34 / SEEDWORLD.COM OCTOBER 2026 These seed packets mean more than just vegetables. Dr. Charles Block Manager of Seed Health Testing, Iowa State University, Seed Science Center W hen Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica in October 2025, the Category 5 winds, heavy rain, and extensive flooding had a devastating effect on agricultural production throughout the island. The island saw its crops destroyed, farms damaged, and producers left rebuilding their livelihoods. Since you’re involved in the seed sector, you can appreciate the impor tance of having good quality seed after a disaster has occurred. It gives farmers the chance to replant, regain their income and reestablish local food supplies. Yet, getting donated seed through international borders involves more than just being generous; it also demands the expertise, cooperation and dedication of people at all points in the seed system. High Mowing Organic Seeds from Wolcott, Vermont, showed its com mitment by arranging to provide vegetable seeds to organic farmers who’d been affected by the hurricane. The company worked with Nicola Shirley-Phillips of the Jamaica Organic Agriculture Movement Limited to carry out the donation; however, logistical, regulatory and seed health testing require ments created challenges in getting the seeds to the farmers. Even during an urgent recovery operation, the Plant Quarantine and Plant Inspection authorities in Jamaica couldn’t overlook the country’s phy tosanitary requirements; their role was to guard Jamaican agriculture against diseases and pests that could be introduced via imported seed. Such safeguards are important; nobody in the seed industry wants a well-meaning donation to result in a new agricultural problem. It was apparent during virtual meetings with the Jamaican partners, High Mowing Organic Seeds and the Iowa State University Seed Science Center that testing costs could delay the seed’s arrival in Jamaica. Since recovery resources were limited, the organizers also had to pay for phytosanitary certification and international shipping. The Seed Science Center overcame that obstacle thanks to the special ized expertise in our Seed Health Laboratory. As an in-kind contribution to Jamaica’s recovery, we agreed to carry out all necessary testing for the first shipment free of charge. We could assist our fellow humans in getting back on their feet, and it seemed the right thing to do. Once testing was finished and the necessary import papers obtained, the consignment reached Jamaica and passed airport customs by the end of June. It consisted of tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, melons and watermel ons. The seed will enable organic farmers to resume production while helping with field trials for the JENESYS Project. This initiative shows what you and your colleagues across the seed sector can achieve; whether you produce the seed, test it, regulate its transport, conduct research or link it with farmers, your knowledge can turn a good idea into real action. High Mowing supplied the seeds. Agricultural organizations in Jamaica identified the need and handled the import process. Regulatory authori ties kept the island’s agriculture safe. Our laboratory provided the testing required to proceed with the shipment safely. Each partner provided some thing unique, but all their contribu tions were essential. To Jamaican farmers, these seed packets mean more than vegetables; they provide the chance for renewed harvests, recovered livelihoods and a more resilient food system. Whenever the seed industry cooperates, you’re doing more than distributing seeds. You’re helping to protect agriculture, enhance food security and assist communities in planting the first seeds of recovery. SEED SCIENCE AND EDUCATION
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