Volume 4 Issue 1 Mar 2012
Sprouts A newsletter for employees of East-West Seed Group
A look back at 2011
and a salute to 2012 Message from the BOM
“Focused Tropical Leader” Town Hall Meetings
COUNTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Seed Health and Seed Tech Updates
Message from the BOM
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012 has arrived and brings us new challenges. The changes in our markets are increasing: competition, opening up of new markets, new technology and globalization.
The biggest task for East-West Seed as an organization -- and to us, as individual employees -- is to quickly adapt to these external challenges. The ability to focus will be an important factor in maintaining our leadership in the vegetable seed industry. We should maximize our
strengths and capitalize on what we know. Our ability to learn and apply new knowledge is another key factor of success. This is partly achieved by regular training of staff and hiring good quality new staff. However, this is often not enough. On the R&D side, development of networks and partnerships with scientists operating at the cutting edge of science is important for knowledge development. Recently, we signed three new agreements with leading scientists working on sequencing and marker development of pepper and tomato that are expected to result in development of important new applications in the next 5 years. East-West Seed is in the business of change. The improvement of crops through plant breeding is the best tool to achieve multiple economic and social goals. Many of us have seen with our own eyes the positive impact of improved seeds on farmers’ income and on better crop production methods. We are changing things for the better: this will continue to be one of the main attractions of working with East-West Seed.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Francine Sayoc EDITORIAL ADVISOR Simon Jan de Hoop MANAGING EDITOR Karina Van Leeuwen NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR Tabeth Velasco PAGE EDITORS Katchie Panergayo Tian Jinlan James Karuhakosol Cherry Relevante Sushil Kumar Prem Mehta Ruby Samonte LAYOUT & DESIGN Christian Talavera
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Joost Pekelharing President
Bert van der Feltz Senior Vice President
Simon Jan de Hoop Vice President for R&D
Despite the many challenges in 2011, we have done well. But we should take the investment warning to heart: “Past performance is not a guarantee for future performance.” Real change starts with each and every one of us, continuously thinking how we can become better. We are looking forward to another great and challenging year.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Calling all writers! As Sprouts becomes the general company newsletter, we welcome articles from all departments - not just R&D. If you want to contribute stories from Sales and Marketing, SOM, QA, Technology Transfer, HR, etc., please email francine.sayoc@eastwestseed.com
s? h S r U o t y p W
Sprout(ing) - noun, the practice of soaking, draining, and then rinsing seeds at regular intervals until they germinate, or sprout. Much like seeds, we are growing, maturing, learning and enjoying the work we do. Something beautiful emerges from our daily efforts... and then it just SPROUTS!
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Country Country Highlights Highlights R
PHILIPPINES by Cherry Relevante
ouse Philippines conducted a oneday training seminar on Patent Law and Patent Application at the Hortanova Research Center on December 14, 2011. The training was facilitated by Atty. Edmund Jason G. Baranda and was participated in by selected R&D staff including breeders and researchers; EWPH General Manager, Mary Ann P. Sayoc; SPRTC/ QA Manager, Irene M. Sion and R&D Support Services Head, Tabeth G. Velasco. Among the important highlights of the training were discussions on patent law, patent and plant variety protection (PVP) application (including practical considerations and costs), plant breeder’s rights, conducting online patent search and elements of patent drafting. Development of new plant varieties, either by conventional breeding methods or by modern technologies, requires big investment in terms of skills, material resources, time and effort. In order for seed companies to recover the costs of R&D, the company/breeder may seek to obtain ‘exclusive rights’ (i.e., production and marketing) for the new varieties. The only way to do this is to obtain intellectual property (IP) protection by applying for a plant patent or plant vari-
ety protection. As an update, EWPH has been granted PVP approval for 24 new varieties from 2007-2010. New intern
SEED HEALTH—QA UPDATE
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n order to produce and supply good quality and disease-free seeds to local and high value global markets, East -West Seed Company is implementing a comprehensive and company-wide Seed Health Management (SHM) program. Group Quality Systems Manager Weerachart Thongteera and Group Seed Technologist Prem Mehta prepared and presented the EW Group Seed Health Policy which was approved by BOM late last year.
