AMES, Iowa – For the second year in a row, the Seed Lab at Iowa State University’s Seed Science Center (SSC) passed an ISO 9001 audit with no non-conformities found.

ISO 9001 addresses various aspects of quality management and examines whether organizations meet the best-known standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to improve the quality of products and services.

A surveillance audit, conducted by an external auditor two years in a row, is followed by a recertification audit. Seed labs undergo surveillance audits to stay certified under the current certificate; the recertification audit starts the cycle again.

“Not only did we not register any non-conformities. The even greater news is that we received much praise from the auditor,” reports Michael Stahr, Seed Lab manager.  “Our team constantly works hard to be the best, and it shows.”

In particular, the auditor lauded improvements to the Seed Lab’s customer online service system called “CySeed” and the development of CACKLE, a system that tracks internal communications and communications with customers.  The auditor also commended the various changes to the Lab’s already highly acclaimed customer care, upgrades to the germination lab’s layout and procedures, its ability to meet high demands in seed health testing, and innovations in testing for biotech traits.

ISO’s stamp of approval highlights the accuracy, quality, and reliability of test reports and other quality- and compliance-related services offered by the ISU’

s Seed Lab. Lack of ISO compliance, recorded as non-conformities, is investigated. Labs are enjoined to correct non-conformities with dispatch or face the risk of losing certification.

The Seed Lab’s Health Lab is certified under the National Seed Health System, while the Seed Lab in general is certified under the USDA’s Accredited Seed Lab (ASL) program.

The Seed Lab participates in this voluntary audit system to ensure it operates at the highest standards. “Our Seed Lab voluntarily subjects its operations to review because we’re serious about testing quality,” said Lulu Rodriguez, interim SSC director. “ISO standards direct seed testing units to implement uniform procedures and methodology. This not only improves our operations; it also conveys seriousness of purpose to our customer base, which fosters trust. On a broader scale, being up to standards enhances seed commerce both domestically and globally.”

ISO, based in Geneva, Switzerland, has member organizations in 169 countries worldwide. As an independent, non-governmental organization, it brings experts together to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market-relevant international standards to support innovation in procedures and processes.

“Basically, you say what you do and do what you say,” Stahr said. “Then you get audited to make sure you are doing it.”

Despite the glowing report, Stahr says his team is already looking at ways to improve their ISO system even more in the coming year.

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About the Seed Science Center

The Seed Science Center, under the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University, is a national and international center of excellence in seed research, education, technology transfer, and global seed systems.  It houses the Seed Lab, the largest and most comprehensive public seed testing laboratory in the world, known for more than 120 years of excellence in seed testing, research and training.