SEED CERTIFICATION IN THE WORLD: A Review Abstract The objectives of Seed Certification system is to provide a guarantee to the purchaser that the seed is true to identity, high in purity and germination capacity and free from major pests and diseases. Seed quality is most important in crop production, as high quality seed is essential for good crop yields and good returns. A number of international organizations, conventions and treaties deal with the regulation of seed trade, ranging from access to delivery of quality seeds to growers. The OECD Seed Schemes provide an international framework for the certification of seed with the aim of facilitating the growth in trade of seed by reducing technical barriers. The Seed Schemes are a globally …show more content…
SEED CERTIFICATION Seed certification is a proof of standards embedded in a seed. These seed standards set by different countries vary from one another depending on local agro-climatic conditions and other requirements. Such variations are clearly reflected by the available literatures on seed laws and certification(Suresh and Neha, 2014). Seed certification is a quality control process that ensures genetic purity and identity of certifiedseed sold, through generation control, inspection and labeling (Kadzere and Karadzandima 2007).It is a process whereby recognised crop varieties are registered for seed production, inspected inthe field and the final product tested for minimum purity and germination standards before sale. Seed certification is a quality assurance process. Seed intended for domestic or internationalmarkets is controlled and inspected by official sources in order to guarantee consistent high quality forconsumers. This is done by i) controlling the seed in previous generations; ii) carrying out field inspectionsduring the multiplication process to ensure there is little contamination and that the variety is true to type;iii) growing samples in control plots of the known seed to ensure that the progeny conform to thecharacteristics of the variety and iv) seed quality testing in laboratories (OECD, …show more content…
In either case, without a planned method for maintaining genetic purity, there is grave danger of losing varietal identity. Varietal purity is the first consideration in Seed Certification but other factors such as weeds, diseases, viability, mechanical purity and grading are also important. Seed Certification is designed to maintain not only the genetic purity of superior crop varieties but also reasonable standards of seed condition and quality(The South Dakota Crop Improvement Association,
National Board Certification is the occupation’s label of proficient teaching established by teachers for teachers. It is assembled with National Board Standards and the five core propositions, difficult and performance-based, based on several measures, peer-reviewed, voluntary, valid and reliable. “To date, more than 112,000 teachers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia have achieved National Board Certification” (“National Board Certification”). It is very beneficial for teachers and I think the National Board Certified teachers make better educators.
In an argument, the lawyer representing Monsanto Company stated that the amount of arable land around the world is quickly dwindling. This means that it is time to take extra drastic measures to improve food safety throughout the world. Genetically modified seeds and related chemicals offer the best solution for such food safety concerns and thus the company was right to make such investments. This idea comes from recent realization of a robust population boom throughout the world, an inability for traditional agricultural practices and seeds to withstand changing climatic systems. Modification of the seed’s genetic material to withstand climatic and other environmental threats seems to be a viable solution to the challenge.
The word GMO stands for Genetically-Modified Organism and can also be referred to as Genetically Engineered foods, Genetically Modified Foods, and Biotech. Genetically engineered foods are created when one desired trait is isolated and introduced to another plant by inserting the certain gene. The process, considered genetic breeding, and is much more precise than the regular breeding. While GMOs have been in food for 20 years, currently, the controversy and genetically engineered farms are larger than ever. 82% of Americans want GMOs labeled, but majority fail to understand them (Swanson). 90% of all US grown corn, canola, soybeans, and sugar beets have DNA bits from the lab (Woolston). The United States is the top GMO growing country with 70 million hectares of land dedicated to these farms. (Lee). These modified crops and plants for human and animals are created mainly for withstand herbicides or to produce an insectide. “No GMO traits are on the market for bigger yields, drought resistance, enhanced nutrition or any other consumer benefit” (Burnham). Overall, GE foods’ main purpose is to save money for large corporations.
To open the editorial, the author questions proponent’s credibility. “Proponents say the ban would give county farmers protection from GE crops until all risks are known,” is argued by the statement, “The farming community by and large says that the ban will hurt them competitively if or when they decide to use GE seeds.” The supporters of Measure Q are questioned as to where they are getting their information if the people they are “protecting” feel the ordinance will hurt them. This is a successful strategy to convince the reader that advocates of the ordinance are untrustworthy.
Premanandh, Jagadeesan. “Global consensus--need of the hour for genetically modified organisms (GMO) labeling.” Journal of Commercial Biotechnology. 2011. Web. 6 May. 2014.
