Local Agricultural Breeding Expert Dr Anthony Tse Tin Yau
Advocates for Government Role in Seed Gene Preservation
Dr Anthony Tse Tin Yau, a local expert in agricultural breeding, has expressed a deep interest in agriculture and plant reproduction, having learned from his father, who was involved in the seed trade, from a young age. In 1967, he furthered his studies in the United States, successfully obtaining a PhD in Plant Physiology. Upon returning to Hong Kong, he worked at the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden until he took over the family business after his father’s passing, where he has been developing the seed trade while also engaging in research and development.
In the SCOM Talk Show, Dr Tse emphasized that seeds are the “chips” of agriculture, controlling a nation’s food supply. He noted that there is a lack of grassroots efforts to preserve seed genes and suggested that the government should take on this crucial role, while also focusing on training talent in this field. He pointed out that Hong Kong’s land and human resources are precious, and while agricultural development may seem limited when viewed solely from a production standpoint, there are limitless possibilities when one looks at the global context.
