NL: HALO Challenge for innovative proposals for seed health tests launched

A consortium of companies affiliated with Plantum has launched a HALO Challenge for innovative proposals for seed health tests that demonstrate biological relevance. Proposals can be submitted until June 30.

Providing healthy seeds to customers is a prerequisite for sustainable food production. Healthy seed is free of pathogens that could cause disease in a the developing plant.

Molecular seed health tests are regularly and increasingly used. However, these tests do not provide information on the biological relevance of an organism, thus failing to properly reflect the true risk and as a consequence healthy seed lots may be destroyed. . Such molecular tests are also increasingly required and performed by governments (National Plant Protection Organizations, NPPOs), for example, in import controls.

Challenge
The concept of biological relevance is becoming increasingly important for seed companies. This is why a HALO Challenge has been launched in cooperation with companies. The challenge is to come up with proposals for innovative seed health tests that distinguish between the presence of viable/infectious organisms and non-viable/infectious organisms.

Focus
The focus for the HALO Challenge is tobamoviruses in Solanaceae, such as tomato, bell pepper and eggplant. It is possible to submit a proposal until June 30, 2025.