East-West Cooperation in Hybrid Seed Development

Hybrid seeds have traditionally been developed in the West, particularly in Europe and America, and genetically modified (GMO) hybrid seeds—which have proven successful—have been developed. However, scientists and international organizations have halted their spread due to uncertainty regarding their long-term safety for humans. Therefore, seed scientists from the Netherlands partnered with seed producers in Asia to establish an East-West company dedicated to producing modern seeds suited to the tropical climates of Asia and the hot regions of the Middle East. The company produces treated and coated seeds to ensure quality, productivity, germination rates, and the best crop yields. The company was founded over 30 years ago; its principal founder comes from a family with six generations of expertise in seed production in the Netherlands, while the Eastern partners are major farmers and investors specializing in seed production. Thus, the company started with a strong foundation for producing the best seeds. It produces most of the vegetable seeds for the Asian and Middle Eastern markets and is renowned for its tomato and cucumber products of all varieties, as well as pepper varieties in high demand in Asia, particularly India. At the request of farmers, the company has begun producing new varieties of papaya trees sought after in Asia. The company has invested millions of dollars in purchasing modern analytical equipment, including the first and largest seed DNA analyzer in Asia. This state-of-the-art device is valued at over $1.3 million and is the only one of its kind available in Asia. Through 30 years of research, the company develops seeds in its laboratories in Asia and across its 12 experimental farms in 7 countries. Approximately 25 vegetable varieties are developed annually, in addition to the current seed portfolio, which comprises more than 300 varieties across 40 types of vegetables. A state-of-the-art research center has been established with significant investment. Using DNA analysis, vegetable traits, quality, climate suitability, and disease resistance are determined to ensure optimal yields. Using (PCR) device for genetic analysis (DNA), 50,000 genetic lines can be analyzed at once, and 250,000 tests can be performed in 90 minutes, compared to older devices that perform only 360 analyses in 90 minutes. This research system facilitates rapid results, the provision of high-quality hybrid seeds, and shortens the production cycle for new seeds from 7–8 years to just 3 years. More than 30 million farmers benefit from the production of the East and West Company. The company’s seeds have been distributed in Kuwait with great success, and farmers benefit from the quality and high yield of the crops. Burgan Agricultural Company conducts ongoing trials at its farms in Abdali and Al-Wafra, and information on these trials and commercial production is available.