The International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) welcomes its first industry members — Dow AgroSciences and DuPont Pioneer.
To better facilitate communication between the seed testing industry and the producers and distributors of seed, ISTA recently began offering an Industry Membership option, explained ISTA secretary general Beni Kaufman at the International Seed Federation’s 2015 World Seed Congress.
ISTA’s mission is to bring uniformity in seed testing.
The category of Industry Member aims to further engage the seed industry, streamline communication and in the process, expand the association’s activities.
“It is an honor to see that two of the main pillars of the seed industry are committed to support the association” says Kaufman.
“At DuPont Pioneer, we see this new membership category as an opportunity to move international seed trade testing toward standardization — whether physiological, genetic and trait purity, or physical properties — which is important to maintain the integrity of the global seed trade,” says Jeremy Bergstrom, DuPont Pioneer global quality testing manager.
Dow AgroSciences agrees.
“Collaboration is very important to Dow AgroSciences, and this forum is a way to partner with the association and industry to focus on the seed quality needed by customers,” says Janice Hotz, director of quality. “Improved technical testing methods will benefit farmers as they do the essential work of feeding a growing population.”
One seat on the Industry Advisory Group is reserved for a representative of the International Seed Federation (ISF), and the first eight Industry Members will automatically have a place on the group after ISTA executive committee approval.
“I believe further industry collaboration/communication using these industry memberships as a platform help influence seed testing rules and expedite the acceptance of newer, more precise seed testing technologies,” says Bergstrom.
