Australian researchers have developed a new smartphone app to help farmers and exporters test the quality of seed
The app, developed by Seed Services Australia and UniSA information technology students, will reportedly make it easier and faster for clients to receive field inspection and seed testing results.
Seed Services Australia, commercial seed testing and certification business of PIRSA division Rural Solutions SA, is the seed testing and certification provider to Australia’s commercial seed industry.
Rural Solutions SA’s executive director Daniel Casement said that the development of the app stemmed from a collaboration between Seed Services Australia and the university’s School of Information Technology and Mathematical Sciences.
“South Australia produces about 10,000 tonnes of certified pasture seed per annum and exports about 70 per cent of that.
“The commercial seed market is highly competitive. Gaining access to valuable international seed markets is directly linked to certified confirmation of seed quality, so the sooner an exporter can get confirmation of seed quality the better,” the executive added.
According to Casement, although Seed Services Australia had world-class facilities, the business and its clients had found that the manual data collection methods used in the field were limiting turn-around time.
“With the help of UniSA, we have developed a great Android smartphone tool that enables us to deliver field inspection results to clients faster than ever, reducing the time it takes to get valuable seed to market. The app is a perfect example of what can be achieved when industry, government and community come together to maximise opportunity and mutual benefit in creative and innovative ways.”
The app is now available to clients from Rural Solutions.
