Colour on seeds is not decoration. It is a safety and quality tool.
Safety
Treated seed carries crop-protection actives. A strong colour marks it clearly as treated so it is never mistaken for food or feed grain, and many countries require it.
Identification and brand
Colour distinguishes varieties and treatments in the warehouse and in the field, and helps farmers recognise genuine branded seed.
Quality of coverage
Colour makes coating coverage visible, so seed companies can check that each seed has received its treatment.
What a seed colorant must do
- Stay compatible with the active formulation and film-coating polymer
- Survive freeze-thaw cycles in storage
- Not harm germination: test to ISTA methods on each seed type
- Give low dust-off when combined with a good film coat
