The Oklahoma Foundation Seed Stocks Inc. (OFSS) program plays a key role in transitioning new varieties from research plots to farmers’ fields.
Operated through Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, OFSS maintains and produces high-purity seed of new wheat cultivars and other crops developed by OSU scientists.
OFSS is responsible for:
- Increasing breeder seed into foundation-class seed
- Ensuring genetic purity through rigorous quality control measures
- Coordinating with seed companies for licensed production and commercialization
For new varieties like Orange Blossom CL+, OFSS serves as the initial launch point. A limited quantity of seed is typically made available to certified seed producers before broader commercial distribution begins.
Seed Quality Starts Here
- OFSS maintains breeder seed from the OSU Wheat Improvement Team and other OSU-released crop varieties, ensuring genetic purity through stringent quality control measures.
- It carries out foundation-class seed increases, producing quantity while monitoring for varietal identity and purity before certified seed production begins.
- Revenue is self-generated via seed sales and services, enabling the program to support long-term maintenance and distribution of OSU-developed varieties.
Speeding Up Access to Innovation
- For a new wheat cultivar like Orange Blossom CL+, OFSS handles the initial seed increase, enabling limited quantities to be made available to certified seed growers ahead of full commercialization.
- This early distribution accelerates the time from cross to commercial grain, in part by overlapping foundation seed production with later-stage field trials—a shift that has reduced commercialization lag in recent years
- OFSS collaborates with Oklahoma Genetics, Inc. (OGI), a grower-owned seed entity, to license and distribute certified seed regionally, connecting university innovation to marketplace adoption.
A Legacy of Launching What’s Next
- OFSS celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2025, marking decades of partnership with OSU breeders and certified producers to safeguard seed quality and support new variety launches.
- Located at OSU’s Agronomy Research Station in Stillwater, the office coordinates seed maintenance, staff operations, and distribution logistics to meet grower demand.
