Australian seed industry leader Donald Coles has been recognised by the International Seed Federation with an outstanding contribution award.
Donald Coles, who led the International Seed Federation (ISF) as its president during the COVID-19 pandemic, was in Cape Town, South Africa for the World Seed Congress to accept his award.
In making the Award, current ISF president, Marco van Leeuwen, recognised that Mr Coles had served during one of the most tumultuous periods for the ISF and broader industry. Mr Coles was praised for how he led the executive committee through a new structure, together with launching renewed key strategic objectives.
Addressing the international seed industry, Mr Coles said, “I cannot think of an industry anywhere in the world in human history that has contributed more than ours, something you should be very proud of, for you and your forebears…we do this in a society that has expectations upon us.
“Fewer inputs on fewer hectares, and we do so in difficult climatic conditions with huge climate change effects on us, so the hill is very steep to climb.”
Mr Coles has more than 40 years of experience in the seed industry, including his time as managing director of family-owned Valley Seeds. During this time, Mr Coles was directly involved in breeding new plant varieties, specifically the development, maintenance and auditing of trial protocols for forage, turf seed and cereals. From 2012–2018, he served as director and president of the Australian Seed Federation.
Chief executive of the Australian Seed Federation Katherine Delbridge said, “The members and team of the Australian Seed Federation are grateful to the role Donald played in elevating the Australian seed industry to the world stage. Donald is a very worthy recipient of this award.”
In closing his acceptance speech, Mr Coles thanked the team of the International Seed Federation and the membership which he said makes the seed industry what it is. He declared it a huge honour to have been participating in a leadership role within the seed industry for so long.
