Regional Symposium High Value Vegetables in Southeast Asia – Production, Supply and Demand, (SEAVEG 2012) January 24-26, 2012, Thailand Participants during SEAVEG 2012 The Department of Agriculture (DOA), Thailand; Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre (AVRDC), Taiwan; ASEAN-AVRDC Regional Network (AARNET) Vegetable Science International Network (VEGINET) supported by P. N. Agricultural Science Foundation (PNASF) and Horticultural Science Society of Thailand (HSST), jointly organized the Regional Symposium: High Value of Vegetables in Southeast Asia – Production, Supply and Demand held during January 24-26, 2012 at Lotus Hotel Pang Suan Keaw, Chiang Mai, Thailand. More than 200 participants from about 25 countries namely, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Palestine, Philippines, Portugal, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Vietnam attended the Symposium. The maximum number of participants was represented from Asia. Dignitaries at the dais during SEAVEG 2012 Inaugural Session The inaugural session was presided over by Dr. (Mrs.) Mantana Milne, Deputy Director General, Department of Agriculture, Government of Thailand and the Chief Guest on the occasion was Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative, Asia and the Pacific; and the Guests of Honour were Dr. Prem Nath, former FAO Assistant Director General and Chairperson, VEGINET and Dr. Jacqueline d ’Arros Hughes, Deputy Director General, AVRDC and Dr. Suwit Chaikiattiyos, Director, Horticultural Research Institute, Bangkok. On this occasion, the welcome address was delivered by Dr. Prem Nath, opening remarks were given by Dr. (Mrs.) Mantana Milne and the Symposium activities report was presented by Dr. Suwit Chaikiattiyos. The Keynote address entitled “Growing Role of Vegetables in Food and Nutrition Security and Income Generation in Asia” was delivered by the Chief Guest, Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma, whereas the inaugural address entitled “The Nourished Millennium: How Vegetables Put Global Goals within Reach” was presented by Dr. Jacquiline d’ Arros Hughes’. During this session, the VEGINET International Award 2011 for outstanding research and development was presented by the Chief Guest, Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma to Prof. Joao Carlos da Silva Dias, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal. The technical sessions consisted of the following Session 1: Seed to Harvest Germplasm, Breeding, Crop Improvement Integrated Pest Management Crop Production and Cropping Systems Session 2: Harvest to Table Human Nutrition, Marketing Economic and Value Chains Session 3: Vegetables for Sustainable Development Urban Horticulture, Climate change, Country Reports.   About 53 oral papers and 34 poster papers were presented. Among the invited papers were: Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture and Vegetables by Dr. Prem Nath (India); From farm to table- how to reduce insecticidal residues in vegetables to WHO’s standard – a proposal to Asian Government by Dr. M. L. Anothai Choomsai (Thailand); Emergence of Whitefly transmitted geminiviruses: A major threat to vegetable production in Southeast Asia by Dr. Anupam Varma (India); Comparison of cultivation systems for Asian leafy vegetables and herbs in greenhouse by Prof. Michael Boehme (Germany); Potentials of acquatic vegetables in Asian diet by Prof. K. V. Peter (India); Improving the Supply chain management of vegetables through group action of farmers and contract farming: The Indian Context by Prof. P. G. Chengappa (India); Urban hydroponics-facts and vision by Prof. Wilfried H. Schnitzler (Germany); Trend of horticultural research particularly vegetables in India and its regional prospects by Dr. H. P. Singh (India); Transgenic vegetables for Southeast Asia by Prof. Joao Carlos da Silva Dias (Portugal); Importance of Food Safety in Vegetable production and Supply chain by Dr. Shashi Sareen (Thailand). During the Closing Session, the Plenary Speeches entitled “USAID’S Agricultural Research Strategy and the Role of Horticulture by Dr. John E. Bowman (USAID) and ‘The Water, Energy, Food and Nutrition Security Nexus: UNSGAB’s Message to UN conference on Sustainable Development (Rio Blus 20)” by Dr. Olivia La O’ Castillo (UNSGAB) were delivered. Roundtable discussion during the SEAVEG 2012 in Chiang Mai, Thailand   During this session, a lively roundtable discussion moderated by Dr. Robert J. Holmer (AVRDC) with Dr. Prem Nath, (VEGINET), Dr. Jacqueline d ’Arros Hughes (AVRDC), Dr. Olivia La O’ Castillo (UNSGAB), Dr. Grisana Linwattana (DOG) and Dr. John E. Bowman (USAID) on dais and all participants in the audience, was held. At the Closing session, the General Assembly of the SEAVEG 2012, recommended that the second SEAVEG and the second ICV (International Conference on Vegetables) be held together during early 2014. It may be noted that the first ICV 2002 was held during November 2002 in Bangalore, whereas ICH-2009 (International Conference on Horticulture) was held in November 2009, both organized by PNASF.   Before concluding the closing session the following awards were presented to participants; PNASF Award PNASF Award-Outstanding leadership in organizing the SEAVEG-2012 For Outstanding leadership in organizing the SEAVEG 2012 to Dr. Robert J. Holmer (Thailand) by Dr. Olivia La O’ Castillo, Member, United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB), Manila, Philippines. For Outstanding leadership in organizing the SEAVEG 2012 to Dr. Grisana Linwattana (Thailand) by Dr. Olivia La O’ Castillo, Member, United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB), Manila, Philippines. VEGINET Award VEGINET Awards Outstanding contribution in Vegetable Research and Development was presented on 24/01/2012 to Prof. Joao da Silva Dias (Portugal) by Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma, ADG, FAO RAP, Bangkok The Best Oral Paper of SEAVEG 2012 was presented to Dr. Allan P. Bacho, (Philippines) by Dr. Jacqueline d ’Arros Hughes, DDG (Research), AVRDC, Taiwan. VEGINET It was conceived and approved by the General Assembly of the ICV-2002. The VEGINET has been launched on 1st November, 2003. The Launching Paper is attached for information and membership contribution. The concession rate membership fee is applicable upto April 30, 2004 only. PUBLICATION A book entitled "Food Security and Vegetables - A Global Perspective" with 29 papers by the international authors of repute was published and released in March, 2004. The book is available on sale with the PNASF. A book entitled “Vegetable Crops – Improvement and Production” authored by Dr. Prem Nath, Dr. V.K. Srivastava, Dr. O.P. Dutta and Dr. K.R.M. Swamy published by the Prem Nath Agriculture Science Foundation, Bangalore on November 18, 2007 at the Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra (GKVK), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. The book is available on sale with the PNASF. A book entitled “Foods and Nutrition” authored by Dr. K.G. Ahuja, Dr. Prem Nath and Dr. K.R.M. Swamy and published by PNASF and Studium Press, New Delhi was released by Shri S.A. Ravindranath during the International Conference on Horticulture (ICH-2009) was held in Bangalore, Karnataka State, India during November 9, 2009. The book is available on sale with the Studium Press, New Delhi. A book entitled “Horticulture and Livelihood Security” prepared by PNASF, edited by Prem Nath and P.B. Gaddagimath and jointly published by Scientific Publishers (India), Jodhpur and PNASF, Bangalore on September 25, 2010 at Raj Bhawan, Bangalore. The book is available on sale with the Scientific Publishers (India), Jodhpur. Women Development - 2006 The PNASF has received funds to develop and implement the field project on capacity building on income-generation among the women of poor rural communities Graduate Scholarship The PNASF has received grants to award scholarship to women students for pursuing MSc/PhD in agriculture and food sciences. Awards 2005 The PNASF awarded plaque to the recognized senior agricultural scientist Padmashree Dr. M.Mahadevappa during the International Workshop on Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture held on June 29 – July, 02, 2005 in Bangalore. The young agricultural scientist award to Dr. S.K. Malhotra of National Research Centre on Seed Spices, Ajmer was awarded PNASF Gold Medal for his outstanding contribution on seed spices during the SYMSAC-II Current Trends in Onion, Garlic, Chillies and Seed Spices held on November 25, 2005 in Pune.