Welcome New Committee Members

Prof. Fan Xingming

Committee: SIG Field Crops

Company: Yunnan Tian Rui Seed Industry Co., Ltd.

Country: China

Professor Fan Xingming is the Chief Scientist of YAAS (Institute of Food Crops, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences) in Kunming, China. With a Ph.D. in Crop Genetics & Breeding from China Agriculture University, Beijing, and an MA in Agriculture from Chiang Mai University, Thailand, he has extensive expertise in crop genetics and breeding, hybrid development, and demonstration and extension. His research focuses on the utilization of maize germplasm from different climates. Fan Xingming has published numerous scientific articles and holds patents related to maize breeding methods. He has received multiple awards for his outstanding contributions and has memberships in various scientific societies.

Dr Woosik Kang

Committee: SC Seed Technology

Company: Korea Seed & Variety Service

Country: Korea

Woosik Kang is a professional specializing in seed physiology and seed testing. Currently, he serves as the R&D Scientist and Seed Testing Team Leader at the Korea Seed & Variety Service. With a diverse background in the field, he holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Seed Physiology from Deagu University in Korea, as well as a B.S. in Agriculture. Dr. Kang has made significant contributions to seed physiology, particularly in areas such as seed viability testing, germination testing, nondestructive determination of seed viability, seed technology, and the development of national competency standards in the seed production sector.

Mr Allan Nieves

Committee: SIG Field Crops

Company: Syngenta Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.

Country: Singapore

Allan Nieves is a seasoned professional in the Philippine seeds industry with almost 25 years of experience. After obtaining his Agriculture degree from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, he began his career as a research associate before joining Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines in 1997. Throughout his journey, Allan excelled in various roles, including field agronomist, Agronomy Manager, Commercial Operations Lead, Country Manager, and APAC Agronomy Lead, specializing in hybrid corn and rice testing, positioning, and farmer training. Currently, he serves as the APAC Technical Agronomy Lead, providing mentorship to agronomy teams in the region. Allan is based in Laguna, Philippines, where he and his wife Mylene raise their three young adult sons and enjoy their farm during weekends and free time.

Dr Latha J. Reddy

Committee: SIG Veg & Orn (R&D AG)

Company: Monsanto Holdings Pvt Ltd

Country: India

Latha J. Reddy is a versatile and experienced professional with a rich background in research and IT workflows in both academia and industry. As the Head of Innovation, Business, and Pipeline Planning for Veg R&D in the APAC region at Bayer, she demonstrates excellent leadership skills and plays a crucial role in Asia and global collaboration for vegetable business projects. Her expertise lies in enabling vegetable R&D with digital workflows, pipeline planning, managing projects within APAC and coordination and collaboration across the globe, IT product deployment, data mining, analysis, visualization and building partnership with relevant stakeholders.

Dr R. Rajasekaran

Committee: SC Seed Technology Company: SeedWorks International Pvt. Ltd. Country: India

Dr R. Rajasekaran is a highly experienced professional in the field of agriculture, specializing in Seed Science & Technology. With over 18 years of expertise in Quality Management, Production Planning & Control, and Project Execution, he has made significant contributions to the Seed Industry. Dr Rajasekaran has successfully implemented quality standards, monitored performance, and initiated continuous improvement initiatives, resulting in improved product quality and business excellence. He has played a key role in aligning QA processes with global organization and has been involved in accreditation processes. Dr Rajasekaran is a certified lead auditor and six sigma green belt holder and has demonstrated skills in process efficiency, risk management, and team development.

Mr Suresh Soosai Committee: SIG Field Crops Company: DuPont Pioneer, dba Corteva Agriscience Country: USA

Suresh Soosai is a highly experienced and self-motivated leader in the seed industry, currently serving as the Director of APAC Regional Seed Production and Supply Chain at Corteva Agriscience Private Limited. With a Master's degree in agriculture, specializing in Plant Breeding and Genetics, he has amassed 30 years of experience in various aspects of the seed industry. His expertise spans seed production management, marketing, product management, business management, and production and supply chain management at both the country and regional levels. Suresh has worked with a diverse range of field crops and possesses strong cross-functional knowledge in seed business operations across the APAC region.

Mr Marc Cool Committee: SC IPR & Biodiversity Company: DuPont Pioneer, dba Corteva Agriscience Country: USA

Marc Cool is a fifth-generation seedsman, holding a Master's Degree in Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology from the Agricultural University of Wageningen in the Netherlands. With a career spanning over 33 years, Marc has contributed significantly to the alfalfa seed industry in California, expanding global markets for proprietary varieties and technology. He later ventured into Oregon, assuming sales, marketing, and management responsibilities for the turf and forage grass sector across the Americas, Pacific Rim, and Asia. Currently, as part of the Corteva AgriscienceTM External Affairs group, Marc leads global seed policy development and supports the Seed Platform. He also plays a crucial role in engaging with global trade associations, focusing on shaping the global policy environment for genome editing, the latest innovation driving agricultural advancements.

Mr Md. Azizul Hoque

Committee: SC Seed Technology

Company: Lal Teer Seed Limited

Country: Bangladesh

Md. Azizul Hoque is a seasoned professional in the field of seed technology with 12 years of experience. As a Technical Manager at the MNT Seed Testing Laboratory, he has been actively involved in various aspects of seed quality evaluation, seed production, and seed quality assurance. His expertise lies in ensuring the adherence to international standards and implementing quality control measures to maintain the highest standards in seed testing and production. Through his extensive training and participation in workshops, he has gained in-depth knowledge of seed health testing, seed sampling, purity, germination, moisture determination and tetrazolium test for seed viability & vigour analysis.