Apr. 26, 2016
Bayer CropScience’s Vegetable Seeds division has joined the National Seed Health Accreditation Pilot Program.
Under the program, the Research Triangle, N.C.-based Bayer commits to test all imported cucumbers, melons and watermelon seed lots from breeder and foundation seed through commercial seed.
The program’s goal includes developing a model for a voluntary system of testing seeds imported into the U.S. for detection of foreign pathogens.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has partnered with the seed industry to screen imported seed with diagnostic testing to prevent the introduction of seed-transmitted pathogens.
The cucurbit pathogen cucumber green mottle mosaic virus plans to serve as the first pathogen to be tested under the program, according to a news release.
“Being a part of this pilot means that we are a part of building a better system to minimize phytosanitary risk,” Brad Peters, Bayer’s quality control manager, said in the release. “By working together with the USDA-APHIS, we will further improve our quality management systems, providing a reliable supply of disease-free seed for our customers”.
The farm bill funds this program through the end of 2016.
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