Factsheet

Seed Info No. 28

author(s) Bishaw, Zewdie
from International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
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themes
regions
  • Western Europe
  • Europe
  • World
  • Western Asia
  • Asia
  • Southern Asia
  • Eastern Africa
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Africa
  • Northern Africa
citation

Zewdie Bishaw. (12/1/2005). Seed Info No. 28. Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
Seed Info No. 28

Publications and datasets provided via GARDIAN

Abstract

Seed Info aims to stimulate information exchange and communication among seed staff in the Central
and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region. The purpose is to contribute towards the development of stronger national seed programs which supply quality seed to farmers.
In the last issue of Seed Info we featured Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) on Seeds with emphasis on
patents and breeders’ rights reflecting the views of breeders. In this issue we continue with our coverage
of IPR from farmers’ perspectives. Your regular contributor N.P. Louwaars from Wageningen University and Research Center, The Netherlands, will present an article on Farmers’ Rights and Seed Programs from its inception and the challenges ahead for its application. We also bring you news from the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) about the current changes in issuing the International Seed Lot Certificates and the new membership of the International Union for Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV).
The section on SEED PROGRAMS includes news from Afghanistan, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Lebanon and Syria. From Afghanistan we continue to report on the FHCRAA activities dealing with demonstration and technology transfer, establishment of village-based seed enterprises, potato seed production and the introduction of protected agriculture. From Ethiopia we present the reorganization of the National Agricultural Input Authority, once a policy and regulatory body of agricultural inputs. Country reports from Iran and Lebanon provide information on varietal releases of cereal and legume crops.
In the HOW TO section, your regular contributor, Abdoul Aziz Niane presents the procedures for maintaining the independence of the ISTA accredited seed testing laboratories and the means of
verifying it by system auditors. 
The RESEARCH section is aimed at capturing information on adapted research or issues relevant to seed program development in the region or elsewhere. Steven Groot and colleagues from Plant Research International, Wageningen University, explores the status, challenges and prospects of producing certified organic seeds. 
Seed Info encourages exchange of information to broaden our understanding of issues that affect the
global seed industry

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