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The SHM Program includes efforts upstream: Breeding and Foundation Seed (FS) to downstream: Stock Seed (SS) and Commercial Seed (CS) operations. The Group Seed Health Policy and initiatives are designed to be in compliance with the standards established by the international seed health institutions. Both Weerachart and Prem visited all EW locations for introduction and implementation of Seed health Management Policy and timelines.
EWPH R&D team welcomes our new research intern, Jasper van der Pijl, a M.Sc. student from Wageningen University. Jasper is a Crop Science major with some interests in soil science and plant breeding. He is currently doing research on Phosphorus efficiency as part of his internship in R&D. He aims to develop a protocol for screening Phosphorus-efficient tomato lines/varieties under the supervision of the Farm Management Group. Apart from gaining work experience, Jasper’s personal goal for his internship is to explore job opportunities in a breeding company after graduation. Jasper devotes most of his time conducting experiments for his research project while having fun in the company of new-found friends from R&D.
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Country Country Highlights Highlights
CHINA by Jin Lia
ing 25 special pavilions. More than 400 domestic and international companies joined the expo, including the top seed companies. Our pavilion was definitely one of the best, attracting many visitors with its unique design and creative layout which drew from the success of our exhibit at the APSA Shanghai 2005. The exhibit featured professional models holding East-West varieties. We also handed out carry-all bags printed with our new company logo and leaf pattern, which were popular because of their practicality and convenience. Our staff proudly represented the company in their East-West shirts and jackets, attending to visitors with great enthusiasm and knowledge, which left a lasting impression to all.
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t was a sunny winter day on 12th December 2011 when the 10th Guangdong Seed Expo opened with the accompaniment of gongs and drums and the provincial governor making the official announcement. The Guangdong Seed Expo emerged from the Guangdong agricultural seed demonstration, which featured the top 500 key cultivation programs. It was a demonstration of the developments and breakthroughs in the industry. To date, it is the largest in scale and most important expo in the domestic seed industry. The expo display area covers 10,000 sq-meters of indoor exhibits within the vast pavilion of the seed center. The exhibit ran for three days from Dec 12-14. Meanwhile, an outdoor field trial was also put up in the seed center, which was open from Dec 12-20. There were 300 standard pavilions in the indoor exhibition, includ-
The outdoor exhibition broke the record, with 5,331 indoor and outdoor varieties, or 100 more than the previous year’s expo. There were 1,440 pepper varieties, 1,145 tomato varieties, 192 eggplant varieties, 77 pumpkin varieties, 104 sweet melon and watermelon varieties, 1,353 leafy vegetable varieties, 765 snake melon varieties and 255 corn varieties. All these were bred using state of the art breeding technology. Ailei, an eggplant variety from East West Seed, showed very good performance in the field, uniform fruit shape, high setting, shiny skin, which caught the interests of seed traders and farmers. The Guangdong Seed Expo was so far the largest, most influential expo in the mainland, a testament to Guangdong’s modern agriculture development. decades ago.
Ard Groot receives a welcome lei from the staff of Hortanova Research Center in Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines.
E A S T- W E S T S E E D
WELCOMES ARD GROOT
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he East-West Seed family gave a warm welcome to Ard Groot, son of company Chairman Simon N. Groot (SNG), who visited Thailand and the Philippines during the early part of the year. Ard Groot has committed himself to be involved full time with the company, affirming the commitment of the Groot family to the long-term future and development of EastWest Seed, a company founded by SNG three
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from the position.
