A dedicated team of FABIans, led by the National Grain Research Programme at FABI-UP (NGRP) has successfully conducted the annual seed packing for the National Maize Cultivar Trials (NMCT) for the 2024/2025 season. This important project helps to evaluate maize cultivars from institutions and seed companies across South Africa. The aim is to identify reliable cultivars that can either replace older varieties or introduce new varieties with desirable traits to the South African seed market.

The FABI seed-packing team, consisting of 22 students and 8 interns, has taken on the task of repackaging a standard quantity of maize seed cultivars. These seeds will be used in trials across eight regions in South Africa, including Water Table, Western Parts, Temperate Eastern, Cool Eastern, Eastern Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Irrigation zones. The trials cover different agro-ecological areas and provide important insights to improve maize production across the country.

A particular highlight of the project was the excellent teamwork and co-operation of the seed-packing team. From the initial planning meeting to the final stages of execution, each member understood their role and contributed efficiently to ensure a smooth process. This high level of coordination not only ensured the success of the seed packing, but also helped to establish an effective and streamlined process that can be applied to future projects.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this important project, which was carried out in partnership with Grain SA and the South African National Seed Organization (SANSOR) and funded by the Maize Trust. This initiative continues to play a key role in advancing the South African agricultural sector by ensuring access to high quality maize varieties.