Quality Assurance

Maintaining our seed quality is at the forefront of what we do. All our standards are based on Australian Seed Federation standards.

Seednet views Quality Assurance as one of the most fundamental components of our national seed business.

In order to maintain high quality assurance standards demanded by growers and consumers, Seednet sets quality standards based on international and domestic certification standards. 

Seednet uses accredited third party contractors to undertake various aspects of its quality assurance program. This quality assurance program covers the end-to-end seed supply chain, from seed bulk and processing through to distribution services. 


Individual quality checks are applied to:

  • grower and paddock selection
  • sowing
  • crop growth and inspections
  • harvest
  • on-farm storage 

 

  • seed transport
  • seed receival
  • seed processing
  • packaging and labelling
  • seed release

 

Seed Growers

Seednet has established a national network of professional seed growers who understand the additional demands of seed production with respect to physical and varietal purity and farm management practices.

Many of these growers are recognised as industry leaders in their own regions. 

 

Seednet's network of seed growers also includes many members of various state-based seed grower organisations.

The network of seed producers is distributed throughout the grain belt, providing optimum regional access, whilst also reducing the impact of local production risk for individual varieties.

 

Seed Grower Selection

Seednet uses expert seed growers and our commitment to Quality Assurance is illustrated in the following general pattern of selection of seed growers:

  • Details such as farm location, business details, agronomic data and paddock history, soil type, rainfall, on-farm storage capacity are sought from prospective seed growers;
  • Applicants are assessed on the basis of the information provided and reputation from independent sources wherever possible;
  • Selected seed growers are visited to confirm details and farm management practices;
  • Approved seed growers are offered seed production contracts, detailing terms and conditions, including seed pricing;
  • Contracted seed growers are visited periodically in late winter, spring and prior to harvest or other times as required to conduct crop inspections, assess crop potential and provide assistance if needed.

Seednet's objective is to maintain close control of the seed production, quality assurance and distribution processes. These objectives are achieved through the provision of direct, on-the-ground support for our selected seed growers.

Seed Processors

Seednet has established effective working relationships with a network of seed processing plants distributed throughout Australia.

These processing plants have been chosen on the basis of geographic location, proximity to seed producers, ability to distribute product efficiently and the capacity to process seed to Seednet's Quality Assured standards. The geographic spread of selected processors provides a diverse range of options for processing and distribution of quality assured product across a full range of crop types.

Seednet seeks to use processors that meet or exceed the standards required for accreditation under the Quality Assurance program. Ongoing compliance with these standards is a continuing condition as a selected Seednet processor. The quality assurance program defines procedures for:

  • seed receival
  • seed cleaning
  • seed treatment
  • seed storage 
  • documentation
  • packaging and labelling
  • seed dispatch

Seednet has extensive practical experience in seed processing and is familiar with the standards of the various seed processors located throughout Australia. Seednet is selective in its use of seed processors and will use only those facilities, which meet, or exceed, our standards. These seed processors must comply with our full range of Quality Assurance(QA) procedures and must be able to supply the relevant documentation to demonstrate QA compliance.