• One of the largest public seed testing labs in the U.S.

Welcome to the ISU Seed Science Center

More than 100 Years of Excellence in Seed Testing, Research, and Outreach

The Seed Science Center at Iowa State University is a center of excellence nationally and internationally in seed research, education, technology transfer, and international seed programs. It provides a focus for teaching, research, and extension programs on seed in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and it is a global leader in introducing science into policy to benefit world seed trade.

The Seed Science Center is home to the largest public seed testing laboratory in the world. For more than 100 years, the lab has provided accurate and professional seed-testing services for members of the seed industry.

Seed Science Center faculty members are committed to providing quality research and education to produce the next generation of leaders in the seed industry. Faculty specializing in seed physiology, seed pathology, risk management, and seed conditioning conduct cutting-edge research projects in sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, crop utilization, computer technologies, microbiology, toxicology, and molecular biology.   

Working to provide access to quality seed, facilitating seed trade, and promoting the growth and development of the seed industry are important missions of the Center's Global Programs. In the past 20 years, center scientists have designed and conducted programs in more than 80 countries around the world to achieve these goals.
                         
For more information about the Seed Science Center at Iowa State University, contact seedsci@iastate.edu.

 

News

July 2, 2025
Woman watching STB seed business webinar
AMES, Iowa — The Graduate Program in Seed Technology and Business (STB) at Iowa State University has earned international recognition, receiving a Gold Award in the Special Events category from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Circle of Excellence Awards for its biannual webinar series. The 2025 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards attracted 4,460 entries from 640...
June 26, 2025
Photo of new Ph.d. student, Mayowa Aderoju
We’re excited to welcome Mayowa Aderoju to the Seed Science Center as a new Ph.D. student under the guidance of Dr. Gary Munkvold. Mayowa brings a strong background in plant pathology and a passion for seed health research. Mayowa earned his bachelor’s degree in Crop, Soil, and Pest Management from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in Nigeria. He then completed his M.S. in Plant...
May 30, 2025
STB Logo
The 2025 Seed Business Management Spring Webinar Series, sponsored by the Graduate Program in Seed Technology and Business (STB), wrapped up this week. The series drew strong participation from students, professionals, and seed science enthusiasts from across the world. Week 1: Navigating Federal Policy and Global Trade The series kicked off May 7 with Janae Brady and Samuel Crowell of the...

Now Available for Viewing

Join Iowa State University Seed Science Center on a journey around the world to discover the grand collaboration between nature and humanity to feed, clothe, and beautify the world! This film series was developed to engage and inspire youth, the public, and the policy makers on the beauty and value of seeds to society.