Official Newsletter of the WANA Seed Network
No. 34,
January 2008
PDF File (1.25
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This section presents information on the WANA Seed Network, including network activities and reports of the meetings of the Steering Committee and the WANA Seed Council.
Second International Seed Trade Conference
The Second International Seed Trade Conference (ISTC2007) in CWANA Region was held from 19-21 November 2007 in Giza, Egypt. It was organized by the Egyptian Seed Association, in collaboration with ICARDA's Seed Unit and the Turkish Seed Industry Association. The conference aimed at bringing together the private and public sectors within and outside CWANA to stimulate regional contacts and encourage seed trade.
Conference objectives
The focus of the conference was on seed trade, but the program also included presentations on policy, regulatory, institutional and technical issues affecting seed industry development at global, regional and national levels.
Participants
The conference attracted participants from around the world, representing private and public seed companies, private agricultural input suppliers, agricultural and seed equipment manufacturers, international, regional and national seed trade associations, and international and regional research and development organizations working on seeds (FAO, ICARDA, ISF, ISTA, OECD, UPOV). About 294 participants from over 24 countries attended, making it one of the successful seed trade congresses in the region.
Trade exhibitions
Promoting contacts and seed trade were key elements of ISTC2007. The objective was successfully achieved with a high turnout of private seed companies who organized trade exhibitions. There were stands by private and public seed companies, manufacturers of seed equipment, and input supply companies.
Technical presentation
Presentations were made on policy, regulatory, institutional and technical issues affecting the seed industry: (i) Status and prospects for global and regional seed trade; (ii) Intellectual property rights; (iii) GMOs and biosafety in seed trade; (iv) Biofuels and impacts on seed and grain trade; and (v) Status and role of the private seed sector in WANA.
Panel discussions were also held on accreditation in seed quality assurance; harmonization of seed regulatory frameworks; and formation of a regional seed trade association. The presentations drew on examples from the region and elsewhere, and generated interesting discussions and exchange of views.
Role of the private sector in CWANA
Policy and regulatory reforms in the seed sector led to the emergence of a vibrant private seed sector in countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey; and the establishment of national seed trade associations representing the private sector. It is important to sustain such efforts by national governments for more private sector participation to capture the opportunity offered by the commercial seed market in the region.
Achievements and future implications
The success of the First and Second International Seed Trade Conferences is already bearing fruit and generating interest among seed trade associations in the region. Plans are already underway for the Central Asia and Caucasus Seed Trade Conference, scheduled for 2008 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Ms Sherwet Ahmed, ESAS, 35, Gamet El Dowal El Arabia Street, Mohandessen, Cairo, Egypt; E-mail: info@esas-egypt.org; and Zewdie Bishaw, Seed Unit, ICARDA, P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria; E-mail: z.bishaw@cgiar.org
ISTC2007 in Pictures
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Opening session
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Seed trade exhibition
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Technical presentations
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Panel discussion
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Closing ceremony
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