As APES celebrates its 15th anniversary, we celebrate the progress made in the Peruvian agricultural sector and renew our commitment to sustainable development and the continuous improvement of seed production. In this context, the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI) reaffirms its support for the research, production, and marketing of quality seeds, especially those that play a fundamental role in improving agricultural productivity and the competitiveness of our farmers in national and international markets.

High-quality seeds not only guarantee a better harvest; they are also key to crop resistance to pests, diseases, water shortages, and climate variations. Through joint work with organizations like APES, MIDAGRI has promoted the adoption of advanced plant breeding technologies, developing new varieties that are better adapted to the country’s different geographical conditions.

Research and development are fundamental to this mission. The National Institute for Agrarian Innovation (INIA), under the supervision of MIDAGRI, plays a crucial role in the creation of new seed varieties, supported by modern plant breeding techniques that utilize biotechnology and genetic selection. Likewise, the work of the National Agrarian Health Service (SENASA), through its strict quality and phytosanitary controls, ensures that the seeds reaching farmers are safe and of the highest quality. Seed regulation and certification are crucial not only for the protection of our crops but also for the access of Peruvian products to international markets.

Peru has experienced significant growth in seed production and exports, becoming one of the main suppliers of off-season hybrid seeds. This achievement has been possible thanks to the collaboration between the public sector, represented by MIDAGRI (INIA and SENASA), and the private sector; in the latter, APES has played a pivotal role.

On the path to the future, we find opportunities that our country must take advantage of, such as the development of “edited seeds.” This is not only to support a new generation of highly productive, high-quality, and resilient seeds, but also to sustain a much more powerful livestock activity through the development of oilseed and protein-rich plant crops for animal feed. We must put biotechnology to work for us; and there, something that can be transcendental for small-scale agriculture: the development of high-tech seed ventures on small tracts of land. We are confident that together we will co-write the future of plant genetics.

In this commemoration of APES’s 15th anniversary, I celebrate the opportunity to renew our commitment to the Peruvian seed industry. We will continue laying the foundations for the most important agricultural expansion cycle in Peru’s history.

Angel Manero Campos

Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation