East-West Seed

East-West Seed Better Seeds for Better Yields East-West Seed has grown from a young vegetable seed company, established in 1982 in the Philippines, into the market-leading supplier of tropical vegetable seeds in just 25 years. As a result of its strong emphasis on plant breeding research and seed quality, East-West has helped transform the traditional, trading-oriented vegetable seed markets of Southeast Asia into a major market for quality seeds. The reliability and quality of the East-West Seed product range has had a direct impact on improving the lives of millions of small farmers. The more than 200 billion seeds East-West Seed sells annually are planted by an estimated 30 million farmers. The two-pronged approach of intensive interaction with farmers, traders, and consumers and developing varieties adapted to local conditions has been the key to East-West Seed’s success. The company’s hands-on exchange of knowledge and experiences with farmers has benefitted both the farmer-customers and the business. Through a network of field representatives, the company is able to understand firsthand the challenges farmers face, and at the same time assist growers in achieving better results with East-West seeds. Teams of experienced plant breeders, supported by experts in plant pathology, cell biology, and molecular biology, focus on improving disease and pest resistance to increase yields and to reduce excessive chemical inputs. The company’s new research center in Chiang Mai, Thailand houses the central biotechnology laboratory, providing support to the various research units of the East-West Seed group. The company has one of the foremost tropical vegetable germplasm collections in the world, an important foundation of the company’s plant breeding programs. East-West Seed’s recent acquisition of shares in Dutch biotech company, Genetwister Technologies BV, is expected to provide a strong impulse to further develop innovative technologies and applications for the benefit of its breeding programs. East-West Seed’s present research network includes facilities and projects in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, China, and Tanzania. Market development specialists are exploring opportunities to repeat the company’s success in other geographical areas in the tropical and subtropical belt. Bittergourd (Momordica charantia), an important tropical Asian cucurbit, is the flagship crop in the East-West Seed product range. The crop is not just a healthy vegetable but is also known for its medicinal properties, particularly its anti-diabetic properties. Development of new hybrid markets started in many countries with successful introduction of hybrid bittergourd varieties: Jade Star and Galaxy in the Philippines, Palee in Bangladesh and India, and hybrids 241 and 242 in Vietnam. Main breeding objectives include improved fruit quality and resistance to major diseases such as Fusarium wilt, various viruses, and powdery mildew. 50/1 Moo 2, Sainoi-Bangbuathong Rd | Sainoi, Nonthaburi 11150, Thailand T: +66 (0) 2831 7700 | F : +66 (0) 2923 7794 inter@eastwestseed.com | www.eastwestseed.com

East-West Seed

East-West Seed

Better Seeds for Better Yields

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Published In

December 2010

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