The Board of Advisors (BOA) has appointed Ard as Vice Chairman of the Board of Advisors (BOA), and he would succeed as Chairman once his father retires
program, which has so far brought him to numerous provinces and countries, to acquaint himself with all aspects of the East-West Seed Group. Ard’s deeper involvement is welcome news to all, as it assures that East-West Seed will remain a family-owned seed company, and will remain focused on its mission of serving vegetable farmers in the tropical regions of the world.
Ard, who was a taxpartner at a global accounting firm, had served as a member of the Board of Ad- With the HF visors (BOA) of the team, after company for several a tour of the years, along with his R&D facility brother Rutger, an international banker. He is currently on an induction-training
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A L O O K B A C K AT
2011
Sawarded IMON NANNE GROOT Doctor of Philosophy in by Tabeth Velasco
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Agricultural Sciences
011 could very well be called a scholastic year for East-West Seed. In February, VicePresident for R&D Simon Jan de Hoop was conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree by Maejo University for his contribution in Thailand’s vegetable industry. To cap off the year, another honorary degree was awarded to no less than our Chairman, Simon Nanne Groot (fondly called SNG), and this time by Naresuan University. The University Council, through its President Dr. Sujin Jinahyon, gave due recognition to SNG’s work in plant breeding and the development of plant breeding programs in Thailand. The awarding ceremony was held on December 19, 2011 during the annual commencement rites presided by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. A luncheon at Bang Bua Thong office followed on December 20 to celebrate SNG’s achievement with East-West Seed staff and honored guests. Naresuan University (NU) is located in Phitsanulok province in the lower North of Thailand. Aside from being one of the top government educational institutions, what sets NU apart is its development of a strategic plan for research to fulfill its mission of being a research-based university in 2017. NU and SNG have found a common passion: R&D. As plant breeding is the key to agricultural productivity, R&D is the backbone of the industry. East-West Seed Group’s achievements are testimony to the far-reaching contribution of SNG’s vision, commitment and passion for research – and how these revolutionized farmers’ lives in Thailand and many parts of Asia. His integrity and passion for excellence are models for making a difference in the lives of others and uplifting the vegetable seed industry. In celebrating the remarkable distinction bestowed to SNG, we also celebrate the long and productive lives that his achievements have made possible for millions of happy farmers. Life expectancy in Asia is higher now than what it was twenty- nine years ago when EastWest Seed was just a dream for SNG. The dramatic improvement could be attributed to increased vegetable consumption and SNG made this happen.
East-West Seed chairman Simon N. Groot receives an honorary doctorate degree from Naresuan University, Thailand
Educated with Business Economics at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, SNG joined the family-owned seed company Sluis & Groot in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands in 1958. But his horizon stretched far to Asia where he set up the East-West Seed Group in 1982 and the rest is history. He could be aptly called the Father of Tropical Vegetable Seed Industry as it is extremely rare that seedsmen who know the industry are produced in Asia. Indeed, SNG has found his calling.
At the luncheon celebration hosted by EWTH in the office to celebrate SNG’s honorary doctorate degree
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With school officials and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
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F
rom January to February, a series of Town Hall meetings were held in the Philippines, Thailand and India to launch the company’s Strategic Plan for 2011-2016. A town hall meeting is an informal public meeting which gives the members of a community an opportunity to get together to discuss emerging issues and to voice concerns. A big crowd is invited to attend, to hear their leaders talk about subjects of interest.
“FOCUSED TROPICAL LEA
launched in Townhall Me
In our case, it was the company’s Strategic Plan that was the focus of the town hall meetings. This was the first time in East-West Seed that such a gathering was organized to launch the company’s prospects, directions and focus for the next five years. The town hall meetings were held in four different locations: EWPH Bulacan main office, EWTH office, HGR in Chiang Mai, and EW India Aurangabad office. The event was organized jointly by the GMs, Communication and HR teams.
JP delivers the “Focused Tropical Leader” presentation at the Bangbuathong seed cleaning area, which was transformed into an assembly area for the town hall meeting.
