Plantum is a consortium of companies active in plant breeding, seed production, and propagation, working collectively to support market access and strengthen phytosanitary standards across the seed sector. BASF and Bayer, aligned with Plantum’s mission, have joined forces to explore innovative solutions that improve seed health testing, leveraging their combined expertise in seed technology, virology, and regulatory insight. 

Providing healthy (vegetable) seeds to customers is a prerequisite for sustainable food production. A healthy seed is free from pathogenic organisms that could cause disease in the developing plant. Frequently used methods to determine seed health such as ELISA and PCR detect the presence of proteins or nucleic acids associated with specific plant pathogens. However, these methods cannot distinguish between viable, infectious pathogens and non-viable remnants. As a result, a positive test may indicate the presence of non-viable organisms, residual genetic material left on the seed after a disinfection treatment, or environmental contamination with genetic material, rather than an actual infection risk. Therefore, such test results may not reliably reflect the true risk posed by a seed lot when it is brought into the market. 

Seed companies contribute to the availability of healthy seeds by routinely testing them to prevent or control plant pests and pathogens that may affect seed quality, seed movement, and their introduction into new territories. Good management practices that prevent seeds from exposure to pests and diseases throughout all stages of seed development, production, and commercialization significantly reduce overall pest risks, and seed health testing is often a final check. A seed health test is also frequently required by National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) as a condition for importing seed into their territories.