The 2003 ISF World Seed Congress was generally well organized and valuable international contacts were once again established through the various technical and social events.  Despite the threat of international terrorism, the war on Iraq and the lung disease SARS, more than 500 delegates travelled to Bangalore to participate in a congress, characterized by quality rather than quantity.

Mr Deon van Rooyen of Pannar Seed replaced Mr Willie Maree (formerly of Monsanto South Africa) as the South African representative on the ISF Board of Directors and will hold this position during the interim until the 2004 ISF Congress.  Apart from this responsibility, Mr Van Rooyen was also serving on the ISF Board for Maize & Sorghum, while Mr Mike Zingel of Mayford Seeds continued to serve as the South African representative on the ISF Board for Vegetables & Ornamental Plants.

During the various section meetings of the Annual ISF Congress during June 2003, Messrs Paul Marais (Agricol), Douw Steyn (Pannar Seed) and Dr Nick Kotze (Agricol) represented South Africa in discussions on forages, cereals and industrial crops/pulses respectively.  

The ISF Secretariat and Office Bearers were once again extremely productive, as well as focused during the interim and several issues were presented to the 2003 ISF Congress for adoption.  These included amendments to the Trade & Arbitration Rules, which had been adopted and entered into force on 1 July 2003.  The relevant amendments involved ISF rules and usages for the trade in seeds for sowing purposes that clarify and standardize contractual relations between buyers and sellers at the international level, the procedure rules for dispute settlement through mediation, conciliation or arbitration, as well as the management of intellectual property.  The relevant amended versions are available on the ISF website.

Several position papers on the material transfer agreement in the framework of the multilateral system of the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food & Agriculture; an  indication that a variety is genetically modified on the OECD List of Varieties; the disclosure of ‘source’ of biological material in intellectual property protection applications; and Genetic Use Restriction Technologies (GURTs), were adopted as well.

The ISF view on intellectual property was extensively debated and certain amendments to the chapter titled “Co-existence of Breeder’s Rights and Patents” were adopted.  According to the new wording, a commercially available variety protected only by Breeder’s Right and containing patented elements should remain freely available for further breeding. 

In addition, if a new plant variety has been neither essentially derived through further breeding, nor within the scope of the patent claims, it may be exploited without restriction by its developer.  If the newly developed variety is essentially derived or within the scope of the patent claims, however, consent from the owner of the initial variety or of the patent must be obtained.

Among the decisions taken by ISF Sections, it is worth noting that the Vegetable & Ornamental Section established two working groups on Definition of Plant- Pest Relationship and Product Specification respectively, while the Maize & Sorghum Section decided to survey ISF members on important phytosanitary issues in maize.  The Forage & Turf Section decided to discontinue the Tropical & Sub-tropical Grasses & Legumes Committee.  A Standing item on such issues, however, will be included on agendas of the Board of the Forage & Turf Section.  The latter section further decided to survey European members on their views on seed lot sizes for grass seed.

A two-day Seed Treatment Conference, attended by 115 participants, was presented immediately following the 2003 ISF Congress.  During this conference, specialists from all over the world presented technical, marketing and regulatory aspects of seed treatments.  The presentations were of a high standard and generated keen interest from all participants.