It is my privilege to welcome you to the ICAR-National Institute of Seed Science & Technology (ICAR-NISST), Mau, a premier institution dedicated to advancing seed science for the benefit of Indian agriculture.

Seeds are the foundational input of agriculture, carrying the genetic potential that defines crop productivity, resilience, and quality. At ICAR-NISST, we firmly believe that “better seeds mean better yields, better nutrition, and better livelihoods.” Guided by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), our institute plays a pivotal role in strengthening the seed sector of India through research, innovation, capacity building, and technology transfer.

We are engaged in a broad mandate covering:

Strategic Research: Advancing the frontiers of seed biology, physiology, molecular diagnostics, and genomics to develop next-generation seed technologies.

• Seed Quality & Health: Developing protocols and tools for quality assurance, seed health testing, genetic purity, and certification to uphold trust in the seed supply chain.
• Technology Development: Innovating in the fields of seed production, enhancement, processing, and storage for improving seed vigor, shelf life, and field performance.
• National Coordination: Hosting the All India Coordinated Research Project on Seed (Crops) (AICRP on Seed (Crops) to synergize efforts across diverse agro-climatic regions.
• Capacity Building: Serving as a center of excellence for training scientists, extension workers, students, and stakeholders from public and private sectors.

  Our modern laboratories, expert faculty, and collaborative ecosystem enable us to address pressing challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and nutritional insecurity. We are also integrating digital agriculture, AI/ML-based diagnostics, and biotechnology to build climate-resilient and nutritionally enriched seed systems.

  We pride ourselves not just on scientific excellence but on real-world impact—our technologies and training programs are helping farmers across India enhance productivity and income. Strengthening public-private partnerships (PPP) remains a key strategy to bridge lab-to-land gaps and scale innovation.

  I extend my heartfelt gratitude to ICAR, our committed scientists and staff, and our research and industry partners for their relentless support. I warmly invite farmers, researchers, students, and entrepreneurs to collaborate with us in building a secure, sustainable, and prosperous agricultural future.

  Let us sow the seeds of innovation today for a food-secure India tomorrow.

  With warm regards,

  Dr. Sanjay Kumar
  Director
  ICAR-National Institute of Seed Science & Technology, Mau