b' TRAINING AND EDUCATIONWell attended lectures (left) and practicing visual seed inspection (right) at the ISTA workshop onDemonstration and practice of the application of Insect Detection in Seed Testing the Berlese funnel during the workshopPractising X-ray image analysis of insect-infested seed (left) and visual seed inspection (right)from 15 countries (Belgium, Brazil, Denmark,On the second day the participants had a morelaboratories, insects must be alive to be reported. Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy,practical and hands-on learning experience.All participants underlined the demand for Latvia, The Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan,They rotated in small groups to work on visualinsect detection in seed lots, highlighting the Poland and Switzerland) were hosted, as well asseed inspection, sieving and Berlese funnelimportance of addressing insect detection inten lecturers (France, Denmark, Brazil and Theapplications, but also X-ray imaging andthe International Rules for Seed Testing (ISTA Netherlands). insect identification. In addition to this, theRules), notably by developing methods and practical aspects of respiration measurements,collaborating with new communities such as After introductions and a tour of the laboratories,multispectral imaging and X-ray, combined withentomologists. Considering the number of still the workshop started with a general presentationAI applications, were discussed in presentations. pending questions, the outcomes of the round-on insects and their identification by thetable discussion were used to organise andentomologist Philippe Reynaud (Anses-LSV,The fruitful workshop was concluded with ashape a wider forum discussion at the ISTA Montpellier, France), followed by a lecture onround-table discussion among the participantsCongress in Christchurch on 8 May 2025.insect pests of seed and the regulatory aspectsand lecturers, addressing the many aspects of by Jaiana Malabarba (GEVES, Angers, France).insect detection in relation to seed testing andThe forum discussion session was hosted by These introductions ensured a minimum basicits regulations. Among the points discussed,Executive Committee (ECOM) member Berta knowledge level among the participants but alsothe need for quantitative results was raised.Killermann and led by Bert van Duijn (Chair of showed that understanding the world of insectsAlthough in most cases, thresholds are set atthe ISTA Advanced Technologies Committee) requires in depth knowledge and specialisation. zero, some participants indicated that theyand Ruud Barnhoorn (Chair of the ISTA Seed are sometimes asked to count insects, ratherHealth Committee). After sharing some In subsequent lectures, members of the ISTA- than simply to report a presence. Moreover,general information on insect infestation and sponsored Special Project presented an the question of considering the viability of thea summary of the workshop with the audience, overview of the project and its results. Theinsects detected was also discussed. It seemsthe discussion kicked off with the question of different methods and technologies exploredimportant to detect insects, whether theywhether insects in seed are to be considered in the project were discussed in more depth,are alive or dead, as this is an indicator of thea purity or a quality issue. In the current ISTA including the Berlese funnel, sieving, visualquality of the seed lot. However, the notion ofRules the only chapter where insects are inspection, X-ray imaging, multispectraltransmissibility is significant for the biosecuritymentioned, is that of Purity Analysis (Chapter imaging, insect respiration measurements andof territories. In terms of health requirements, 3). In this chapter, insects or parts of insects[molecular] barcoding. The first day ended withan organism is considered harmful if itare considered as inert matter and, on this a joint dinner enabling more discussions andproduces symptoms and is transmissible.basis, may be reported on ISTA Certificates. networking. Several participants pointed out that in theirNo reference to insects is made in any other SEED TESTING INTERNATIONAL OCTOBER 2025 77'