Print This PageWhy should you choose Monsanto?
Research and development
Research is the heart of Monsanto and its future. We invest more than 180 million dollars in research every year to improve our vegetable seed varieties. With more than 50 research centres in 17 countries, our global presence helps our researchers discover new varieties that meet consumer needs and are adapted to local microclimates.
Our plant breeders are using traditional plant breeding techniques, marker-assisted breeding and advanced analytical methods to develop improved vegetables for many Australian farmers.
These products aim to offer greater nutrition, better flavour, and improved agronomics. Our breeders are also working to improve products at both planting and harvest, by combating environmental factors that limit the plant’s output and by enhancing the product’s end-market features – including appearance and quality.
The depth, breadth and innovation throughout or vegetable product line is the result of our strong commitment to research and development.
Quality seeds
Hybrid seed production at Monsanto requires rigorous processes to ensure high standards of quality. Hybrid parent lines are carefully shipped to Monsanto-owned farms or to contracted seed growers. The male and female seeds are then planted side by side. Once the parental plants flower, they cross-pollinate to produce the seed-bearing fruit. The fruits are monitored as they mature until they are ready for harvest. Finally the commercial hybrid seeds, also called F1 seed, are extracted from the fruit and shipped to one of twelve Monsanto operations facilities where they are prepared for sale.
Only the best seeds are kept
Growing and harvesting high quality seeds is just the beginning. The seeds must be cleaned and conditioned, dried, sorted by size (for precision planters), thoroughly tested and packed prior to shipping. Many growing areas also require seeds to be treated with protectants, primed or pelleted. All of our seed is stored in bulk containers under controlled storage conditions. It is packed to order based on each customer’s specifications.
These services all require years of training as well as specialised equipment and logistical systems to do well. It’s one of the reasons why growers prefer to purchase seed each season from Monsanto. Monsanto has 46 distribution and processing centres around the world.
Seed Treatments
Seed treatments can be applied to seeds to protect them from disease during their most vulnerable time in the ground. They can also enhance germination, vigour and uniformity in the field. Common treatments include film coating, an application that coats the seed with a polymer that can hold to seed protectants. The bright colour also makes the seed easy to identify during planting. In addition, some types of seed are “primed” to enhance its performance. Primed seeds have been hydrated and redried prior to sale. Another popular option is pelleting, a thick coating that makes very small seeds larger, perfectly round, and easy to handle. The pellet typically splits open or dissolves once it is in the ground and exposed to water.
Quality assurance
Health, Purity and Vigour
Monsanto completes nearly 500,000 quality checks on our seed each year. This rigorous testing is the centerpiece of our comprehensive quality assurance system. A single seed lot can be subjected to several dozen quality measurements.
Several of our labs have been accredited by government auditors, such as the National Seed Health System in the United States and Naktuinbouw, the Dutch Inspection Service for Horticulture. To earn this prestigious status we have proven that our test results are reliable, reproducible and independent from commercial influence.
Germination and Vigour Testing
Completed in specialised growth chambers and greenhouses, these tests provide one of the most important quality measurements of seeds. High germination percentages are indicative of health, vigour and the overall quality of the seeds. Our procedures meet or exceed international standards.
Physical Purity
Using magnifiers and microscopes, technicians examine seed lots to detect weed seeds or other impurities. Any irregularities are documented and the seed re-conditioned or discarded, if needed.
Identity and Purity Testing
It is impossible to identify a plant variety simply by looking at its seed. With 3,500+ products, Monsanto has developed highly accurate methods to confirm identity and measure the percentage of hybridity of harvested seeds. Using equipment similar to what is found in sophisticated medical labs, Monsanto technicians can even identify specific products via their DNA fingerprint. When needed, field tests called “grow-outs” are used to visually confirm that the plants have the right phenotype.
Seed Health
Destructive bacteria and plant viruses can be transmitted on seeds and Monsanto takes extreme caution to prevent infection during seed production and afterwards. Random samples of seeds (usually 30,000 or 50,000 seeds per lot) are drawn from seed lots and tested for the presence of pathogens that are known to be problematic.
In addition to grow-outs, where seeds are planted in greenhouses and tested for disease symptoms, the team uses a number of highly sensitive tests to find seeds that may carry pathogens. This may include enzyme-based ELISA assays and DNA-based PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests. Monsanto has made many breakthroughs in the area of seed health, and for the benefit of the industry has often shared that knowledge.
Quality Assurance Research
Monsanto has a special team of quality experts whose job is to find new and innovative ways to improve the health and quality of seed. They study the physiological, horticultural and genetic factors that affect seed quality. We then use this information to guide our product development as well as the processes and technologies employed in seed production and operations.
Do you want profitable weed control?
If you have any questions about Monsanto Vegetable seeds, contact your local territory manager or customer service.
