Production of certified onion seeds in Uruguay: an experience of governmental  private articulation Sebastián Peluffo1, Héctor González Idiarte1, Guillermo A. Galván1, Alejandra Hirczak2 1 Departamento de Producción Vegetal, Centro Regional Sur, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República. 2 Instituto Nacional de semillas (INASE), Uruguay. Email: horticrs@fagro.edu.uy Initial Background Traditional onion seed production in Uruguay: craft activity developed by non-specialized farmers, with unstable results in quality and quantity. Introduced foreign cultivars with not sustained supply. Uruguayan regulatory framework: not applicable in production and trading of vegetable seeds (only for arable crops and forage seeds). Schematic representation of the seed certification process combining the role of different public and private players Problems arising Landraces and introduced cultivars has been cultivated without enough and independent experimental evaluation. Scant availability of cultivars with adaptation to predominant agri-ecological environment, and local management. Insufficient local research on seed production technology. Relevant use of seeds with low quality. Unstable supply of introduced cultivars and seeds. These problems contributed to the existing variation in the seed volume and quality of the produced onion, and consequently to the unstable economic result of onion growers. Evolution of the production of certified onion seeds in Uruguay in comparison with imported onion seeds Results Genetics Onion growers in South Uruguay have adopted ‘Pantanoso del Sauce CRS’ and other national cultivars. Currently, these cultivars reach more than 60% of the onion acreage (surveys from the Ministry of Agriculture, Uruguay). Quality control The implemented strategy combines (1) plant breeders’ rights, to license and control the conditions under which a cultivar is multiplied; with (2) seed production under a certification scheme. Both elements are based on seed producers training. The programme allowed the maintenance of cultivars traits, as well as the availability of seeds in quantity and quality. Supply! From the beginning in 2001, the programme has got the availability of certified high quality onion seeds from national cultivars. Most of the years, available seed volume has given answer to seed demand. Imported seeds Certified seeds Quantities (kg) Source: INASE Implemented Strategy Breeding programme steps Collection, characterizacion and participatory agronomic evaluation of landraces grown in South Uruguay. Use of landraces as genetic resources in breeding focussed towards the development of cultivars adapted to local agri-ecological conditions (yield and keeping ability) and high bulb qualitiy. Release of ‘Pantanoso del Sauce CRS’ as open-pollinated onion cultivar. Programme of seed production with genetic, physiologic and sanitary standards of quality. Registering for plant breeders’ rights at INASE. Implementing a certified seed production programme, in agreement between the breeder (University) and the seed producers cooperative company. Participatory research on seed production technology, aiming to high standards of quality. Indentification and training of seed producers to multiply the cultivars. Technical and organizational support to the formalization of the cooperative company. Prospects The increase and maintenance of national seed supply is a permanent goal, through the reduction of negative impacts of extreme climatic situations on seed yields. Improved crop management will also contribute to such a goal. Onion seed production in Uruguay would involve improvements in seed packing and conservation, seed processing towards more accurate seed grading for pneumatic sowing machines, as well as improved seed coating and priming. A differentiated seed would be appreciated due to professionalization of vegetable production systems. The integrated public-private system is being expanded to new onion cultivar and new vegetable species with locally improved cultivars.