The Seed SystemProduction and Quality Management

Hemispheric Conference Low Level Presence in Seed

San Jose, Costa RicaJune 12, 2013

Patty Townsend, Canadian Seed Trade AssociationWendelyn Jones, DuPont Pioneer

The Seed System

The Seed System

Seed System – focused on quality and purity

• Seed certification ‐ the highest level of integrity

• Varietal purity – ensures seed is the variety claimed

• Mechanical purity – ensures minimal impurities

• Testing – verifies purity and germination

• Grading – ensures conformity to regulated standards

The Seed System

Seed System – focused on quality and purity

• ISO based document control, HACCP principles, officially recognized standards, inspection and personnel

• Produced in adherence to regulations specifying parent seed• Produced in adherence to regulations specifying parent seed source, land use, isolation distances – verified with field inspections

• Sampled by authorized samplers

• Tested and graded for purity in authorized labsg p y

• Processed in accredited facilities, according to approved quality assurance manuals and subject to regular inspection

• Labeled in accordance to regulations

The Seed System

Seed System – focused on quality and puritySeed System  focused on quality and purity

• Process verification

• Official samples taken and grown out annually to verify• Official samples taken and grown‐out annually to verify identity, purity and quality

The Seed System

1. OECD Scheme for Varietal Certification of Seed Moving in International Trade

• Equivalent procedures in 58 participating countries

• 50,000 varieties of 200 species

2. Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA)

• Member agencies and official country members on 3 continents

• Certification

• QA trademark for non‐certified seed

• IP certificationIP certification

The Seed System

3 International Seed Testing Association (ISTA)3. International Seed Testing Association (ISTA)

• Standard Procedures for evaluation of seeds moving in international trade (70 countries)international trade (70 countries)

• internationally agreed rules for seed sampling and testing, 

• accredits laboratories promotes research provides• accredits laboratories, promotes research, provides international seed analysis certificates and training

The Seed System

Excellence Through Stewardship

What is Product Stewardship?

Product Stewardship is the responsible management of a product from its inception through to its ultimate 

use and discontinuation.

Seed Marketing & Distribution

Crop Production

Seed Production

Biotechnology Plant Product Life CycleGene Discovery

Plant Development

Crop Utilization

ProductDiscontinuation

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What is Excellence Through Stewardship?

• ETS is a member‐based industry organization dedicated to industry y g ybest practices and promoting the adoption of stewardship programs across the full biotechnology plant product life cycle.ETS b il h i d ’ l i d• ETS was built on the industry’s long‐term commitment to product stewardship and quality management. 

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ETS Regular MembersR l M b hi i t ti d i t lRegular Membership is open to any corporation, academic, or governmental organization that utilizes plant biotechnology in research, development, or manufacture of plant biotechnology products or owns, handles, or controls plant biotechnology productsbiotechnology products.

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ETS Associate MembersAssociate membership is for any organization, academic institution, government entity or individual that supports plant biotechnology and the ETS mission, but is not directly involved in research, development, or manufacture of plant biotechnology products.involved in research, development, or manufacture of plant biotechnology products.

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Stewardship is ImportantImportant

• Responsible management of biotech products h h h lif l i f d l d l ithroughout the life cycle is fundamental to developing and commercializing new varieties of biotechnology‐derived plants.derived plants.

• Industry stewardship supports innovation and development of new technologies, products and markets p g , penabling delivery of products with increased yield, nutrition and consumer benefits.

• Proper stewardship programs drive sustainability through innovative technology – benefitting the climate and environment through less land and water usageenvironment through less land and water usage.

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Value of Excellence Through Stewardship

• To the Biotech Industry:– Enhances reputation by promoting responsible management of 

products.  – Provides stewardship and quality management tools and resources to:

• Support responsible development and commercialization of products.• Help facilitate the flow of goods in commerce and minimize trade disruptions.

• To ETS Members:– Supports product quality, regulatory compliance and continual 

improvement to sustain products and markets.– Drives continual improvement as technologies and products advance.s advance.Drives continual improvement as technologies and products advance.s advance.

• To the Public:– Instills confidence that there are industry stewardship and quality 

t b t timanagement best practices.

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The ETS Program

Global Adoption of Stewardship Best Practices1. Member commitment to stewardship principles and 

management practices.

Verification through third party independent audits2. Verification through third‐party independent audits.

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Regular MemberRegular Member Commitments

Implement stewardship programs and qualityImplement stewardship programs and quality management systems.

Conduct independent third‐party audits to  verify that systems and processes are in place. 

Incorporate stewardship requirements in contracts and agreements.and agreements.

Promote implementation and utilization of stewardship programs throughout the industry.

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ETS Audit Program

G l P d t St d hi• General Product Stewardship • Maintaining Plant Product Integrity • Product Launch Stewardship

Auditable l

Product aunch Stewardship• Product Discontinuation• Incident Response Management

Elements

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ETS Audit Program

• Laboratory y• Containment Facility • Confined Field Trial Pl t d S d M lti li ti

Auditable• Plant and Seed Multiplication • Commercial Plant and Seed Distribution 

Operations

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ETS Technical ResourcesGuides to Understanding and Implementing

Stewardship Programs and Quality Management S t

• Stewardship of Biotechnology‐Derived Plant Products• Maintaining Plant Product Integrity

Systems

Maintaining Plant Product Integrity−Research in the Laboratory−Research in Containment FacilitiesC fi d Fi ld T i l−Confined Field Trials

−Plant and Seed Multiplication−Commercial Plant and Seed Distribution

• Product Launch Stewardship• Incident Response Management• Product Discontinuation

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ETS Technical Resources

• Designed in a “ready‐to‐use” format to be easily adapted to organization‐specific activities and operations.specific activities and operations.

• Translated into several languages forglobal use and made publicly availableglobal use and made publicly availableon the Excellence Through Stewardshipwebsite.  

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ETS Communications ResourcesThe Trusted Source Globally for 

Plant Biotechnology Stewardship Information

• ETS website – www.ExcellenceThroughStewardship.org− Guides on implementing best practices.− Member list and information.− Qualified auditor list.− Links to additional resources.

• ETS quarterly newsletter

• Brochures (English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese & Korean)

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Thank YouThank You

www saaseed orgwww.saaseed.org