Keshavulu Kunusoth

Keshavulu Kunusoth (born on July 10, 1970) is an agriculture scientist, having expertise and specialization in seed industry, seed science research, seed production, quality assurance, capacity building and seed sector development. He is based in Hyderabad, India. He comes from an agricultural family in a small village of Warangal District in Telangana State, India. He is currently serving as Director, Telangana State Seed & Organic Certification Authority (TSSOCA) and additional responsibility of Managing Director and Telangana Seeds Development Corporation (TSSDC), Hyderabad. Keshavulu is also the President of International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), an international seed organization.
==Education and Professional Experience==
Dr. Keshavulu completed graduation in Agricultural Science in 1994 and post graduation in Seed Science and Technology in 1996 from Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. He has done Ph.D. with specialization in Seed Science and Technology from the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University in 2006 and Post Doctoral Fellowship Research from University of California, Davis, USA in the year 2010. 
Dr. Keshavulu has 22 years of experience in administration, research, teaching and extension in the field of Agriculture. He had worked as Professor & University Head, Dept. of Seed Science & Technology, Professor Jaya Shankar Telangana State Agricultural University (Formerly Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University), Hyderabad, India. He has worked in various capacities in Government of Telangana and State Agriculture University, several international seed organizations and made several contributions in formulation of seed policies/legislation, seed production, certification, quality control and international seed cooperation.
He has also worked in the University of California, Davis, USA on advanced genetic and molecular basis of seed dormancy, germination and seed quality and worked as strategic member partners for United State Agency for International Development (USAID) on "Seed systems in the East African and South Asian Countries". He also paved the way for Indo-African Seed Platform under South-South Cooperation of FAO to promote seed trade and cooperation between the regionshttps://tssoca.telangana.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/12.-FAO-WorKshop-on-Seed-Production-Quality-Control.pdf.
He is coordinating the seed production programs of Telangana State and has brought reforms in the seed sector of Telangana State, Telangana today quoted that, "FAO recognizes Telangana as global seed hub" https://tssoca.telangana.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/1.-Brochure-on-Telangana-as-Global-Seed-Hub.pdf.
He is the first person from Asian continent to become the President of International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), Switzerland in its 94 years of history. He has helped bring the 32nd ISTA Congress-2019 to India, it was the first time in Asia, India hosted the event in June 2019 at Hyderabadhttps://tssoca.telangana.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/8-11-32nd-ISTA-Congress.pdf .
He has brought many changes to Telangana State Seed & Organic Certification Authority (TSSOCA), Overseas news quoted TSSOCA as "Model seed certification authority in country" through the initiatives like complete online seed certification, infrastructure development, uniformity of procedures and also made several recommendations to Govt. of India for the improvement of seed quality regulation in the country. He has helped initiate the International OECD Seed Certification for the first time in the country and facilitated the seed exports under OECD seed schemes to different countries. He helped establish Telangana Organic Certification Authority to promote organic farming and certification. He has also helped establish ISTA international seed testing lab, the Hindu quoted the lab as "world-class seed testing lab", the lab is located at Hyderabad to cater the seed testing needs of the industry for domestic and export markets .
==Notable Awards/Honors/Recognitions==
* 2022: M.S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection-2022 by Rotary Club Madras East (RCME), Chennai, and the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation.
* 2020: Policy Leadership Award by Agriculture Today Group, New Delhi
* 2019: Fellow of Indian Society of Seed Technology (ISST), New Delhi.
* 2018: Global CEO Award, Indian Council for Food and Agricultural, New Delhi.
* 2013: Out Standing Research Scientist Award of AP Seedsmen Association, Hyderabad.
* 2013: A V Krishnaiah Best Researcher Award of ANGRAU, Hyderabad.
* 2012: Outstanding Scientist Excellence Award of the FAPCCI, Hyderabad, India.
* 2010: Best Teacher award of ICAR
* 2008-09: Prestigious Young Scientist in Science and Technology (BOYSCAST) Fellowship Award, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, India
==Research Scholarly Articles==
Sl. No	Sole or Team Author	Name of the Article 	Name of the Publisher 	Date of Article Published
1. 	
