The International Seed Testing Association and IICA collaborate to upgrade seed testing and certfificationin region

The International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) have entered into a formal partnership designed to enhance seed quality testing laboratories and bolster seed certification systems across the Americas.

This collaboration will focus on exchanging technical expertise, providing training for personnel, adopting standardized seed analysis procedures, and strengthening the capacity of certification and quality assurance organizations.

In a statement, ISTA President Ernest Allen highlighted the significance of the agreement, saying, “This document is a bridge between our two organizations. We know that from a small seed, great things can grow. Today we are planting this partnership with every expectation that it will grow into a robust collaboration that will bear fruit for all 34 IICA Member States.” He emphasized that the agreement creates a structured pathway to keep the region at the cutting edge of scientific and technological advancements.

IICA Director General Manuel Otero underscored the critical role of seeds in driving modernization and ensuring food security throughout the Americas. He pointed out the necessity for tangible actions, saying, “We must have a clear roadmap and identify actions to demonstrate to the entire hemisphere that we are working to improve people’s quality of life.”

According to IICA, partnership aims to facilitate joint technical support and training initiatives, promote regional projects that encourage technological innovation, and enable countries in the Americas to participate more actively in international seed trade and certification processes.

Through this alliance, IICA stated that both organizations seek to make the agricultural sector in the Americas more competitive by implementing science-based, internationally accepted standards for seed quality analysis.