Dr. Zhang Mengyu

In this two-part series iteration of "Seed for Thought", we have the privilege of delving into the remarkable life and career of Dr. Zhang Mengyu. A distinguished figure in the seed industry. Dr. Zhang is a Past President and Honorary Lifetime Member of APSA, and recently retired to formally conclude a four-decade career. In the first part of the series, Dr. Zhang reflects on his path to seed in China and APSA, highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped his career. From his early days on rural farms and Chinese institutes, to his leadership positions at well-known multinational companies, Dr. Zhang's dedication and commitment have been instrumental in promoting international collaborations and advancing the seed industry in the AsiaPacific region.

I was born in 1962 in a small village in Jiangsu Province, eastern China, surrounded by fertile land where rice, wheat, rapeseed, and vegetables were grown for sustenance. Growing up in a rural area, agriculture and seeds left a lasting impression on me, as my family had relied on farming for generations. The village farmers carefully selected and preserved most of the grain seeds, while the township government occasionally distributed new varieties. Vegetable seeds were either purchased in rural markets or reserved by our family. Despite the year-round cultivation, there was always a shortage of food, requiring us to plant sweet potatoes and other non-grain crops to supplement our diet until the next rice harvest. I vividly remember the "busy vacations" during my schooling years, when we would assist our family with essential field work such as composting, transplanting rice, and harvesting. These experiences made agriculture and seeds a familiar part of my life.

My passion for agriculture and seeds was destined to grow. In 1981, five years after the resumption of the college entrance examination in China, I was admitted to the vegetable major at Nanjing Agricultural University, becoming the first university student from my village after the resumption. Four years later, upon graduation, I began my career at the China National Seed Station/China National Seed Corporation of MOA in Beijing, the premier seed industry institution in China at that time. This marked the beginning of my lifelong commitment to the field of seeds.

Initially, I assisted senior experts in vegetable overseas seed production, international seed trade, and exchanges. This allowed me to expand my knowledge and skills in various areas. Starting as a seed production technician, I diligently studied seed production technology and gradually progressed from assistant agronomist to agronomist, senior agronomist, and finally, an agricultural technology promotion researcher. Alongside my professional growth, I pursued further education, completing my EMBA and PhD studies. Throughout my journey, I received invaluable training, guidance, and support from esteemed mentors, professors, company leaders, expert colleagues, and my accomplished wife, who is a renowned cucumber breeder. These experiences garnered me numerous honors.

In order to broaden my international perspective, diversify my career, and enhance my service capabilities centered around seeds, I subsequently held positions as the Director of Government Affairs at multinational seed companies, including DuPont Pioneer China and Syngenta China. After working with the China National Seed Group Corporation (CNSG) for 25 years, these roles provided me with invaluable insights into the challenges faced by the seed industry today, from various perspectives and dimensions.

Throughout my 38-year career, I have witnessed remarkable advancements in seed technology in China, the Asia-Pacific region, and globally, leading to the rapid development of agriculture. I have personally seen the China crop seed market undergo a significant transformation, with its value rising from less than 4 billion US dollars during the ASC 2005 in Shanghai to approximately 10 billion US dollars today. This expanding market capacity has been accompanied by an accelerated pace of marketization within the seed industry and improvements in the legal framework, including seed laws and PVP regulations. The impact of seed development on food and agricultural products in China has been extraordinary, transitioning from scarcity to sufficiency. From the mid-1990s onwards, China broke away from a limited vegetable supply (predominantly Chinese cabbage, potatoes, and radishes in Northern China during winter) and fixed quantities of staple foods (rice, flour, sugar, meat) obtained through vouchers. Now, we have a thriving agricultural product market, offering a wide variety of seasonal vegetables and diverse grain options, allowing consumers to choose according to their preferences. China has not only achieved food security but has also prioritized nutrition and health. The indispensable contribution of seeds to agricultural production in China stands at an impressive rate of over 46%.

