32nd ISTA Congress 2019 aims to explore India’s seed export prospective

The curtain raiser for the 32^nd ISTA Symposium & Congress was held in Bengaluru last week. The motive was to promote active participation from private, public and semi-private seed industry stakeholders. The aim of 32^nd ISTA conference is to strengthen seed research and education about seed testing practices in the seed industry, to improve quality seeds supply to Indian farmers and to boost international exports by Indian companies. The conference aims to explore the seed export potential the country, especially in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. 

Organised by the Govt. of Karnataka, the curtain raiser was aimed at engaging with seed industry stakeholders, agricultural universities, state seed corporations and certification agencies, and it was quite the success. The event highlighted the theme for the seed symposium of the 32^nd ISTA symposium & congress - Seed Technology & Quality in a Changing World, and the speakers shed light on the state of the seed industry and the modern trends in seeds in India. 

The 32^nd ISTA Symposium will be held in Hyderabad from 26 to 28 June 2019, followed by the ISTA Congress from June 29 July to 03 2019. This is the first time in 94 years that the ISTA Congress is being hosted in Asia by India. The event will bring together 800 global seed experts from 80 countries with a common goal: share information and ideas about the seed trade. 

Dr. Keshavulu, Organizing Secretary of the ISTA Symposium said, “The ISTA Symposium & Congress will be attended by many international delegates and will greatly boost seed infrastructure and technology in the country and encourage international quality seeds in the country.” 

Chairman of Indo American Hybrid Seeds (India) Pvt. Ltd, Arthur Santosh Attavar said “India is constantly developing a better range of products which are engineered to suit the various agro-climatic conditions of the country. This will enable us to cater to domestic as well as international markets with ease.” Indo American Hybrid Seeds( India) Pvt. Ltd seed laboratory is the first accredited private seed laboratory in Asia to get accreditation of ISTA in the year 2002 and has expanded scope of accreditation for seed health testing, varietal testing and seed vigour. 

 Since  2008, ISTA and IAHS(India) Pvt. Ltd in collaboration have organized workshops on quality management and quality assurance in seed testing, seed sampling, germination and viability testing, vigour testing and seed health testing involving over 30 countries across Asian and Middle East, African and Far east countries for public and private seed industries and institutions. Late Padmashri Dr.Manmohan Attavar, Founder and Chairman, IAHS(I) Pvt. Ltd patronised seed quality training through ISTA workshops to improve seed productivity for domestic and export trade.