US: Syngenta vegetable seed plant receives GSPP accreditation

Syngenta announced that its vegetable seed processing plant in Pasco, Wash., is the first site in North America to receive Good Seed and Plant Practices (GSPP) accreditation. Syngenta strives, in the coming months, to transition all active greenhouse (AGH) tomato seeds supplied in North America to be GSPP accredited.

GSPP is an independently-audited hygiene and prevention protocol that significantly reduces the risk of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) in tomato seeds while assuring the traceability of seed. A persistent bacterial disease, Cmm can cause serious economic damage and is easily spread through plant handling, cropping, grafting and from other host plants. For young plant growers, GSPP certified seed means significantly reduced exposure to Cmm and greater peace of mind.

“As one of the international leaders in crop protection and the breeding of high-quality seed varieties for the professional market, Syngenta has taken a leadership role as one of the key initiators of GSPP,” said Motti Schramm, Syngenta Tomato Portfolio Manager. “With GSPP, Syngenta and its partners reach the ultimate level of hygienic measures to significantly reduce the risk of Cmm infection in tomato seeds.”