9
SEED TESTING INTERNATIONAL APRIL 2026
 FEATURE ARTICLE
Current Role of the Main Inspectorate of Plant 
Health and Seed Inspection
GIORiN is now the guardian of Poland’s comprehensive seed evaluation and 
certification system. Its responsibilities include supervising seed evaluation 
laboratories nationwide; certifying seed materials and monitoring their 
quality; collaborating with international bodies including ISTA, the 
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and 
the EU; introducing and supervising the implementation of new testing 
protocols; and ensuring phytosanitary safety in seed trade.
The Chief Inspector actively supports the development of the seed 
evaluation system, strengthens its position within European and 
international structures, and ensures that Poland maintains a high level of 
testing credibility.
150 Years of Tradition – Looking to the Future 
of Modern Seed Laboratories
The story that began in abikowo demonstrates that concern for seed 
quality has long been the foundation of Polish agriculture. Today, seed 
evaluation laboratories in Poland conduct tests on germination capacity, 
purity, identification of seeds of other species, moisture, thousand-seed 
weight and seed health, and issue quality certificates, both nationally and 
internationally.
Now, after 150 years, the sector faces new challenges: the use of innovative 
diagnostic methods (molecular techniques, X-ray imaging, computed 
tomography, AI-powered digital image analysis), automation of evaluation 
methods, and the training of a new generation of seed laboratory experts.
Summary 
From abikowo to Pozna  – 150 years of the history of laboratory seed 
testing, reflecting a journey from basic purity and germination analyses to 
international certification and modern advanced testing methods. Today’s 
Polish laboratories are pillars of quality and reliability in seed evaluation, 
supporting both national food security and the global competitiveness of 
Polish agriculture. 
“Today’s Polish laboratories are pillars of 
quality and reliability in seed evaluation, 
supporting both national food security and the 
global competitiveness of Polish agriculture.”
References
1. Cyfrowa Biblioteka Narodowa „Polona” www.polona.pl/
2. Dział Zbiorów Specjalnych Biblioteki Raczyńskich w Poznaniu. 
Rkp.2779/I
3. Kulpa, W. (1971). Rozwój i osiągnięcia nasionoznawstwa w Polsce w latach 
1868-1969. Zeszyty Problemowe Postępów Nauk Rolniczych, nr 113. 
4. Malepszak, S. (1999). abikowo. Dzieje wsi i fundacji Augusta 
Cieszkowskiego.
5. Muzeum Narodowe Rolnictwa (2020). Dzi  nie mo e lepa rutyna 
prowadzi  rolnika. Historia Szkoły Rolniczej im. Haliny w abikowie.
Seed purity analysis – past and present

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