Joining ISTA delivers a variety of benefits to seed analysts, researchers, seed testing labs and the countries they represent.
International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) members are an impressively engaged group. More than 270 invest time as active members of one of ISTA’s many Technical Committees. Together, they — and the countless others who came before them — have built an organization that offers significant benefit to its individual, associate and laboratory members. Today, membership gives members access to:
- Receive the International Rules for Seed Testing updates free of charge. The Rules contain standardised methods and techniques to be used in seed testing, which are internationally harmonised and constantly reviewed by the ISTA Technical Committees.
- Participate in the ISTA Proficiency Test Programme. ISTA Members Laboratories are eligible to participate in the ISTA Proficiency Test Programme at no additional cost. The Proficiency Test provides an opportunity for ISTA members to assess their technical performance and to benchmark themselves with the worldwide ISTA seed testing laboratory community.
- Participate in the ISTA decision making process. ISTA Personal Members may be appointed as Designated Members and obtain authorisation to vote at ISTA Ordinary Meetings on behalf of the government concerned.
- Get valuable information through ISTA Publications. ISTA regularly publishes a range of technical handbooks, the scientific open-access journal ‘Seed Science and Technology’ (SST), the news bulletin ‘Seed Testing International’ (STI), as well as different proceedings from the ISTA events. ISTA Members get a 50% discount on all purchased ISTA publications.
- Be involved in the seed testing methodology development. ISTA Members are part of an international network of seed professionals and represent expertise in seed science and technology. ISTA Members can become directly involved in ISTA Technical Committee work, gaining contact with leading seed experts worldwide.
- Become accredited and issue ISTA International Certificates. Members Laboratories can become accredited by ISTA. Accredited laboratories have proven their technical competence in carrying out seed testing in accordance with the ISTA rules and operate an effective quality management system. They are authorised to issue ISTA International Seed Analysis Certificates.
- Participate in ISTA Events. Special reduced prices for all ISTA Events and prioritised registration to any ISTA Event of interest.
