48
SEED TESTING INTERNATIONAL   www.seedtest.org
SEED SCIENCE •
Between 1972 and 
1989, Rosa was a 
Laboratory Assistant at 
the Agricultural School, Catholic University, 
Santiago, Chile, carrying out research for an 
Agriculture Diploma. From 1989, she worked at 
Pinto Piga Seeds S.A., dealing with more than 
80 clients from all over the world. Pinto Piga is 
a seed producer company and research station, 
with counter season and fast track productions. 
Hybrid seeds are produced from vegetables and 
field crops; there is a research station for breeder 
services and selections, as well as crossing blocks 
and nurseries. 
1.	Where did your journey with seed testing and 
ISTA start?
With my participation in the 1990s at the  
ISTA Statistical Congress hosted in Hungary  
by Dr Julianna Banyai and Dr Julia Barabas.
2.	What does ISTA mean to you?
For me and for the seed producing company 
where I work, ISTA means the basis for  
ensuring seed quality, seed health and seed 
testing uniformity for seed trade all over  
the world.
Seasoned@ISTA 
We acknowledge our exceptional members who have 
shown an unwavering passion and commitment to ISTA
3.	How do you keep in touch with ISTA’s work 
and its community?
I am an ISTA Personal Member (CLAM0003), 
a member of the ISTA Seed Health Committee 
(active participation) and I attend ISTA Annual 
Meetings and Congresses, and take part in 
workshops.
4.	What are your fondest memories of ISTA and 
its community?
Among others, the ISTA Statistical Congress in 
Budapest, Hungary; the ISTA workshop on GMO 
Testing in Oberschrleisschleim, Germany (with 
special thanks to Benjamin Kaufman, Cheryl 
Dollar, Bruno Zaccomer and Jean-Louis Laffont); 
the 2010 ISTA Congress in Köln, Germany; and 
the ISTA workshop on Seed Health (looking 
at Xcc and CGMMV) at Naktuinbouw, The 
Netherlands.
5.	What has been ISTA’s biggest impact on 
global food security in your opinion?
Providing guidelines, rules for seed testing, 
updating methods for sampling, moisture, 
germination, purity, seed health, variety 
testing, vigour, viability and GMO, ensuring and 
providing good seed quality for trading all over 
the world.
6.	What do you envision to be ISTA’s value for 
the future of seed testing and agriculture as a 
whole?
From our point of view, ISTA provides security. 
The seed quality contracts with our customers 
are all based on ISTA seed testing methods 
(including seed health).
7.	What would you advise the younger 
generation of seed scientists/analysts?
I would advise them to join ISTA, be part of 
Technical Committees and participate in 
workshops, meetings and webinars. They 
should also publish papers in Seed Science 
and Technology and participate with poster 
presentations, etc.
8.	Would you like to share any final thoughts or 
additional comments?
ISTA should continue to publish revised  
and updated International Rules for Seed  
Testing for the international seed trade,  
ensuring seed quality and food for the world.
ISTA workshop on Seed Health at Naktuinbouw, The Netherlands
BIO: 
Rosa Piña-González
Pinto Piga Seeds S.A. 
 
Laboratory Manager 

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.