Seed health tests for pathogen viability

About 

BASF is a German multinational and a global leader in chemicals, materials, industrial solutions, and agricultural innovations, with a strong focus on sustainability and scientific excellence.

The Challenge  

The challenge focuses on developing a seed health test method - destructive or non-destructive - that can distinguish between viable and non-viable pathogens in or on the seed, with a primary focus on tobamoviruses in solanaceous crops such as tomato, pepper, and eggplant. It seeks:

• Novel confirmation tests or alternative methods to assess pathogen viability
• Lab-suitable solutions with a strong rationale for achieving sensitivity comparable to or greater than PCR
• Test methods that provide repeatable results within a turnaround time of up to 7 days, supported by preliminary data or justification

The goal is to enable reliable, laboratory-based viability testing for tobamoviruses in seed, supporting faster, safer, and more accurate phytosanitary decisions.

Reward

Successful applicants may receive sponsored research funding, access to technical experts and analysis facilities, and the opportunity to leverage data for further insights. Promising projects may be eligible for follow-on funding and continued collaboration.

Timeframe

• Deadline for Submitting Proposals: June 30, 2025

Who can apply  

• Applicants with TRL 1-9 solutions

How to apply 

Application through HALO Platform.

Find here all the details and the submission page.

The SPIN4EIC consortium is not responsible for the challenges launched by private or public buyers. Each participating entity is solely responsible for its own challenge, including the selection process, communication with applicants, and all information provided to participants.