Alexandria, Virginia
July 22, 2002

Four seedsmen were honored by the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) on June 24 with Distinguished Service Awards for their leadership in establishing the National Seed Health System (NSHS). The honorees included:

• Dr. Greg Lamka, manager of supply logistics at Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl., Inc.;
• Dr. Denis McGee, professor of seed pathology at Iowa State University;
• Dr. Pieter Vanderberg, vice president of Technical Resources, Seminis Vegetable Seeds; and
• Darrell Maddox, president of STA Laboratories.

All were key members of the NSHS Seed Technical Working Group that developed the system.

U.S. seed exports are expected to increase as a result of the NSHS, which provides an accreditation scheme for non-government entities to perform laboratory seed health tests and phytosanitary inspections to meet international import regulations. It also provides a basis for phytosanitary resolution with the use of standardized seed health tests.

“The NSHS allows for more efficient issuance of phytosanitary certificates required by most, if not all, importing countries,” said Lamka, chair of the NSHS Seed Technical Working Group. “This reduces international business costs for U.S. seed exporters and increases their export opportunities and contracts for which delivery time is vital. It also a time-saver for APHIS.”

The years of work by the NSHS Seed Technical Working Group is now starting to pay off. Three entities have applied for accreditation in up to four areas offered by the NSHS: laboratory seed health testing, sampling, seed production field inspection, and visual inspection of seed prior to export.

“Entities accredited to do field inspections will know which products are eligible for export prior to harvest,” Lamka said, “allowing them to segregate products at harvest if needed and determine usable inventory much sooner. The ability to prioritize laboratory seed health testing will also accelerate needed information about the health and export eligibility of specific seed lots.

“The use of standardized methods in an accredited laboratory will reduce the entity’s liability from claims involving non-performance of products due to diseased seed,” he continued.“Official sampling and visual inspections will improve efficiencies at its seed production and shipping locations.” In addition, using standardized test methods should minimize or help resolve international phytosanitary disputes.

The NSHS is a public-private sector venture overseen by APHIS. It is collaboration between the USDA, National Plant Board, Iowa State University, American Seed Trade Association, Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies, and Association of American Seed Control Officials. Iowa State University’s Seed Science Center is the primary administration unit for the NSHS. More information about the NSHS is at www.seedhealth.org. 

Founded in 1883, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is one of the oldest trade organizations in the United States. Its membership consists of about 800 companies involved in seed production and distribution, plant breeding, and related industries in North America. As an authority on plant germplasm, ASTA advocates science and policy issues of industry importance. Its mission is to enhance the development and free movement of quality seed worldwide.