A debate is ragging over the advancements being made in genetic engineering. Scientist discovered that genes are the map of every aspect of a living organism, this has furthermore led to the prospect of altering this coding. By modifying one’s genes parents will one day be able to pick the color of their unborn child’s eyes and farmers will have the ability to develop plants that will produce bigger and healthier harvest. With the growing anticipation that some feel towards genetically modified crops others question it effects on the surrounding environments. Often pesticides are more heavily relied on for genetically modified crops and some cases have found pollination decreased in areas dominated by GM plants. Since there are so many aspects of genetic modification that have yet to be explored, much more research is required before distributing GM seeds internationally, but from the information already available the sides have begun to divide.
Seedfolks is a book about family. One day, a little Vietnamese girl named Kim plants some lima beans in a vacant lot in Cleveland to honor her father who was a farmer. A neighbor notices and decides to plant her own plants. Soon, more neighbors notice and do the same. Soon, the vacant lot turns into a community garden. The people of Cleveland have to avoid their differences and come together as a family to make it successful. The book Seedfolks implies that family is the true source of love because almost everybody in the book does something to express their love through the garden. The garden becomes somewhat like a family, and brings the community together.
Since the birth of agriculture farmers across the world have been altering the genetic makeup of the crops they grow. Ancient farmers chose only the best looking plants and
In “Springing Forward”, Barbara Kingsolver says, "whiz-kid hybrid seeds have slowly colonized and then dominated our catalogs and our croplands" (46). Her main point within the article states that today there are few heirloom vegetables because of the increase in genetically modified vegetables. Heirloom seeds are defined as seeds that are saved from the previous generation so that new crops can be grown and Kingsolver states that, "GM is a newer process
Seed, a book by Lisa Heathfield, applies the idea that knowledge is power, but ignorance is bliss through the character development of Pearl, the deep descriptions of the settings and ambiguity of Pearl’s knowledge on certain scenes. Seed’s narrative quality explores that knowledge does not always make one influential, however, not acquiring knowledge means not feeling conflicted.
As CBD gives the member state the rights to regulate the “access to genetic resources within their jurisdictional scope”, developing countries where concerned whether this would include plant genetic resource of food and agriculture before CBD entry (15-21). This was made clear with an international instrument dealing with The Plant Genetic Resource for Food and Agriculture (IPGRFA) which came into force in 2004. The objectives are similar to that of CBD - “the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resource of food and agricultural resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits on use”. The system of sharing benefits is by multilateral agreements and this treaty also has provision on farmer’s rights. It is left to the national law to decide (Biodiversity-related Conventions, n.d).
The most wonderful activity a human being can experience is new flavors and foods. For example, the first time a person tastes a delicious juicy piece of prime rib or a delightful hamburger with cheese and ham, his world is never the same. However, since the beginning of the twentieth century, the production of food has been supplemented by science. This has triggered an angry dispute between the people who support the advances of biotechnology and people who love nature. In order to understand the controversy, we have to know the meaning of genetically modified foods. With new technological advances, scientists can modify seeds from a conventional seed to a high tech seed with shorter maturation times and resistance to dryness, cold and heat. This is possible with the implementation of new genes into the DNA of the conventional seed. Once these "transgenes" are transferred, they can create plants with better characteristics (Harris 164-165). The farmers love it not only because it guarantees a good production, but the cost is also reduced. On the other hand, organizations such as Greenpeace and Friends of Earth have campaigned against GMO (“Riesgos”) because they think that they are negatively affecting the earth (Gerdes 26). Both the advocates and the opponents of genetically modified foods have excellent arguments.
GM seeds are considered revolution in the agriculture industry for some reasons. First and foremost, GM seeds can grow crops regardless of hostile conditions, which help farmers increase revenues. Besides, as a result of population growth across the global, the demand for food continuously increases. Biotech products provided by the Monsanto Company will be the best solution for this phenomenon. Especially in populous countries like India, biotech crops allow farmers both save lands and double their harvest.
Terminator Technology is a reality that threatens the very existence of traditional agriculture. Where in previous times farmers depended on saving seeds from year to year in order to subsist, we are ebbing upon a time where genetically modified organisms, or GMO's as they are commonly referred to, have become a commercial reality and venture in agriculture. This commercial venture was surely the focus of a seed company Delta and Pine Land Company. In March of 1998, the DPL (Delta PineLand) company along with the cooperation of the United States Department of Agriculture acquired a patent for the control of plant gene expression. One such application of this patent is the plan to engineer crops to kill their own seeds in the second generation of its life. After the second generation, it would be impossible for farmers to save and replant their seeds for the next crop. Hence, the adoption of the name "Terminator Technology." Such technology has not only economic and environmental implications, but secular ones as well.
"Home | American Society of Agronomy." Home | American Society of Agronomy. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. .