ISTA Laboratory Hameln

In the Hanover area, seed testing was first conducted at the agricultural experimental station of Hildesheim in 1870. In 1930, the seed testing station moved from Hildesheim to Hanover. In 2001, seed testing was transferred to the Agricultural Testing and Research Agency (LUFA) in Hameln. In 2002, LUFA Hameln merged with LUFA Oldenburg to become LUFA North-West and the Oldenburg seed testing station, established in 1878, was integrated into the one in Hameln in 2003.

The seed testing station is a member of the Association of German Agricultural Testing and Research Institutes (VDLUFA) and became an accredited ISTA laboratory in 1935. The current management has in the past 15 years been very active in the Executive Committee of the seeds section, coordinates the German translation of the ISTA regulations and has been a member of the ISTA Purity Committee for more than nine years.

Every year, the laboratory examines the seed quality of approx. 12,500 samples, mainly of different cereal (50 percent) and grass (20 percent) types. The proximity to large beet breeders has traditionally led to a relatively high percentage of beet samples (15 percent) but the percentage of maize samples has also increased dramatically to 10 percent in recent years. The range of tested samples is complemented by fine seeds and vegetable samples.

In our opinion, future-orientated action means that laboratory conditions must be continuously improved in consultation with all staff members both with regard to work efficiency and operational safety. This includes, for example, the development of a special tower for the germination of cereal samples (ISTA News Bulletin No. 120, October 1999) or the construction of testing tables and chairs on the basis of the latest developments in medicine.

More information

Lufa North-West (only available in German)