History of seed testing
Seed quality control in Latvia is operational since 1875, when the first seed testing station was established at the Department of Agriculture of Riga Polytechnics of that time. At the beginning, the seed quality tests were performed mainly for training and research purposes. In 1923, the first unofficial inspections, in respect of seed placed on the market were carried out by Agricultural Department of the Ministry of Agriculture. The tests proved that more than the half of all seed was completely unfit for sowing. After one year, J. Lūke, agronomist employed by the Department, published a brochure "Prospects and Objectives of Seed Breeding for Improvement of Agricultural Crops", where he proposed:
- To extend the scope of institutions engaged in breeding, (at that time, breeding stations of Stende and Priekuļi were already established),
- To found the State Seed Testing Station,
- Perform testing in respect of all seed placed on the market.
In 1924, the Department of Agriculture decided to organize the testing of seed placed on the market according to the model of Denmark: it had to be voluntary – respectively, when seed trade companies sign voluntary contracts with state institutions in respect of control and undertake to trade only in tested seed, furthermore, making the test results available for customers. In 1924, the test results showed a slight improvement in seed quality due to testing, therefore the Department decided to proceed with the started practice. Despite that, the continued work did not bring the expected results. The number of farms undertaking voluntary seed testing contracts decreased with every year, and the seed trade was still not regularized, therefore in 1929./1930.Ministry of Agriculture radically changed the system of seed control, introducing a mandatory seed testing for all trade companies as well as control over the exported and imported clover seed and the flax seed intended for export. In 1927. Ministry of Finance moved the seed control station to Riga, 31 Dzirnavu Street, for before, all technical operations of seed testing were carried out at Stende Breeding Station. During World War II, the sector of seed breeding suffered significant damages. In 1949, the first seed quality standards were issued, improving the quality control system. In order to assist farmers with re-cleaning of the seed stocks, the state allocated annual unrequittable premiums for setting up of seed grading points. Seed Quality Control Service has been re-organized several times:
- In 1944, the Central Seed Laboratory was founded under the Latvian SSR People’s Commissariat of Agriculture;
- In 1945, it was merged with State Plant Quarantine Inspection;
- In 1947, The Republic of Latvia Seed Testing Laboratory was founded, the name of which has been changed several times: Latvian SSR Ministry of Agriculture State Seed Inspection, afterwards – Latvian State Inspection, eventually – Seed State Inspection.
- As the result of reformation of 1999./2000, the Seed State Inspection was re-organized into Seed Control Department and incorporated into State Plant Protection Station