Bayer Thailand has been awarded the Accredited Seed Test Laboratory certification by the Department of Agriculture (DOA), the first producer and exporter of high-quality seeds to get accreditation for its Seed Test Lab in the country. The certification is in line with the government agenda to accelerate Thailand’s position as a World Leader of Tropical Seed.
Mr. Rapibhat Chandarasrivongs, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture announced during the Asia Seed Congress 2022 that Thailand aims to achieve 15 billion baht in annual seed exports and be the world leader in tropical seeds. “Achieving this requires public-private cooperation to strengthen the community and sustainability of the seeds industry,” he said.
The department also adopted "Market-Led Research" and "Market-Led Production" policies by using advanced bio and biotechnology to produce high-quality seeds for the farmers. One of DOA’s implementation plans is to push the certification of private companies’ Seed Test laboratories. It will facilitate the issuance of the phytosanitary certificate to attest that plant and plant products exported from Thailand are free from pests and diseases and meet the import requirements of the importing countries/regions.
Mr. Weraphon Charoenpanit, Country Commercial Lead of Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar of Bayer Thai Co., Ltd, said: “Bayer Thailand is proud that our laboratory got accredited as a qualified seed test laboratory for the issuance of phytosanitary certification for export and re-export. It validated our position as a producer and exporter of high-quality seeds enabling farmers to produce quality food.”
Located at its Phitsanulok site, Bayer Seed Test Lab passed the accreditation conditions and criteria set by the DOA authorising it to issue the phytosanitary certificate. In keeping with its vision of health for all, hunger for none, the company has brought innovation to improve its production efficiency and worked with farmers to equip them with good agricultural practices for disease and pest management and success in producing disease-free seeds. The seeds facilities are in Khon Kaen and Sakon Nakhon provinces.
“We will continue to support the DOAs goal to become a world leader in tropical seeds and promote the seed industry. Our investments in our laboratory are part of our efforts to raise confidence in the country's pest testing system, facilitate the transport of seeds and support Thailand’s seed export goal and aspiration to be a world-class vegetable seed producer.”