Seed Production and Seed Testing Draft Qualifications
The Australian Seeds Authority (ASA) has been working with AgriFood Skills Australia, a project consultant, representatives from SASA and industry seed producers, on the development of two draft Seed Testing and Seed Production qualifications.
These draft qualifications and the associated Units of Competence are now available for public review (download) and comment and can be found at http://agrifoodskills.net.au/training-packages/AHC/seed-production/ Each qualification comprises a number of Units of Competence (UoC), some of which are quite seed production or testing specific, and others that are somewhat generic.
Units of Competence describe the tasks involved in doing a “job” – that is they describe how a job is done and what you need to know and understand to actually do the job. Each unit includes a section headed “Required Skills and Knowledge” and this covers the “how to do” and “what you need to know” aspects of each unit which will be covered in the learning materials developed specifically for these qualifications. Only the new seed testing and production specific units are provided for review; a range of others are existing UoC which will be customised to meet our needs by way of the learning materials developed for them.
This is now your opportunity to have some input into this process. All comments should be forwarded to the Project Consultant (Tony Dodson) whose contact details are provided on the AgriFoodSkills (link above) website. If you are happy with what you see, please let Tony know, or tell Tony what you think needs to be changed, and why.
Please note that the feedback period closes at 5.00pm Friday 16 March 2012.
Marcia Taylor
Executive Officer
Australian Seeds Authority Ltd.
The Australian Seeds Authority - Who We Are and What We Do
The Australian Seeds Authority (ASA) is responsible for controlling seed certification in Australia, and oversights two certification schemes:
- the OECD Schemes for the Varietal Certification or the Control of Seed Moving in International Trade, and
- the Australian Seed Certification Scheme
ASA is licensed by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to undertake the role of the National Designated Authority for the OECD seed schemes, and, at the request of the Australian seed industry, operates the Australian Seed Certification Scheme which is used principally for seed not destined for export. The rules of the Australian Seed Certification Scheme are essentially the same as for the OECD seed schemes, with only a few differences in the requirements for post-control testing.
ASA in turn licenses three certification agencies, Seed Services Australia, AsureQuality and Agwest Plant Laboratories, through formal Authorisation Agreements to undertake the day to day operations of seed certification. Each of these seed certification agencies is required to achieve, and maintain, accreditation with NATA (the National Association of Testing Authorities) for their management and record systems to ensure that they are meeting the requirements of ASA in conducting seed certification programs which comply with the rules of the OECD and the Australian Seed Certification schemes.
ASA also co-ordinates official Australian interaction with the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) on international seed testing policy and practice, and has signed Authorisation Agreements with four ISTA-accredited laboratories to test certified seed prior to its final release as certified seed.
Read more: The Australian Seeds Authority - Who We Are and What We Do