Syngenta Thailand has expanded its vegetable seed research and development station in Khon Kaen province, transforming it into a seed enhancement hub. This initiative utilizes cutting-edge innovation and technology to enhance seeds, addressing challenges related to climate change, pests, and disease resistance, with the goal of fortifying product excellence and quality for the global market.
Dr. Ashish Patel, Head of Germplasm Development Solanaceous Crops for APAC, Syngenta Seeds (Thailand) Co., Ltd. said, 'This expansion of the R&D station will enhance our capacity to support extended research and development projects. We have developed innovative technologies to support seed enhancement projects, incorporating new genetic characteristics like climate change resistance, as well as pest and disease resistance. These efforts aim to address challenges faced by farmers, enabling them to achieve higher productivity and deliver high-quality products for consumers.'
The vegetable seed research and development station of Syngenta is located in Ban Khok Yai, Ban Fang district, Khon Kaen Province. It was established to support vegetable breeding programs, including tomatoes, watermelons, and peppers, with a primary focus on the ASEAN market. The facility provides convenient amenities for both the research team at the station and the seed production team for commercial purposes. The infrastructure includes office spaces, and cold storage rooms for long-term and short-term seed storage. Additionally, standardized research laboratories have been constructed to maintain the genetic safety of the seeds and accommodate ASEAN projects and teams.
Additionally, the seed research and development station in Khon Kaen Province has expanded its scope of work to include additional plants: sweet corn and cucumber. It has also initiated seed enhancement to cater to markets in various regions such as Asia-Pacific, Africa, North America, and Europe evenly. Furthermore, it is also a crucial research station with a continuous focus on developing seeds for the Watermelon and cucurbit family from global breeding programs.
Over a span of more than 19 years, the company has operated sustainably and efficiently to accommodate the expansion of the global market, promoting local employment and collaborating with local communities and universities in Thailand to foster agricultural innovations and enhance food security.
"We believe that our commitment to develop innovative seeds not only addresses the challenges faced by farmers dealing with daily climate changes, but also positions this R&D station expansion as a crucial hub for vegetable seed research in the Asia-Pacific region and worldwide. Our goal is to create sustainable food security and strengthen product excellence and quality for the global market," added Dr. Ashish Patel.