Rama Krishna Sangem
Dr Keshavulu Kunusoth, agricultural scientist from Telangana, will be presiding over the 100th ordinary general body meeting of ISTA (International Seed Testing Association) at Cambridge, the UK from July 1 -5. He is the first Indian and Asian too, to hold the post of president of ISTA which was established in 1924, to promote quality seed with global standards to ensure food security to the world.
Dr Keshavulu currently is the director of Telangana State Seed and Organic Certification Organisation. He was elected as the vice president of ISTA in 2019 and became its president in 2022, for a three year term. The five day conference will see major agriculture policy makers, scientists, technologists, seed growers and other stakeholders converge at Cambridge, a British town, around 90 km north of London, to deliberate on a range of issues that confront the food security.
“Uniformity in Seed Quality Evaluation Worldwide,” is the vision of ISTA which will develop, adopt and publish internationally agreed standard procedures for samping and testing seeds. ISTA promotes uniform application of standard proceduers for evaluation of seeds involved in global trade, besides awarding accreditation to laboratories for seed quality testing.
This Switzerland based association is led by a team that includes President Dr Keshavulu, vice-president Ernest Allen, immediate past president Steve Jones, among others. “A century of progress in seed quality assurance,” is the tagline of ISTA on its centenary and the association is readying for t he next century of mankind to play a crucial role in ensuring food security for all.
“Key organisation”: Dr Keshavulu
In the preceding 100 years, ISTA became a key organisation for ensuring the supply of quality seeds and a driver for improvements in seed quality testing globally. ISTA has been at the forefront of global seed and food security all these years. The history of ISTA is inextricably linked with the history of seed testing and working with a vision to ensure “uniformity in seed quality evaluation worldwide,” said Dr Keshavulu.
In view of the ISTA centenary celebrations, it is proposed to hold a Centenary Annual Meeting from July 1–4, 2024, in Cambridge, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, by inviting key global seed industry stakeholders, including representatives of agricultural ministries of ISTA-designated member countries and distinct economies, seed experts, researchers, and seed testing laboratories from around the world.
Free from economic interests
ISTA membership consists of Member Laboratories and Sampling Entities, Personal Members and Associate Members, from 83 countries/distinct economies. More than 130 of the Member Laboratories are accredited by ISTA and entitled to issue ISTA Certificates. The membership is a diverse collaboration of seed scientists and analysts from universities, research centres and seed testing laboratories around the world.
ISTA acts free from economic interest and political influence, and is unbiased, objective and fair. Our expertise is based on non-profit cooperation from an international community of over 400 competent and energetic seed scientists and analysts. ISTA works in developing standard seed testing methods, facilitates the trade of quality seeds and makes a valuable contribution to food security.