Our company President Joost Pekelharing explained the Strategic Plan through a presentation on the theme “Focused Tropical Leader”. An animated video was also shown to reinforce the key messages and the Six Strategic Initiatives. Central to the Strategic Plan was the Product-Market Combination (PMC) concept, and the appointment of four new PMC managers tasked to design and implement business plans for the selected PMCs.
A staff member receives a prize for correctly answering a quiz show question.
James (HR Manager-HGR) reads out a question from the audience.
A quiz show followed the presentation, which drummed up excitement and recall among the audience. HR prepared attractive prizes for the winners. The BOM was in complete attendance to answer questions from the audience. Many of the questions were well considered and thought-about, which the BOM took as a good sign. A “mindmap” handout of the Strategic Plan was distributed to all attendees after the presentations.
VP for R&D Simon Jan addresses the audience.
The town hall meetings were capped off by a lunch get-together in the office premises, which provided more opportunities to socialize and exchange ideas.
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ADER”
PMC Managers
MEET YOUR
JP explains the Strategic Plan through a Prezi
eetings “Focused Tropical Leader!”
Sanong Maneewan
Audience members were very game in joining the quiz show.
Senior VP Bert van der Feltz answers questions from the audience.
The audience from EW India in Aurangabad listen intently to the presentation.
Ramil Panerg ayo
Ric Reyes
Michael McDaniel East-West India family
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A L O O K B A C K AT
LESSONS FROM THE
2011
FLOOD
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ithout a doubt, the biggest challenge of 2011 for Thailand was the flooding crisis that swept a big part of the country and left destruction at its wake. But for East-West Seed, it was not the grim scenario that became the highlight of the year, but the extraordinary way in which the company and its people coped with the ordeal. Our team showed resilience and ingenuity in protecting our facility against the floods. From the very beginning, we resolved to keep the water out – and we were successful.
The flood protection plan had three components: protecting the warehouse, protecting the equipment, and shutting down operations. The factory management was handed over to a flood protection team. At the helm of the operations were technical services manager Jeroen Baas and plant manager Montri Pongampai. The team came up with creative ways to keep the water out. The team stocked up on materials like sandbags, wooden poles, culverts, as well as food. These were sourced from a dry area in nearby Kampengsen and brought to our facility by truck, boat and raft. To protect the plant, the team shielded the entrances with partial brick walls. Expensive equipment were elevated and covered with plastic. When protection proved to be successful, the plant operation during the flooding was at 60%. A new distribution location was opened in Suphan Buri, where we shipped out finished goods from the factory carried by boat. It didn’t take too long before the plant went back to normal operation. Normal business resumed once the infrastructure in the general Bangbuathong area opened up again. Majority of EWTH staff were affected by the floods. The company supports them in repairing and cleaning their houses and restoring their normal way of living. Teamwork, combined with the ability to make quick, smart decisions, and the stubborn, never-say-die attitude of East-West Seed are what led us to succeed in the face of adversity, and should serve as a lesson for the future.
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SEED TECHNOLOGY
The poll en lab in SPRTC D cos is eq ingras, Il uipped w oit h two po rooms, a llen dryin pollen st g orage ro area for om, work lab work ing ers, and a small o ffice.
