Iowa State University Seed Science Center

The Iowa State University Seed Science Center is a unique place. It’s the largest comprehensive public seed laboratory in the United States. It conducts tests that ensure the successful export of hundreds of millions of dollars of U.S. seed each year, and it’s been a global leader in introducing science into policy to benefit world seed trade. In short, the Seed Science Center’s success is a critical component to the future of food and fiber production throughout the world.

It is the seed that is the fundamental basis of agriculture, says Manjit Misra, director of the Seed Science Center, “and seed testing is important because governments need to assure the quality of distributed seed in order to maintain healthy crops.”

Another critical aspect of the center’s work is education to produce the next generation of leaders in the seed industry. That is why a recent initiative by the Iowa Seed Association is so important to the long-term success of the center.

“The seed industry in Iowa felt they needed to provide opportunities for students to pursue graduate studies in the seed-related industry if they were going to retain their pre-eminent position in the world seed industry,” says Misra. “The Iowa Seed Association saw Iowa State as a solid partner and a place where they could make a difference through a strategic investment.”

The three-way partnership of the association, the university and the ISU Foundation has reaped tremendous benefits. Inspired by the guidance of Misra, and with the hard work of many association volunteers, the initiative has secured seven named graduate fellowships—each funded with a minimum of $150,000.

“This was an opportunity for an agriculture sector industry to make a critical investment in the knowledge base that will sustain that industry well into the future,” Misra says. “Iowa State is exactly the right place for that to happen, and this investment makes perfect sense.”