China has been a strong supporter of APSA since its inception in 1994 and became a founding member. APSA's primary objective is to promote seed development and enhance food security in the Asia-Pacific region through highquality seed production and expanded trade. I had the privilege of attending the founding conference and the first ASC in Thailand as part of a CNSGC delegation comprising members of the Chinese seed industry. Over the years, several of my colleagues and friends from CNSGC and other companies have served on the APSA Executive Committee (EC), and we have engaged in frequent discussions on matters related to APSA. This early involvement allowed me to develop a comprehensive understanding of APSA. In 2001, with the endorsement of CNSGC and CNSTA, I represented the Chinese seed industry in running for the APSA EC. During the election process, I expressed my commitment to enhancing communication and collaboration among APSA EC members and seed industries in the Asia-Pacific region. Together, we aimed to achieve APSA's goals and objectives while fostering the mutual development of the seed industry in our region. The attending representatives responded positively to my election oath, leading to my successful appointment as an EC member and embarking on my journey of serving APSA.

I distinctly remember that when I first joined the EC, APSA faced certain challenges. The organization lacked strong financial capabilities, experienced membership fluctuations, and hosted limited activities and events. Financial support and coordination from FAO were crucial during this period. Coincidentally, the Chinese seed industry had just commenced its marketization process, with relatively few Chinese enterprises and professionals actively participating in international seed events and exhibitions such as ASC/ APSA and WSC/ISF. Many lacked a deep understanding of the importance of joining APSA. Consequently, the number of Chinese members within APSA was limited, and their membership was intermittent, resulting in relatively low engagement during ASC, and exhibition booths were a rarity. Typically, representatives from CNSGC and CNSTA attended these events and subsequently disseminated the information about ASC and the global seed industry to the Chinese seed industry through domestic seed events and magazines.

During my tenure as an APSA Executive Committee (EC) member, I actively promoted and publicized APSA in China, with a particular focus on the following areas:

Promoting APSA Membership and Internationalization: Working in collaboration with the National Seed Associations, I engaged in extensive communication with government entities, including MOA, to encourage seed companies in China to actively join APSA and participate in the ASC for business cooperation in seed import and export. Recognizing the language barrier as a hindrance to active participation by Chinese companies, I advocated for the recruitment of an APSA representative in China. This dedicated representative coordinated membership development, ASC participation, and assisted in organizing the ASC 2005 in Shanghai. This initiative proved highly effective and continues to this day.

Hosting the ASC in China: To elevate APSA's influence in China and create awareness within the Chinese seed industry about international seed industry developments, I worked with the support of APSA's Executive Committee and obtained approval from relevant Chinese government departments, such as MOA, MFA, and the Shanghai Municipal Government, to successfully bring the ASC 2005 to China. Together with the APSA Secretary General, we visited Professor Yuan Longping, the Father of Hybrid Rice, who delivered a keynote speech at ASC 2005. The largest ASC to date was successfully held in Shanghai, enabling Chinese seed enterprises to personally attend the international seed conference, witness the global seed industry's progress, engage in on-site negotiations for international seed business, experience the business opportunities facilitated by APSA, and further the internationalization of China's seed industry.

Strengthening APSA's Positioning in the Global Seed Industry: Collaborating with fellow EC members, I focused on enhancing APSA's global coordination capabilities. APSA is the largest regional seed association in the world, serving a region characterized by diverse populations, religions, languages, cultures, and social systems. By fostering communication and cooperation between APSA and national seed associations in the Asia-Pacific region, and by engaging with relevant governments on technical, practical, and legal matters pertaining to seeds, including intellectual property protection and inspection and quarantine protocols, we aimed to support the healthy development of APSA and the AsiaPacific seed industry. Furthermore, we fostered collaborations with other international seed-related organizations such as ISF, UPOV, ISTA, as well as regional and national seed organizations outside the Asia-Pacific region. These partnerships aimed to promote the sustainable, healthy, and stable growth of the global seed industry, thereby contributing to global food security and establishing APSA's significant position within the global seed industry. The efforts of past and present APSA presidents and EC members have yielded fruitful results in areas such as membership development, policy exchanges, technology training, and the establishment of the ASC platform.

Continuing Support for APSA: Even after stepping down as APSA President, I remained actively involved and closely collaborated with the APSA Secretariat and past and present EC members to address various difficulties and challenges encountered in recent years, ensuring APSA's steady progress. Throughout my service as an EC member, I dedicated eight consecutive years to APSA, making significant contributions. I am grateful for the recognition bestowed upon me by APSA, including being elected as APSA President at the EC meeting during the ASC 2005 in Shanghai and being honored as an Honorary Life Member of APSA in 2018.

This concludes part one of two. Stay tuned for part two of two, to be featured in the next issue.