EWPH
POLLEN POLLEN LABLAB Inaugurates by Ruby J. Samonte
T
he Seed Technology Department of EWPH held an inauguration ceremony to celebrate the completion of a new pollen laboratory building located at SPRTC Farm, Ilocos Norte on December 20, 2011. A total of about 200 guests including EWPH employees from various departments, SPRTC workers and other guests from the locality attended the ceremony. The blessing was officiated by a local church leader. A ceremonial ribbon cutting was led by the Seed Technology Manager, Daisy M. Caraos, together with the Assistant Seed Production Manager Virgilio Guieb and Stock Seed Specialist Albert Stanley Samonte. An inaugural speech was delivered by the distinguished Seed Technology Manager Daisy M. Caraos. She further explained the importance of the pollen laboratory and the benefits of pollen usage in seed production, as well as the employment it will create for the people in the local community. After the ceremony, the guests were given a tour of the new building. The 48-sq meter pollen laboratory was constructed as part of the implementation of the EW Group initiative on pollen technology in EWPH. Similar pollen labs are being established in EWTH and EWINDIA. The pollen technology will be implemented in the 2011-2012 cropping season for three main solanaceous crops of EWPH (Sweet Pepper, Tomato and Eggplant). At the same time, pollen research for other crops will also be conducted in the laboratory. The building has five functional rooms: two pollen drying rooms, working area for laboratory workers, a small office and a pollen storage room. The deliveries of laboratory equipments are underway and are expected to be completed by end of January 2012.
s gives the Daisy Carao . R&D Head auguration in e marks at th welcome re
PHOTO FEATURE: Farmers in India extr using an e act tomato xtractor b seeds uilt in the This is the Philippine first time s. it was don e with the aid of a m achine.
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Country Country Highlights Highlights W
INDIA by Sushil Kumar
e capped off 2011 with productive meetings, trial routines and the opening of our new R&D office in Aurangabad, which we inaugurated with a solemn lighting ceremony. Our team set a visit for the PDS and Marketing teams to evaluate new hybrids of cucumber, bitter gourd, tomato and hot pepper. The team was led by Marketing Manager Pramod Kakani and PDS Manager Vasanth Kumar. The onion nursery in Aurangabad had begun to sprout while all the other trials were at their senescence. During the first week of November, the tomato breeders meeting was held in Bangalore, where we had a good discussion among breeders and pathologists. Karina and Conrad set the major objectives and screening
schedules for the upcoming season. A notable presentation was made by Makrand Pande on early blight in tomato while Anand BR focused on late blight. Our team in the Rajpura R&D station, located in the bay of Himalaya, gave their best efforts in developing the farm. We opened a nice new office and celebrated Ashwani Kochhar’s birthday in this R&D station. Finally, we welcomed our newest team member, Bapu Devkate, who has joined our company as a senior breeder. We look forward to strengthening our team and breeding programs with his skill and expertise.
T o m a t o B r e e d e r s meeting held in India
by Karina van Leeuwen
F
rom 1-4 November 2011, our small group of tomato breeders came together in Bangalore, India for the third EW-Tomato breeders Meeting. It was especially nice for Dr. Makrand Pande, who joined us in June this year, to get to know all breeders and all the segments we are working on. A special trial was set up for this meeting, which gave every breeder the chance to see his breeding lines and hybrids, as well as the lines and hybrids from other breeders, under Indian conditions. The breeders had a whole day to do their own selections as well as to observe and discuss the materials they saw from the other breeders. It was very nice to see each other and each other’s materials as we all work far from each other and we all work on different markets and tomato segments. Besides our own trial and a one day farmers’ field visit, we spent a lot of time on other issues such as updates on strategy, ongoing research projects, pathology, and the use of markers and bio-assays.
