Seed Certification

The purpose of the California Crop Improvement Association (CCIA) Seed Certification Program is to provide seed certification service, a voluntary quality assurance program for the maintenance and increase of agronomic and vegetable crop seed. Each variety that is entered into this program has been evaluated for its unique characteristics such as pest resistance, adaptability, uniformity, quality, and yield. Seed production is closely monitored by CCIA to prevent out-crossing, weed, other crop and disease contamination that may negatively affect seed quality.

Organization

CCIA is a non-profit corporation, managed by an executive director who reports to an elected and representational Board of Directors on matters of policy and finance. California Certified Seed is produced under strict standards established by the CCIA Board of Directors and the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA). Seed certification is conducted with the supervision of the California Agricultural Experiment Station, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Cooperative Extension and county agricultural commissioners. The California Crop Improvement Association is the official seed certifying agency in California as recognized by California Seed Law. In addition, when the United States became a participant in the international seed certification scheme administered by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), CCIA became the designated authority to conduct the OECD program in California. The OECD is responsible for administering the seed certification program in 24 member countries and 16 non-member countries that participate in the scheme. All cereal, herbage and oil, and maize and sorghum seed exported to European Union countries must be produced under OECD guidelines.

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Procedures

Certified Seed is produced and increased under a limited generation concept that is supervised by CCIA. Field inspections are coordinated during periods when distinct crop morphological characteristics, diseases and other important criteria are most noticeable. Seed movement is monitored by CCIA from field harvest, through the conditioning plant, and into the bag. Seed samples are taken at the time of conditioning and are closely examined in the seed laboratory. Seed sample size must meet or exceed the minimum AOSA "Weights for Working Samples"' and samples must be forwarded to an official State Lab or a private Seed Lab supervised by an RST using AOSA Rules for Testing Seeds. All lab results must be sent to the CCIA office. Seed must meet minimum germination and purity standards.

Mission

California Crop Improvement works closely as a partner with the seed industry and the seed grower to assist in the production of high quality, certified seed. The mission of CCIA is to engage in any activity that promotes the production, distribution and use of superior quality seed. Crop varieties today have tremendously complex genotypes, and advancements in genetics are occurring at rates unimagined just a few years ago. Because the assurance of genetic purity and quality contributes great value to seed, certified seed sells for a higher price than "common" seed, often returning greater profits to the grower and conditioner.

Membership

Membership in the CCIA is optional and is open to any person, partnership, company or firm growing certified seed in California, or an individual who has current or past affiliation with seed certification. Any applicant, not a member of the Association, wishing to grow seed for certification by the Association shall apply for membership in the Association.

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