SEED CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS

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1 Outline Description of certification SEED CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS Origins of certification Governing bodies Classes of certified seed Other certification programs Jim Rouse Formed in 1902 as the Iowa Corn Growers Association Certifying seed in Iowa since 1921 Several organizations were merged in 1950 to become Designated by the state legislature as the official seed certifying agency in Iowa 501(c)(5) Non-profit organization 100+ current voting members Small, farmer owned seed enterprises Large, multi-national seed companies Permanent staff of 5-6 people, part-time staff of 50+ inspectors Office in west Ames What Is Seed Certification? Inspections, audits, testing to provide third-party verification of: Variety Purity Quality Type Strain Other genetic attributes of ag or vegetable seed Why Seed Certification? Maintain identity and purity throughout the logistics of: Variety development Seed increases Packaging Distribution Local, regional, national, international 1

2 Why Seed Certification? Difficult to find pure seed of new varieties Mixing of varieties Multiple names for same varieties Fultz wheat (1871) had 24 names Silvermine oats (1895) had 18 names Midwest soybeans had 24 names Origin Of Seed Certification 1904 Canada did first field inspections 1913 US began field inspections (WI) 1919 Canada and 12 states created Int l Crop Improvement Assn to establish / maintain uniform procedures Iowa State s Early Role Agronomy Dept method was to distribute to members of the [Exp St] enough pure seed to sow one acre to test against his own varieties. Producers can then evaluate Exp Station & Dept cooperated in data collection and reporting Iowa State s Early Role it had never been the policy of the [Iowa State] Agronomy Department or Experiment Station to participate in the inspection or sale of seed. H.D. Hughes Still became founding member of ICIA! Purpose of Certification (Int l CIA) to promote the agricultural interests of the various states and provinces of America, emphasizing especially the improvement of field crops in general and seed improvement in particular. Purpose Of Certification (Int l CIA) Standardize seed improvement and certification work by members Encourage breeding and improvement of field crops and seeds Propagate & disseminate elite, registered, certified, & improved seeds Create interest in better seeds 2

3 Standards Concepts Crop Specific Growth habit (annual, perennial) Pollination type (inbred, hybrid, OP) Minimum standards No member agency may establish less-strict standards in any respect, but may establish more-strict standards AOSCA Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies Change from Int l Crop Imp Assn in 1948 Membership US state agencies - 43 Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand South Africa (2012) Brazil (2014) OECD Seed Schemes Org. for Economic Cooperation & Develop. Initially European countries, post WWII National governments as members ~60 Participation in schemes is voluntary Must apply all rules and requirements Minimum standards for field inspection and labeling requirements Classes of Certified Seed (AOSCA) Breeder seed (a few pounds a few tons) Produced by originator, highest purity Source of all other classes of seed Foundation seed (a few bushels a few tons) Registered seed (up to a few thousand tons) Certified seed commercial scale AOSCA OECD Comparison Classes Standards (Max % off-type, Soybean) AOSCA OECD AOSCA OECD Breeder Pre-Basic 0.1 Foundation Basic Registered 0.2 Certified Certified 1 st Generation Eligibility for Certification US: Variety review boards, official agencies, PVP Many other countries: DUS: Must be distinct, uniform, and stable Varieties must be deemed as meriting certification All: Seed production field inspections, conditioning, testing, and labeling in accordance with standards 3

4 What Seeds Need Certification? Crossing an international border Protected varieties Plant Variety Protection Developer requirement Key Components Verification of seedstock eligibility Field inspection for varietal purity Seed inspection for varietal purity, germination, purity, noxious weed Cert label attached to approved product * Complete documentation provides traceability * Inspections by unbiased 3 rd party provides quality assurance Limitations of Certification Unable to view all areas of a field Unable to verify adequacy of isolation Requires a great deal of trust Post-control inspections can be useful Verify type, purity, but post-production OTHER CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS IN IOWA Quality Assurance Source Identified System parallel to certification scheme Initially designed for material not eligible to certify Same standards and paperwork except final certification of the seed System designed to certify to the seed purchaser the geographic location of the seed source Mainly used on native species of grasses, rangeland shrubs, and forbs 4

5 Thousands 11/30/2017 Identity Preserved (IP) Identifies grain and plant products that have met specific trait or purity standards Preserves the genetic and/or physical identity of those products Certification of Specialty Traits aka ACR Additional Certification Requirements Not mandated, but often helpful Clearfield wheat Past programs Low linolenic soybeans Linolenic acid content of 2% or less (ULL) or 2-3.5% (LL) Low sat soybeans Palmitic + stearic acid content of 8% or less Roundup Ready or Liberty Link soybeans Field inspections + lab tests Weed Free Forage & Mulch Questions? Not AOSCA or OECD North American Invasive Species Management Assn Field inspections for noxious weeds Used by DOT, pipeline for weed-free mulch Jim Rouse 4611 Mortensen Road, Suite PS: We have summer and fall internships available! There are always three speeches for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave. Dale Carnegie Acres Inspected ICIA s Nonprofit Status 501(c)(5) organization Fee-for-service, not funded by donations Operated as a business, not a charity Earnings provide salary & benefits for staff Excess earnings (i.e. profits) used to fund research and education Hybrid Corn Soybeans Native Species Foundation Corn Weed Seed Free Small Grains Total Grants to CALS and Agronomy Dept Endowed and annual scholarships Support for NACTA Crops Team 5

6 PLANT WHISPERER GENETIC WHIZ 6