The International Seed Federation (ISF) wishes to extend its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mr. Simon Nanne Groot, who passed away yesterday.
A sixth-generation seedsman, Mr. Groot was a true pioneer in the seed industry, leading the way for commercial vegetable breeding for smallholder farmers in tropical countries. More than 40 years ago, he co-founded East-West Seed with Mr. Benito Domingo of the Philippines – a company that today reaches over 20 million smallholder farmers in more than 60 tropical countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The success of East-West Seed stands as a lasting tribute to Mr. Groot’s vision, leadership, and lifelong commitment to improving the lives of farmers around the world.
In recognition of his many contributions, Mr. Groot was awarded the World Food Prize in 2019. The Prize Committee honored him for transforming “the lives of millions of subsistence farmers, many of them women, to horticulture entrepreneurs, thereby greatly enhancing their livelihoods and income,” with his work helping to reinvigorate rural and urban markets, and making nutritious vegetables more widely available and affordable for millions of families each year.
ISF Secretary General Michael Keller said: “Mr. Groot was an exemplary seedsman who embodied ISF’s core values of collaboration, integrity, innovation, and sustainability. He had a clear and unwavering vision of what the private seed sector can – and should – contribute to society: to uplift the lives of all farmers and their communities through access to high-quality seeds and improved varieties.”
“Beyond his own company’s impact, Mr. Groot and East-West Seed have been longstanding and valued contributors to the work of ISF, dedicating their time and expertise to our joint mission of ensuring quality seed is accessible to all, supporting sustainable agriculture and food security. Mr. Groot will be profoundly missed, but his legacy will no doubt inspire generations to come,” Keller added.#
For more information about this statement, please contact Airah Cadiogan, ISF Communications Manager, communications@worldseed.org.
