The Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA) hosted its first-ever Plant Breeding Innovation (PBI) Consultation this week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It brought together policymakers, researchers, and seed industry leaders from 14 countries across the region.
The consultation was a partnership between APSA, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), CropLife Asia, Canada Grains Council, ISF, the French Interprofessional Organisation for Seeds and Plants (SEMAE), the National Seed Association of Malaysia, and the Mekong-US Partnership Project.
ISF’s Khaoula Belhaj-Fragnière, Regulatory Affairs Manager, provided a global perspective on the evolving regulatory and policy landscape for PBI. In her presentation, she highlighted emerging trends, current challenges, and opportunities ahead.
Key themes from the consultation included
- Enhancing understanding of genome editing as a transformative tool for plant breeding
- Developing science-based, predictable, and innovation-friendly regulatory frameworks
- Promoting regional cooperation and cross-country knowledge exchange
Highlights from the discussions
- Global regulatory approaches to plant breeding innovation remain fragmented, which can lead to trade disruptions.
- There is a strong need for transparent, science-based, and internationally aligned frameworks to unlock the full potential of genome-edited crops. These crops are crucial for enhancing productivity, sustainability, and food and nutrition security.
- Inclusive, multi-stakeholder dialogue is essential to foster trust and support the development of enabling regulatory environments.
- This consultation marks a critical step forward in building a foundation for policy harmonization and regulatory alignment across the region/globe.
Meeting with Ministers
On the sidelines of the event, Khaoula Belhaj-Fragnière joined the APSA delegation, led by President Mr. Teck Wah Koh and Executive Director Francine Sayoc, for a meeting with Dr. Mat Lesak Bin Ngathinee, Deputy Director General of Agriculture Malaysia, and his team from the Department of Agriculture and the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI).
The meeting, chaired by Dr. Mat Lesak, focused on key topics including seed import-export regulations, plant breeding innovation policies, seed certification, and potential areas for collaboration.
The various meetings reflect a shared regional commitment to shaping a more innovative, resilient, and food-secure future.
Congratulations to the entire APSA team for successfully convening these events!
