Tainan, Taiwan
June 2013

Source: AVRDC newsletter

Seed companies have always promoted the abundant harvests their products deliver. But can they also spread the word about nutrition and health? AVRDC Nutritionist Ray-Yu Yang, Tomato Breeder Peter Hanson, and AVRDC Bangladesh Vegetable Sector Leader Shahabuddin Ahmad have joined with Lal Teer Seed Limited in Bangladesh to give the concept a try.

AVRDC Director General Dyno Keatinge (r) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
Lal Teer Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo.

Together with Lal Teer Seed R&D Manager Gazi Md. Mohsin and Marketing Manager S. M. Abdul Mukit, the team developed a Seed Grant Proposal for A4NH (Agriculture for Nutrition and Health, a CGIAR Research Program) to promote greater vegetable consumption and healthier diets in Bangladesh through nutrition messages to be distributed by Lal Teer as part of its overall marketing effort. Staff will receive training in nutrition awareness, and the effects of the
promotion on consumer behavior will be measured.

The novel proposal was approved by A4NH, and will be led by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). If successful in Bangladesh, the model could be extended to other seed companies in Asia and Africa. AVRDC Director General Dyno Keatinge recently visited Lal Teer to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Lal Teer Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo and tour the company’s laboratories, seed processing and quality control unit. Lal Teer aims to supply high quality, well-adapted seed to reduce the need for imported seed; it currently produces seed of 32 vegetable crops with 128 varieties.

Website: http://www.lalteer.com

Published: June 11, 2013