Lalteer’s MNT Seed Testing Laboratory has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining accreditation from the prestigious International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). As the first lab in the country to receive this recognition, the accreditation positions the company to enhance seed quality, support local farmers, and facilitate seed exports, according to Abdul Awal Mintu, Chairman of Lal Teer. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Lal Teer Seed R&D Farm in Gazipur, where Mintu highlighted the company's membership in ISTA since 2015 and emphasized the eight years of dedicated efforts by the MNT Lab research team that led to this accomplishment.
Mintu shared that Lal Teer currently supplies approximately 12,000 tonnes of seed annually, with vegetables accounting for 90 percent of the production. The company focuses on developing high-quality seeds by considering factors such as taste, size, weight, color, production capacity, and water content.
Obtaining ISTA accreditation is a significant achievement, as only 130 labs across 83 countries have received this certification thus far. Mintu mentioned that Lal Teer has acquired both the Blue and Orange certification, allowing the company to offer seeds with internationally recognized quality standards.
Mahbub Anam, Managing Director of Lal Teer, stated that the company exported seeds worth US $1.2 million in the previous year. He expressed optimism that the ISTA accreditation would further boost export opportunities and contribute to increased revenue from seed exports.
Dr. Abdur Rashid, Lal Teer's General Manager and R&D Incharge, shared additional insights into the company's research and development efforts. Lal Teer has developed 135 crop varieties, including 87 hybrids, and maintains a germplasm bank with 130,000 collected germplasms from the country. These germplasms play a vital role in the development of newer seed varieties. Dr. Rashid also mentioned that a new onion variety has already been introduced, and two hybrid rice varieties are in the pipeline for release.
Mintu further emphasized the importance of expanding onion hybrid seed production as a means to increase domestic production and reduce reliance on imports.
The ISTA accreditation received by MNT Seed Testing Laboratory is a testament to Lal Teer's commitment to maintaining high-quality seed standards and supporting the agriculture sector in Bangladesh. With the accreditation in hand, the company is well-positioned to contribute to the country's seed industry growth and meet the demands of both local farmers and international markets.
