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  NordGen is an institution under the Nordic Council of Ministers, working as a gene bank and knowledge center to promote sustainable use and conservation of genetic resources within plants, farm animals and forestry. We are more than 30 highly qualified employees from all the Nordic countries. NordGen is organized under the Nordic Council of Ministers…
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  During the 1960s, the realization that biological and genetic diversity was diminishing spread. Since then, genebanks have been established, genetic resources mapped and international agreements signed to try to reverse the trend. But genetic resources do not follow the boundaries drawn on a map. Preserving genetic resources is an international effort, so NordGen often works…
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  Main Office and NordGen Plants The Main office and NordGen Plants are located on the campus of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp. Alnarp is situated between Malmö and Lund in southern Sweden. Phone: +46 40 536 640 E-mail: info@nordgen.org Address: Växthusvägen 12, 234 56 Alnarp NordGen Farm Animals NordGen Farm Animals is…
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- Menyval
- Last week the International Seed Testing Association, ISTA, held one of its committee meetings at NordGen’s premises in Alnarp. The purpose of the organisation is to develop and provide standard methods for seed testing, thereby facilitating trading with seeds. In a wider perspective, ISTA’s work is also contributing to food safety. “ISTA was formed…
- Last week the International Seed Testing Association, ISTA, held one of its committee meetings at NordGen’s premises in Alnarp. The purpose of the organisation is to develop and provide standard methods for seed testing, thereby facilitating trading with seeds. In a wider perspective, ISTA’s work is also contributing to food safety. “ISTA was formed…

Home > News > Plants > ISTA held meeting at NordGen

ISTA held meeting at NordGen

Date: 2018.10.18

Last week the International Seed Testing Association, ISTA, held one of its committee meetings at NordGen’s premises in Alnarp. The purpose of the organisation is to develop and provide standard methods for seed testing, thereby facilitating trading with seeds. In a wider perspective, ISTA’s work is also contributing to food safety.

“ISTA was formed in 1924 and it has member laboratories all over the world” said Steve Jones, Vice President of ISTA during his visit to NordGen.

Although, ISTA is mainly targeting seed testing laboratories, the work done by gene banks would benefit from a larger cooperation with ISTA.

“Gene banks often work in a different direction than other seed testing laboratories when it comes to seed germination tests and moisture determination. These are areas where we could combine our efforts and thereby reaching a higher efficiency” said Jette Nydam Hansen, Genetic Resources Officer at NordGen.

Important International contacts

ISTA is often referred to as the International family and, indeed, the contacts in the network are important for gene banks such as NordGen, often operating in the International arena. Steve Jones agrees.

“I think there is a good opportunity to have cooperation with gene banks as they could make use of some of our standard methods, and also maybe look at issues regarding storage of and moisture in seeds”, he said.

ISTA is active in a wide range of fields concerning seed testing. They promote research, arrange conferences and distribute a news bulletin, just to name a few.

NordGen were very happy to welcome the association to Alnarp and look forward to more fruitful cooperations in the future.