Seed production

Introduction to seed production

Seed producers grow plants to both supply seed to farmers and develop new varieties. Growing seed can be combined with other arable farming or market gardening, but crops may need to be isolated and pollinated in a specific way to ensure their seed quality. Growing seeds in Scotland can be challenging because of high rainfall, but locally adapted seed can perform better in the Scottish climate than outsourced ones.

Your legal responsibilities as a seed producer depend on what varieties you produce and in what quantities you sell them, but much of crop seed needs to go through a testing and certification process.

Before starting your seed farm, it is a good idea to learn about crop genetics and seed production, and speak with other seed growers. The Gaia Foundation runs a Scottish seed programme and training in seed production, and the Organic Seed Alliance has an online seed training programme.