For over a century, the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) has been a driving force behind high-quality seeds and planting materials worldwide. Founded in 1919, AOSCA works with seed certifying agencies across North America, South America, and even as far as Australia and South Africa. Its goal? To make sure farmers have access to seeds that grown to the highest quality standards, are pure, reliable, and ready to perform in the field.
At its core, AOSCA sets rigorous standards for seed quality — checking everything from genetic purity to germination rates to ensure seeds of high-quality varieties are available to meet the needs of growers. These benchmarks give farmers confidence that what they’re planting will yield strong, consistent crops without contaminants like weed seeds.
AOSCA’s member- agencies certify over 4.3 million acres worldwide, but the traditional seed certification program is not the only program that is available for growers. AOSCA’s member agencies’ work goes beyond traditional seed certification. Its Quality Assurance (QA)programs offer a quality control system for seeds that don’t fall into the usual certification classes. Meanwhile, itsIdentity Preserved (IP)programs track seeds from planting all the way to shipping and processing, ensuring that the crop’s identity — whether it’s a specialty variety or grown for a unique purpose — stays intact.
AOSCA also overseeds the National Variety Review Board (NVRB), which functions as a kind of gatekeeper for new seed varieties. Plant breeders submit their latest innovations — whether it’s a new drought-resistant wheat or a hardier hemp — and NVRB reviews applications to ensure the variety is unique, uniform and stable. These boards, made up of breeders, seed organizations, industry experts, and agencies like the USDA, help keep innovation in agriculture both trustworthy and transparent.
Through all these efforts, AOSCA plays a critical role in supporting farmers, boosting crop production, and helping feed the world. By ensuring seed quality, it gives farmers confidence in what they plant — because as we in the seed value chain all know: when you start with good seed, you set the stage for a great harvest. From the field to the future, AOSCA remains committed to advancing agriculture through collaboration, innovation, and integrity.