Team
(Second Author )	Desiccant drying prior to hermetic storage extends viability and reduces bruchid (Callosobruchus chinensis L.) infestation of mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek) seeds	Journal of Stored Products Researchhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022474X21001272 	December, 2021
2. 	Team
(Fourth Author)	Correlation Analysis and Frequency Distribution Among Seed Traits in a Population of F2:3 Progenies of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) 	Frontiers in Crop Improvementhttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/354380671 	September, 2021
3. 	Team
(First Author)	Harmonising seed regulatory regime for up-scaling global seed trade 	Journal of Cereal Researchhttps://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/JWR/article/download/115270/45373/305710 	August, 2021
4. 	Team
(Second Author )	32nd ISTA Congress – Seed Symposium 	32nd ISTA Congress – Seed Symposiumhttps://dokumen.tips/download/link/ista-seed-symposium-abstracts-ista-ista-online-8-32nd-ista-congress-a-seed 	June, 2019
5. 	Team
(Third Author)	Baseline Study on the Regulatory and Political Frame of the Seed Sector in India 	Indo-German Cooperation on Seed Sector Developmenthttps://www.indogermanseedproject.com/reports-and-studies https://indogermanseedproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Baseline-Study-of-Regulatory-Frame-of-Seed-Sector-in-India_web.pdf 	July, 2018
6. 	Team
(First Author)	Report of Study Visit on EU Seed Certification System 	Indo-German Cooperation on Seed Sector Developmenthttps://indogermanseedproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Study-Visit-Report-on-EU-Seed-Certification-System_web.pdf 	July, 2018
7. 	Team
(Fourth Author)	The dry chain: Reducing postharvest losses and improving food safety in humid climates 	Trends in Food Science & Technologyhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092422441730482X 	January, 2018
8. 	Team
(Fifth Author)	Potential impacts of desiccant-based drying and hermetic storage on the value chain for onion seeds in Nepal 	Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economieshttps://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JADEE-12-2015-0056/full/html 	June, 2018
9. 	Team
(Second Author)	Seed sector development strategy for Andhrapradesh and Telangana states 	Agriculture Updatehttp://researchjournal.co.in/upload/assignments/12_1168-1174.pdf 	July, 2017
10. 	Team
(Fourth Author)	Impacts of a new post-harvest drying technology on the horticultural seed value chain in Nepal 	International Horticultural Congress 2014, Australiahttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/305441916 	July, 2016
11. 	Team
(First Author)	Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Elite Indian Rice Varieties Using Agro-Morphological Traits and SSR Markers. 	American Journal of Experimental Agriculture.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273337619 	January, 2015
12. 	Team
(Fifth Author)	Seed Systems-Improving Seed Quality for Smallholders during 2011-2014 	USAID/Horticulture Innovative Laboratory/UC Davishttps://horticulture.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk1816/files/extension_material_files/handout-dahal-seeds.pdf https://horticulture.ucdavis.edu/ https://horticulture.ucdavis.edu/information/dry-chain-reduces-losses-toxins-dried-foods	January , 2014
13. 	Team
(Second Author)	Post-harvest drying of tomato (Licopersiconesculentus L.) seeds to ultra-low moisture safe storage using desiccant (Zeolite) beads and other effects on seed quality 	American Journal of Researchhttp://www.usa-journals.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Nassari_Vol24.pdf 	April, 2014
14. 	Team
(Third Author)	Expression of 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase4 is essential for thermoinhibition of lettuce seed germination but not for seed development or stress tolerance 	The Plant Cellhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23503626/ 	March, 2013
15. 	Team
(First Author)	New technology for postharvest drying and storage of seeds. 	Seed Times (New Delhi), Indiahttps://nsai.co.in https://hortcrspinfomanagement.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/6/4/12646497/del_9.pdf 	March, 2012
==Recent Accomplishments==
* Support for FAO’s efforts towards the development of Effective Seed Systems: Supported FAO’s efforts towards the development of effective seed systems in developing nations as a member of the Scientific Advisory Panel, Co-Lead for seed system theme, and Co-Chair for the session “Seed enterprise development and international trade” and also as a lead speaker in the Session “System Innovations in the Seed Value Chain” of FAO Global Conference on Green Development of Seed Industries, held on 4-5 November 2021.
* Application of IT Skills: Introduced Complete Online Seed Certification Process, it is a path-breaking initiative in the 55 years history of Indian seed certification with a view to ensure transparency, accountability, and speedy services and also to encourage genuine seed companies in supplying high-quality seeds to the farming community
* International OECD seed certification: India became a member country in 2008, initiated International OECD Seed Certification in 2015-16 for the first time in the country, and facilitated seed exports to other countries to enhance international seed trade.
* International Seed Testing Laboratory: Established State-of-Art seed quality testing Laboratory at Hyderabad as per the ISTA Standards. 
* Capacity Building Activities: Organized a number of national and international workshops/conferences in collaboration with FAO, OECD, ISTA, USAID and the Germany ministry for agriculture and seedsector development.
* Indo-German Project on Seed Sector Development: Identified gaps in the Indian seed sector through the baseline study and SWOT analysis and developing seed sector in line with European Countries to enhance international seed trade.
* International Cooperation: Member for several national and international committees and representing India in international seed organizations like ISTA, OECD seed schemes, ISF,APSA, USAID, etc. for policies/regulatory framework on seeds and seed standards for domestic and international seed trade.
* 32nd ISTA congress-2019: I am instrumental in bringing 32nd ISTA Congress-2019 to India, it is for the first time in Asia, and India is hosting a prestigious event in June 2019 at Hyderabad. About 800 global seed experts including policymakers, scientists, the seed industry, ISTA, ISF, AFSA, UPOV, AOSA & OECD from more than 80 countries will be participating in the Congress. The Government of India has nominated me as Nodal Officer/Convener of the 32nd ISTA congress-2019.
* Established Organic Certification Authority: Established Telangana State Organic Certification Authority and obtained accreditation by APEDA to render Organic Certification services for the promotion of organic farming in the State.
Category:1970 births
Category:Indian people
Category:Agricultural science
Category:Scientists
Category:Research