ThermoSeed seed treatment
is a new method for thermal seed treatment presenting an
effective and economically competitive alternative to chemical
seed treatment. By exposing seeds for precisely conditioned
hot humid air, pathogens are rendered harmless without affecting
seed germinability.
Advantages of the ThermoSeed concept:
• Highly competitive with chemical seed treatment
thanks to
• -High efficacy
• -Yield performance
• -Low treatment costs
• No chemicals – minimum influence on the
environment
• Good labour environment: No risks associated with
handling of treated seed – no protection gloves
nor breathing mask is needed
• Leftover seed can be used as feed or can be sold
like ordinary grain
• Goodwill for farmers and the seed industry among
consumers
• Introduction of ThermoSeed on new markets and
crops is facilitated since ThermoSeed is not a pesticide
and therefore does not require any pesticide registration
The beneficial effects in combination with low cost makes
the method competitive for organic as well as for conventional
farming.
The method has been evaluated on a small scale since 1999
in seven European countries from Norway down to Italy with
very good results. Since 2002 the method is used on conventional
seed in Sweden by Lantmännen, the Swedish Farmer’s
Supply and Crop Marketing Association, the dominating seed
market actor in Sweden. In 2005, Lantmännen invested
in the world’s first full-scale ThermoSeed processing
line for cereal seed, which replaced a conventional chemical
seed dressing line. The process equipment is in commercial
operation since spring 2006, and is capable of treating over
200 tons per day of cereal seed.
The method is also very attractive for other kinds of seed,
such as various kinds of vegetable seed and rice. |
