Alabama Crop Improvement Association

The Alabama Crop Improvement Association (ACIA) was established by state statute in 1945. ACIA was responsible for seed certification & foundation seed production and distribution in Alabama until the responsibility for seed certification was moved to the Southern Seed Certification Association in 1995. ACIA continues as the official foundation seed association for Alabama. It is a non-profit (501 (c) (5) organization governed by a Board of Directors elected from its membership. Many agricultural leaders within the state serve in conjunction with the Board of Directors in formulating regular policies for the foundation seed program.

ACIA cooperates with public and private Agricultural Experiment Stations & plant breeders across the U.S. in creating available to the farmers of Alabama, seed of new and improved cultivars. ACIA's Executive Vice President Aids on the Auburn University cultivar release committee. This committee makes decisions regarding release of plant material created by Auburn University. When decisions are made resulting in the release of a cultivar, the plant breeder delivers breeder seed to ACIA for foundation seed production.

Foundation seed is manufactured under contract by producers in Alabama or any other depending on method of release. Seed produced in Alabama is stored, conditioned & distributed from ACIA's services at Auburn or Headland.