The quality of seedlings is a crucial factor affecting crop production and cultivation. Healthy seedlings ensure rapid growth in the early stages of cultivation, prevent the spread of field infections, and enhance crop resilience to environmental stress. To address this, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency has established disease certification guidelines for seedlings of eight crops: potato, banana, passion fruit, cowpea, bamboo shoots, sweet potato, citrus, and strawberry. The certification process aims to prevent disease transmission through seedlings. Taiwan Seed Improvement and Propagation Station (TSIPS) states that vegetable crops have short growth cycles, and nursery operators often schedule orders based on customer demand. This results in multiple crops, or different growth stages of the same crop, being cultivated simultaneously within the same nursery. Applying a product-based disease certification system, as used for other crops, would impose significant labor and testing costs on nurseries. Moreover, the waiting period for test results could lead to seedling deterioration, making implementation even more challenging.

TSIPS states, as agriculture continues to thrive, effective “layered management” within the agricultural supply chain is essential. This begins with import inspections at the seed level to prevent the introduction of seed-borne diseases. Once quality seeds reach seedling operators, strict control measures must be applied to manage potential risks during seedling cultivation. Farmers who receive these high-quality seedlings must then implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to ensure healthy crop production. From seed companies to seedling operators to farmers, each stage of the agricultural chain plays a critical and independent role. A collective effort is required to create a disease-free, safe farming environment.

In recent years, TSIPS has developed a Five-Ring seedling production area management system, focusing on five key areas: growing medium, facilities, water sources, seedlings, and personnel. Additionally, TSIPS has produced educational pamphlets to promote best practices for vegetable seedling production area health management. These efforts aim to raise awareness among seedling operators about the importance of risk control and encourage them to adopt self-regulated risk management measures. By strengthening disease prevention at the source, the industry can ensure safe production environments, improve seedling quality, and drive sustainable agricultural development.

▲Key guidelines for vegetable seedling production area health management brochure