A new development initiative in line with current government policy had been developed by the SANSOR Board of Directors and was subsequently adopted by the SANSOR General Assembly during their Congress in May 2003.

The strategy for this initiative is based on encouraging training of new and emerging seed experts in seed knowledge, regulatory environments and enterprise management through the recognition of individual efforts of SANSOR members, as well as the provision of incentives to both students (emerging seed experts) and tutors (seed companies / - institutions) by means of performance awards and media publicity respectively. 

Action plans will be based on:

•  The introduction of a Movement to identify the “SANSOR Role Model of the Year for Emerging Seed Experts” to be governed by a steering committee to be established for this purpose.

• An approach to the South African Minister of Trade & Industry to act as Patron of the Movement.

• The formalization of in-service training in accordance with the unit standards of the sub-sector for seed under the Sector Education & Training Authority for Secondary Agriculture (SETASA) in terms of legislation governing skills development.

• The setting up of partnership programmes between trainees and seed companies and/or stakeholders (e.g. on an agency basis).

• The conducting of follow-up, report-back and refresher initiatives (courses/workshops) to identify successful role models and address deficiencies and problem areas.

• The submission of candidates to SANSOR for entering into the SANSOR Role Model of the Year Awards for Emerging Seed Experts.

• The selection of a group of finalists by the Awards Steering Committee from all the entries received in accordance with selection criteria in harmony with the unit standards of the Sub-sector for Seed under the auspices of the SETASA.

• The compilation of extensive audio-visual coverage on the performance achievements of both emerging seed experts and tutor companies/ - institutions in the partnership under the guidance of the Awards Steering Committee.

• The honouring of all finalists as guests of honour at a special, gala event during the SANSOR Annual Congress to which celebrities in agricultural and trade & industry circles, as well as the media would be invited.

• The highlighting of the credentials of candidates during this event by means of special appraisals towards emerging seed expert candidates and tributes to tutor companies / - institutions.  The specially prepared audio-visual coverage of projects on which finalists were evaluated will also be presented in spectacular fashion during this event in order to mobilize the media.

• The announcement of a winner as the “SANSOR Role Model of the Year for Emerging Seed Experts” during the course of the above-mentioned event.

• The awards to include scholarships to finance the attendance of national, regional and international initiatives on skills development in the seed industry by the “SANSOR Role Model of the Year for Emerging Seed Experts”, as well as a certificate of recognition to the responsible Tutor Company / - Institution signed by and handed over on behalf of the South African Minister of Trade & Industry, as Patron of the Movement.

Training efforts by individual companies are envisaged to be funded internally supported by the co-ordination of donations by international donor organizations and the SETASA for small & medium enterprise development through SANSOR.

Preparation of audio-visual coverage, media propaganda towards the Annual Awards Gala Event, as well as the actual Event is to be funded by a local, SANSOR-associated, corporate donor.

Prizes in kind are to be funded by international donor organizations.