as submitted, whereas the results of ISTA Orange Seed Lot Certificates refer to the quality of a whole seed lot since sampling and testing are conducted in accordance with the ISTA Rules by an accredited laboratories.

In the past where a Green Certificate was required i.e. for sampling and testing performed by two different laboratories in two different countries, it will now exclusively be covered using the Orange Certificate. Full traceability is ensured since the name and address of both laboratories will be reported on the ISTA Certificate. With this change, ISTA is confident that international seed trade is facilitated with greater transparency and reliability of test results. For more information contact: ISTA, Zürichstrasse 50, P.O. Box 308, 8303 Bassersdorf, Switzerland; E-mail ista.office@ista.ch; Website: www.seedtest.org


Egypt Approves First Genetically Modified Crop
In Egypt, the Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute has been working on biotech crops for quite some time. In 2008, Egypt has approved the cultivation and commercialization of Bt maize variety, marking the first legal introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops into the country and become the second country on the African continent approving the commercialization of GM crops. The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation has approved decisions made by the National Biosafety Committee and Seed Registration Committee. The decision was based on a series of field trials conducted for several seasons during 2002-2007.

The variety, Ajeeb-YG, is a cross between MON 810 and an Egyptian maize variety with resistance to three corn borer pests, developed by Monsanto scientists in South Africa - currently the only African country planting commercial GM crops. Initially, Fine Seeds International Company is partnering with Monsanto to distribute the variety in Egypt; and the seed will be made available to farmers in 10 governorates. Egypt, from next year, will locally produce the seed.

Egypt currently has no official biosafety legislation, though a regulatory framework exists. which follows the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and encompasses ministerial decrees regulating the registration of GM seeds. To read more visit the SciDev web site at http://www.scidev.net/en/news/egypt-approves-commercialisation-of-first-gm-crop.html


Public-Private Partnership in Hybrid Rice
Successful deployment of hybrid rice in Asia requires more effective cooperation between public research institutions and the private sector A new international research initiative, linking the private and public sectors for the first time and launched on November 9 at the 2007 Asian Seed Congress, aims to boost the research and development of hybrid rice for the tropics. The Hybrid Rice Research and Development Consortium (HRDC), established by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), will strengthen public-private sector partnership in hybrid rice, a technology that can raise the yield of rice and thus overall rice productivity and profitability in Asia. Hybrid rice takes advantage of hybrid vigor known as 'heterosis' to achieve yields 15-20% higher than conventional varieties. Over the past three decades, the technology has helped China achieve food security, but has not yet reached its potential in the tropics.

IRRI and its partners in the public and private sector have led research on development and use of hybrid rice technology in the tropics for almost 30 years. The HRDC will be hosted by IRRI and will have three major objectives:
•
 Support research on developing new hybrids with enhanced yield heterosis, improved seed production, multiple resistances to stresses, and grain quality
•
 Support research on best management practices for rice hybrids.-Improve information sharing, public awareness, and capacity building

Public and private sector organizations and companies with interest in hybrid rice development are invited to become members of the HRDC. For private-sector members, annual financial contributions under the consortium structure will take into account the status of seed companies at different stages of development. HRDC members will have access to improved parents, hybrids, and breeding lines, including seeds and associated information.

The HRDC will have a public-private sector advisory committee and will meet annually to provide information to its members on new plant genetic resources available or under development, review research on hybrid rice management, discuss new research priorities, and make decisions on other consortium activities such as capacity building for both the public and private sectors.

The HRDC will significantly enhance the capacity for hybrid rice research and product delivery, while providing services and support to the private sector in its product development and delivery in order to benefit the general public.

National agricultural research and extension systems and other public sector organizations engaged in hybrid rice research and development will be among the primary beneficiaries of funds generated by the HRDC. Rice farmers in Asia will benefit from accelerated access to hybrid rice-based technologies such as more and better hybrids, good-quality seed, knowledge, and services provided by the private and public sectors.

IRRI is the world's leading rice research and training center; and is one of 15 centers funded through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), an association of public and private donor agencies.

Source: Plant Breeding News, Edition 185 17 December 2007
    
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