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visited the d PDS on N. Groot (SNG) Sim van der Woude an n ma chair tin America Herke La for er ag an M nt Developme joined by Business . acillo among exSpecialist Dennis Su nity to hold a forum rtu po op the d ha G La Vega. SN agricultural tools nce of introducing exporters’ station in rta an po d im an the ms ral d far sse al cu tri . He also dis , which are the cultu The group visited ges of hybrid seeds and overhead trellis nta e va ag ad ain the dr , d ds ize be as ph , raised porters, where he em such as plastic mulch Dominican farmers to es tic ac pr on ati nched and cultiv . the first ones to be lau tropical vegetables the market. Among to ema. s Pr practices in Asia for tie rie ion va on r le ou tab d late this year an ce our Asian vege , du ria ro At r int ll we wi flo s uli tro alika, ca butor Eurosuminis Lina, ridge gourd M This year, our distri long years. Palee, bottlegourd d an ti ee Pr , ng polito Mejia after 30 nte Hi Be nt d de ur esi go Pr ter c bit bli pu are an Re and former Dominic ce to visit his friend an ch the d ha o als tional elections. During the trip, he the coming 2012 na in rs ne un ntr fro d is among the g for re-election an Mr. Mejia is biddin
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Country Country Highlights Highlights
D
THAILAND by Dr. Rabuesak Khumthong
uring the latter part of 2011, the flooding crisis swept many parts of Thailand. Although there was no flooding at HGR Chiang Mai, our station faced a tough challenge for over a month. In order to keep the business running, some of our administration team were temporarily relocated to Ploenchit, while our production and packing facility moved to our station at Supanburi.
Fortunately, everything went back to normal in late November. During that month, Dr. Pornpan Pooprompan from Maejo University delivered a two-day lecture and workshop on QTL mapping analysis. With his expertise in plant breeding, molecular genetics and statistical analysis, he has set up a strong foundation and applications for QTL mapping. The workshop also included the use of several mapping and statistical analysis software, which are very useful for our breeders and researchers who are actively working in the field. Moreover, we held several journal club sessions where both breeders and researchers presented, including Piyurada Danairiripong (Amp), Tianchai Ounbahn (Heaw), Kamolrat Boonmawat (Pu), Siwaporn Keawkamfoo (Tai), Lamai Yamapan (Mai), Ekkachai Inchonnabot (Ak). As our journal clubs are welcome for both breeders and researchers with different fields of expertise, it is an excellent forum
The 3rd International
T
Papaya Symposium
for us to share knowledge and ideas. Over this period of time, we also provided training to ten of senior under graduate students from several Universities in Thailand, including Phyao and Maejo Universities. They attended trainings on breeding and molecular biology techniques.
by Katchie Panergayo
hailand - In commemoration of the King’s 84th birthday, Her Majesty the Queen’s 80th birthday and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s 60th birthday, the city of Chiangmai hosted more than 10 international symposia between December 2011 and March 2012.
One of these is the 3rd International Papaya Symposium, held last December 19-22, 2011 in Imperial Mae Ping Hotel in the heart of the city. The symposium was organized by the Department of Agriculture of Thailand, Horticultural Science Society of Thailand and the International Society of Horticultural Science. Scientists and researchers from USA, Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia, India, Fiji, Kenya, Thailand and other Asian countries participated in the symposium. East-West Seed sent five of its staff. The group was headed by Crop Breeding Manager for Papaya Dr. Conrad Balatero, joined by Group Stock Seeds Coordination Manager Irene Sion, who is very much involved in the commercial production of papaya hybrid varieties, Katherine Panergayo and Lamai Yapanan, papaya breeders from Philippines and Thailand, respectively and Marvin Martin, EWIT PDS Assistant in-charge of papaya. Presentations on papaya breeding, physiology and post harvest were made by noted scientists and researches during the first two days. Among the most interest-
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ing papers presented were the use of Vasconcellea species as source of resistance against PRSV, the development of GMO papaya in Hawaii, the possible breakdown of the transgenic resistance by a super strain of PRSV and seed dispersal as the major means of transgene escape. A growing concern on bacterial dieback (Erwinia papayae) in Malaysia was also presented. On the third day, the group visited a commercial grower of Holland Red, a popular open pollinated papaya variety, in Pa Sang District, Lamphun and a papaya germplasm collection in Mae Hia, Chiangmai. To culminate the whole activity, the group was treated to a very nice dinner at Khum Kan Toke which showcases true Thailand cuisine and culture and a visit to the Royal Flora Ratchapruek Exposition. I feel grateful to have gained ideas from people in the industry, rekindle old friendships and foster new camaraderie.