International Seed Testing Association (ISTA)
Founded in 1924, the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) is inextricably linked with the history of seed testing. With member laboratories in over 75 countries worldwide, ISTA Membership is truly a global network.
Objectives of the Association
Following the ISTA Constitution:
The primary purpose of the Association is to develop, adopt and publish standard procedures for sampling and testing seeds, and to promote uniform application of these procedures for evaluation of seeds moving in international trade.
The secondary purposes of the Association are to actively promote research in all areas of seed science and technology, including sampling, testing, storing, processing and distributing seeds, to encourage variety (cultivar) certification, to participate in conferences and training courses aimed at furthering these objectives, and to establish and maintain liaison with other organisations having common or related interests in seed.
Who we are
We are an Association of Seed Testing Laboratories, Personal Members and Technical Committee Members who pursue the objectives laid out in the ISTA Constitution. The ISTA Membership consists of over 240 personal members, over 20 associate members and more than 180 member laboratories, of which two thirds of the laboratories are ISTA accredited. ISTA is an independent association and acts free from economic interest and political influence, it is unbiased, non-profit, objective and fair.
The International Seed Testing Association was founded during the 4th International Seed Testing Congress held in Cambridge, United Kingdom in 1924.
The membership is a collaboration of seed scientists and seed analysts from universities, research centres and governmental, private and company seed testing laboratories around the world. ISTA values and promotes the diversity of membership, this being the basis for its independence from economic and political influence.
What we do
As an authority in seed science and technology, ISTA continues its role as the developer of seed testing methods. Its major achievements and services provided to date are briefly the following:
- The ISTA 'International Rules for Seed Testing', providing annually updated, uniform seed testing methods worldwide
- The ISTA Accreditation Programme including the Accreditation Standard, Proficiency Testing and Auditing, guaranteeing worldwide harmonised results in seed testing
- The issuing of the ISTA International Seed Analysis Certificates by ISTA Accredited Laboratories
- The promotion of research, training, publishing and information in all areas of seed science and technology and co-operation with related organisations
ISTA is managed and directed by the ISTA Executive Committee, comprising of a President, 1st and 2nd Vice President, and 8 Members-at-large.
All Executive Committee Members are Designated Members of ISTA. All proposals including changes to the ISTA 'International Rules for Seed Testing' put forward by the ISTA Technical Committees, and changes to the ISTA Constitution are decided on and voted for during the ISTA Ordinary Meeting. The voting rights of the Association lie in the hands of the government or distinct economy as recognised by international fora, and are executed
by ISTA Members who are designated by their respective governments (Designated Members). One government or distinct economy has one vote. [ISTA Constitution, Article IV]
The finances and administration of the Association are managed by the ISTA Secretariat, based in Switzerland. This is led by the Secretary General and the staff of the Secretariat.
ISTA Technical Committees
The primary objective of the ISTA Technical Committees is to develop, standardise and validate methods for sampling and testing of seed, using the best scientific knowledge available. These tasks are subject-focused in Technical Committees and Task Forces where scientists, technicians and specialists from all over the world work closely together for the enhancement of seed testing methodologies. The Technical Committees perform comparative studies and surveys in different research fields. They develop and enhance the ISTA 'International Rules for Seed Testing' and ISTA Handbooks on seed methods including sampling, testing and processing seeds, and are responsible for the organisation of Symposia, Seminars and Workshops.
ISTA Technical Committees regularly hold workshops which provide a platform for the exchange of information, experience and ideas.
Who can become a Technical Committee Member?
Seed scientists and technicians of different research fields of seed science, and specialists in seed testing from seed testing laboratories, universities, research institutes and companies from all over the world are welcome to actively participate in the ISTA Technical Committees:
Information on how to become an ISTA Technical Committee Member can be found on the ISTA Website or by contacting the ISTA Secretariat.
ISTA Technical Committees (TCOMs):
- ATC - Advanced Technologies Committee
- BSC - Bulking and Sampling Committee
- FST - Flower Seed Testing Committee
- FTS - Forest Tree and Shrub Seed Committee
- GER - Germination Committee
- MOI - Moisture Committee
- NOM - Nomenclature Committee
- PTC - Proficiency Test Committee
- PUR - Purity Committee
- RUL - Rules Committee
- SHC - Seed Health Committee
- STA - Statistics Committee
- STO - Storage Committee
- TEZ - Tetrazolium Committee
- VAR - Variety Committee
- VIG - Vigour Committee
- GMO - GMO Task Force
- SAT - Seed Analyst Training Committee
