Seed production, plant breeding and wild oats

The objective of the Finnish Seed Act is to maintain and promote high-quality seed and plant production in Finland. Good quality, healthy seeds are vital inputs in productive plant production. 

All seeds and seed potatoes marketed in Finland must be certified. The Finnish Food Authority inspects and supervises the quality of seeds used in Finland. It also examines seed quality through laboratory tests. These activities are performed under the Seed Act and the subsequent Decrees by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

The purpose of the Act on Preventing Wild Oat is to control wild oat and prevent it from spreading. Wild oat (Avena fatua) is a weed that disturbs cereal cultivation and seed production in particular. Preventing and monitoring the spread of wild oats is highly important because it is the best way to avoid financial losses.

Plant breeding has important role in resilient crop production. Breeding of high-yielding varieties to that are well adapted to our Nordic conditions is important. Short growing season, long days in the summer and special soil characteristics play a key role in Finnish crop production. Finland has been a member of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) since 1993. We have national legislation on Plant Breeders’ Rights, protecting new plant varieties. Finnish Food Authority is responsible for variety testing (DUS testing), maintaining national catalogues of plant varieties and registration of Plant Breeder's Rights in Finland.