Sathguru – Cornell Alliance Provides Strategic Vision for the Turkish Seed Industry
“Because of its location, Turkey has significant potential to address and engage with markets in Europe and Asia” said K. Vijayaraghavan CEO of Sathguru Management Consultants, Hyderabad and Regional Coordinator for the research programs of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in South Asia, at the interactive three day seed industry program held at Antalya, Turkey from 23 to 25 January 2012. The program, delivered by the Centre for Executive Education (CEE) of the Cornell University – Sathguru partnership in association with TURKTED, Turkey, was customized specifically to meet the requirements of seed industry professionals in a nation that uniquely spans two continents.
The three day program held at Turkey, provided participants with an intensive exposure to the various aspects related to the seed industry including: plant breeding, technology management, gaining strategic leadership in technology and IT solutions for enhancing seed sector productivity. The program was attended by a host of participants from seed companies from Turkey, Levant and Africa such as May Agro Tohumculuk A.Ş., Progen Tohum A.Ş., Bayer Türk Kimya Sanayi Ltd. Şti., Agromar Marmara Tar. Ürn. San. ve Tic. A.Ş., Turkey, the Cotton Development Organisation from Uganda and Debbane Freres SAL from Lebanon.
TURKTED, Turkey’s seed industry association identified the urgent need for building capacity within the local seed industry by increasing the awareness among the senior Industry professionals of advances in technology and strategy available to the seed sector. TURKTED identified the Cornell University – Sathguru partnership as the ideal choice for delivering an intensive program designed to enhance the participants’ ability to develop strategic solutions to augment business through a deeper understanding of research management, technology access through licensing, regulatory compliance, market access factors and business restructuring.
“The engagement with Turkish seed industry provides us with an opportunity to trigger industry leadership ideas for structuring growth through technology access options, global linkages and strategic presence in emerging markets,” said Mr. Vijayaraghavan at the conclusion of the well received three day event.
Cornell University and Sathguru’s collaborations over the decades in various projects in the agricultural and life-sciences sectors in India and other countries in Asia and Africa has provided the partnership with a keen understanding of the unique requirements in the region. For almost a decade and a half, this partnership has regularly offered highly sought after executive education programs targeted at the agri business, health sciences and food industries.