GEVES at the ISTA Congress in Christchurch (New Zealand) from May 5 to 9, 2025

This year’s program included a 2-day symposium on “Seed Quality for Global Food Security and Biodiversity”, 2 days dedicated to technical committee activities reports, and a day of general assembly.

153 people from 32 countries braved the distance to attend, including several GEVES members from various ISTA committees.

GEVES made a significant contribution through oral papers and posters (below), including one on the detection of Aphelenchoides besseyi on rice seeds, which received an award. The activity reports of the Sampling, Proficiency Testing and Vigor committees were presented by the GEVES chair or vice-chair of these committees.

At the General Meeting, all the proposed amendments to the ISTA Rules available on the ISTA website were adopted. 

The Executive Committee was renewed, with Ernest Allen (USA) as the new Chairman and Sergio Pasquini (Italy) as the new Vice-Chairman.  Didier Demilly of GEVES was elected to this committee for the next 3 years. The Executive Committee will be responsible for ISTA’s new strategy over the next 3 years, in continuity with the current one. 

Finally, the general meetings and congresses for the coming years were announced: the ISTA general meeting in 2027 will be held in France, in Angers!