India’s leading seed firms launch Federation of Seed Industry of India

India’s top seed and seed technology companies, including Bayer, Dow Agro, DuPont Pioneer, Mahyco, Metahelix, Monsanto, Namdhari, Rasi Seeds, Shriram Bioseeds and Syngenta, launched the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII), an industry body.

FSII has primarily been formed with the objective of providing a forum for research-based seed industry and seed technology companies who develop and provide high-performance seeds and technology-based solutions that will benefit Indian farmers and the nation at large. It will also strive to actively contribute in its own way to the prime minister’s vision of doubling the farmers’ incomes by 2022 through seed science.

In addition, the key purpose and commitments of the FSII include providing a platform that will bring together like-minded seed companies who are committed to the seed business, intellectual property (IP) creation, IP protection and working for the welfare of Indian farmers.

FSII will work to address all issues, constraints and difficulties that affect the growth of seed and seed industry in India. The new federation would also build capacities and knowledge and engage in activities that alleviate distress in the farming community. FSII also plans to work closely and collaboratively with policy makers and all stakeholders to help in creating an enabling environment for the growth of research based seed industry.

Ramasami, chairman and managing director, Rasi Seeds, said, “Indian agriculture continues to face several challenges, such as increasing population, declining arable land, reducing fresh water availability, climate change and stagnant/reducing productivity.”

“All of these impact farmers’ income and sustainable agriculture. Another challenge for policy makers in India has been the increasing import dependence of edible oil and pulses. It is important to ensure both food and nutritional security for the country’s growing population,” he added.

“Seed is one of the key inputs that can deliver innovative solutions to address the agricultural challenges we have. This new association is committed to increase efforts in research and innovation in seed, which, in turn, would help our farmers and Indian agriculture.”

The founding members of this association have been pioneers in introducing many high-quality products in India. For instance, members of FSII include companies who commercialised India's first hybrids in rice, wheat, jowar, bajra, maize, sunflower and several vegetables.

Research products from these founding member companies include leaf curl virus-tolerant tomato, leaf curl virus-tolerant cotton, yellow vein mosaic virus-tolerant bhindi, single cross maize, etc.

Ramasami said, “Our new association is driven by the fundamental value of respecting research and intellectual properties of each other. The association believes that no single company has all the solutions and hence collaborations, joint ventures, licensing arrangements and similar approaches are necessary among the members of the industry. Such collaborative working is possible only based on fair dealings, mutual trust, respect for the law and honouring of contractual obligations. FSII is committed to foster such values amongst its members.”

FSII looks forward to working closely and collaboratively with all the stakeholders for the long-term benefit of Indian agriculture.