GOLF TOURNAMENT (Sponsored by Seed Co) and PRE-CONGRESS TOURS (At a Fee)

AFSTA CONGRESS 2017 PROGRAMMEAFSTA CONGRESS PROGRAM 2017

Monday 27th February 2017

GOLF TOURNAMENT (Sponsored by Seed Co) AND PRE-CONGRESS TOURS (at a fee)

08:30 – 12:30THE FIRST AFSTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING (Room: C002)

14:30 – 18:00MEETING OF NATIONAL SEED ASSOCIATIONS (by invitation only – Room: BC12)

Chairperson: Justin Rakotoarisaona, Secretary General of AFSTA

15:00 – 18:00 Registration and information desk open

Tuesday 28thFebruary 2017

08:00 – 17:30Registration and information desk open

08:00 – 17:30Trading rooms (Room: B01 and C01) & Exhibition booths open

8:30 – 12:30 – SEED TREATMENT WORKSHOP (Room: BC12)

Session 1:Root Health Forum – the importance of root development

Time: 08:30 – 10:30

Topic:Worldwide, research increasingly points to Root Health as the key for future crop
productivity improvements. Because they are out of sight, roots are often out of mind.
It has been estimated that 80% of all plant problems start with soil/root problems.
Increased use of agronomic practices such as no-till and irrigation can increase the occurrence of soil-borne diseases, which compromise Root Health.
It is important to have a thorough understanding of how soil-borne pathogens do their damage in order to devise good control strategies.

Session 2: Sustainable Agriculture, how to grow more food using fewer resources

Time: 10:30 – 11:30

Topic:Every day, our planet wakes with more than 200,000 additional mouths to feed and more farmland lost to erosion. Many people who produce the world‘s food are living in poverty, while biodiversity is disappearing fast. Our industry must support the sustainability of agriculture and look for measurable solutions. Sustainable agriculture needs to become a win-win situation for both industry and planet.

(Presentation followed by panel discussion)

Session 3:Innovation in Seed Treatment – future trends and technologies

Time: 11:30 – 12h30

Topic: Seed treatment is the most efficient way to protect the seed during the critical early stage, from planting through the first month. It enables growers to reach full yield potential for their crops.
We must understand the requirements and future trends in the seed treatment industry to be able to sustainably deliver innovative solutions that are optimized to work with the specific needs of the customer.

14:00 – 18:30 MEETING OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (Room: BC12)

19:00Reception Cocktail (Sponsored by Syngenta Seed Care)

Wednesday 1st March 2017

08:00 – 17:30Registration and information desk open

08:00 – 17:30Trading rooms (Room: B01 and C01) & Exhibition booths open

09:00 – 11:00OPENING CEREMONY (Room: BC12)

Welcome Speech and Overview of the seed sector of Senegal by the Chairman of the Seed Trade Association of Senegal (UNIS);
Presentation of the activities of AFSTA for 2016 by Mr. Justin J. Rakotoarisaona, Secretary General of AFSTA;
Speech by Mr. Denias Zaranyika, President of AFSTA
Keynote address by Mr. Jean Christophe Gouache, President of the International Seed Federation (ISF) ;
Opening speech of the Guest of honor from the government of Senegal;
Invitation to the host for the AFSTA congress 2018, Dr. Abdrabou Ismail, Chairman of the Egyptian Seed Industry Association (ESIA), Egypt;
Projection of promotional video on the AFSTA congress 2018

11:00 – 12:00 Booth viewing and coffee/teabreak

12:00 – 17:30PLENARY SESSIONS (Room: BC12)

Session 1:

Time: 12:00 – 13:00

Topic: Seed market in Africa: challenges and prospects
Speaker:Jean Philippe Lodugnon Harding, Enabling Business in Africa (EBA) World Bank

Moderator:Mr. Modou Thiam, AFSTA Board member from Senegal

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break

Session 2:

Time: 14:00 – 16:00

Topic:OECD and ISTA challenges in Africa
Speakers: OECD, ISTA, Senegal and Tunisia
Moderator:Mr. Charles Miller, AFSTA Board member from USA

16:00-16:30 Coffee/Tea Break

Session 3:

Time: 16:30 – 18:30

Topic: Achievements of the harmonized seed regulations at the Regional Community level.
Speakers: Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) – 15 min presentation for each Regional Economic Community i.e. 60 min of presentation followed by 60 min of question and answer session with the 4 speakers as panelists

Moderator: Mr. Mamadou Kayentao, Board member from Mali

Thursday 2nd March 2017

08:00 – 17:30 Registration and information desk open

08:00 – 17:30 Trading rooms(Room: B01 and C01) Exhibition booths open

9:00 – 15:30 PLENARY SESSIONS (Room: BC12)

Session 1:

Time: 09:00 – 10:00
Topic: Plant breeding innovation and its consequences in vegetables and field crops
Speaker: Mr. Michael Keller , Secretary General of the International Seed Federation (ISF), Switzerland
Moderator: Mr. Worede Woldemariam, Chairman of the SIG on “Field Crops” and Mr. Guy Blaise Satsa, Chairman of the SIG on “Vegetables”

Session 2:

Time: 10:00 – 10:30
Topic: Current status of phytosanitary regulations and cross-border seed trade in Africa
Speaker: Mrs. Radha Ranganathan,International Seed Federation, Switzerland

Moderators: Mr. Dr. Adel Yaseen, AFSTA Board member, Egypt

10:30 – 11:00 Coffee/Tea Break

Time: 11:00 – 12:00

Topic: Situation of plant breeders’ rights in Africa

Speaker: OAPI, ARIPO and UPOV
Moderator: Mr. François Burgaud, AFSTA Board member from France

12:00 – 14:00 Lunch Break

Session 4:

Time: 14:00 – 15:00

Topic: Global actions for improving access by African farmers to quality seeds: public, regulators and seed companies.

Speaker: From KEPHIS, ROPPA and TROPICASEM

Moderator: Mr. Azariah Soi, AFSTA Board Member from Kenya

15:00 – 15:30Coffee/Tea Break

15:30 – 17:00AFSTA GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2017 (Room: BC12)

15:00 – 15:30Registration to the General Assembly (AFSTA members only)

15:30 – 17:30AFSTA General Assembly
Chairman: Mr. Denias Zaranyika – President of the African Seed Trade Association

17:00 – 18:30SECOND AFSTA BOARD MEETING (Room: C002)

19:30 – 23:00GALA DINNER

Dress code: Formal or Traditional
Seating arrangement: Free sitting
Handover of the AFSTA flag to the host of AFSTA congress 2018