Kansas Crop Improvement Association

What Kansas Crop Improvement Association does

Kansas Crop Improvement Association (KCIA) is a not-for-profit, membership-based corporation designated by the State of Kansas as the official seed and plant part certification agency. Founded in 1902 and headquartered in Manhattan, Kansas, KCIA provides field inspections, laboratory testing, auditing, and certification documentation for seed growers, conditioners, and bulk retail/distribution facilities across the state. Its core operations center on a limited-generation certification system (Foundation, Registered, and Certified classes) that verifies varietal purity, physical quality, and germination standards in compliance with the Kansas Seed Law and Federal Seed Act.

KCIA's technology backbone is an online dashboard platform (field.kscrop.org and lab.kscrop.org) built with technology partner JNT COMPANY, LLC, integrating field application submission with mapping tools, seed lot inventory management, and laboratory test result portals. Additional service lines include Quality Assurance/Identity Preserved certification programs and, more recently, Industrial Hemp Certification. AOSCA membership provides interstate recognition of certified seed varieties, and strategic partnerships with Kansas State University and the Kansas Department of Agriculture anchor KCIA's role in the state's seed regulatory ecosystem.

Revenue is generated through a diversified fee model: per-application field inspection fees, usage-based laboratory testing charges, annual membership dues, transactional label sales, and recurring bulk retail facility approval fees (with non-member rates priced substantially higher). Go-to-market is primarily direct to seed industry participants via the self-service dashboard, supplemented by channel relationships with conditioners, bulk retail facilities, and seed companies such as AgriPro Wheat, AGSECO, Kansas Wheat Alliance, WestBred, and Limagrain Cereal Seeds. KCIA is governed by a board that includes KSU-designated members, reflecting its quasi-public mandate.

Name

Kansas Crop Improvement Association

Legal name

Kansas Crop Improvement Association

Website

https://kscrop.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kansas Crop Improvement Association is the official state-designated seed and plant part certification agency for Kansas, providing field inspections, laboratory testing, and certification documentation to seed growers, conditioners, and bulk retail facilities across the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Seed Certification Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Seed Testing, Certification & Quality Assurance (Germination, Purity, Phytosanitary) (AFABAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seed Testing Services (Germination, Purity, Vigor, Seed Health) (AFACAKAL), Seed Quality Testing & Certification Services (AFAGAIAI), Seed Quality Testing & Certification Support (Germination, Purity, Vigor) (AFAOADAK)

Keywords

• Seed certification services
• Agricultural laboratory testing
• Crop variety verification
• Field inspection services
• Seed quality assurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Manhattan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Seed Certification Services: Fees for field inspection applications, certification of seed crops (Foundation, Registered, Certified classes), and issuance of certification documentation for eligible seed producers.
2. Laboratory Testing Services: Seed quality testing including germination, purity, and other quality assessments for certified and service testing customers.
3. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for access to certification services and member benefits. Membership application form available for download.
4. Label Sales: Official certified seed labels and certificates sold to approved conditioners, bulk retail facilities, and seed distributors.
5. Bulk Retail Facility Approval: Fees for approval and annual renewal of Bulk Retail Facilities, with higher fees for non-members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kansas Crop Improvement Association is the official seed and plant part certification agency for the State of Kansas, providing field inspection, auditing, and laboratory testing services to verify varietal purity and quality of Foundation, Registered, Certified, and Quality Assurance seed classes. Services are delivered to seed growers, conditioners, and bulk retail facilities across Kansas through an online dashboard system (field.kscrop.org and lab.kscrop.org) that supports field applications, seed lot management, lab test results, and label ordering.

Product overview

Kansas Crop Improvement Association operates as a unified platform combining seed certification services with digital tools for the seed industry. The core offering consists of the Seed Lot Management Dashboard, which integrates the Field Application System for creating inspection applications, Seed Laboratory Services for testing, and Lot Management for inventory control. Additional services include Quality Assurance Programs (Identity Preserved and QA certifications), Bulk Retail Facility Management for seed distribution, and Industrial Hemp Certification. All services are accessible through the central dashboard at lab.kscrop.org.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Seed Certification Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Certification ensures High Varietal Purity, High Physical Quality, High Germination, No Noxious Weed Seed, and Maximum Yield Potential

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AOSCA (Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization of which KCIA is a member. AOSCA provides standards and coordination for seed certification across member agencies, enabling interstate recognition of certified seed varieties.
• Kansas State University (KSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with KSU Department of Agronomy and KSU Extension. Includes KSU-designated board members, collaborative publications including Kansas Wheat Book, and alignment with KSU research and extension services.
• Kansas Department of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers Kansas Seed Law and oversees seed retailer registration. KCIA coordinates with KDA on seed law compliance, bulk facility registration, and industrial hemp regulations.
• AgriPro WheatminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed company partner listed on KCIA links page for certified seed variety information.
• AGSECOminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed company partner listed on KCIA links page.
• Kansas Wheat AllianceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed company partner listed on KCIA links page.
• WestBred LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed company partner listed on KCIA links page.
• Limagrain Cereal SeedsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeed company partner listed on KCIA links page.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oklahoma Crop Improvement Association: Oklahoma's state seed certification agency focusing on small grains, forages, and native grasses, operating under the same AOSCA framework and limited-generation certification system as KCIA.
• Nebraska Crop Improvement Association: Nebraska's official seed certification organization, providing field inspection, seed testing, and variety certification services for a row-crop and small grain portfolio aligned with KCIA's mix of wheat and forage crops.
• Iowa Crop Improvement Association: Iowa's official state seed certification agency, providing field inspection, seed testing, and certification services for a similar row-crop and small grain portfolio. Operates the same AOSCA-aligned certification model as KCIA and is its closest functional peer across state lines.
• Minnesota Crop Improvement Association: Minnesota's official seed certification body, offering Foundation/Registered/Certified class certification, field inspection, and laboratory testing for a comparable portfolio of small grains, soybeans, and specialty crops through AOSCA-aligned standards.
• Illinois Crop Improvement Association: Illinois' official seed certifying agency offering field inspection, lab testing, and certification services for corn, soybeans, and small grains under AOSCA standards — directly comparable in scope and customer base to KCIA.
• Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association: Wisconsin's state-designated seed certification agency providing field inspection, seed testing, and certification services affiliated with the University of Wisconsin, structurally identical to KCIA's KSU partnership model.

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Scientific: Global testing services giant offering commercial seed germination, purity, and genetic testing services; represents the largest private-sector competitor to KCIA's laboratory testing operations across the broader agricultural inputs market.
• SGS SA: Global inspection, verification, and testing company providing seed quality and agricultural testing services, serving as a scaled private-sector alternative to the state certification agency model.
• Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA): The national umbrella organization of which KCIA is a member; AOSCA sets certification standards and provides interstate recognition across all U.S. seed certifying agencies, including KCIA's direct peers.

Regional players

• Colorado Seed Growers Association: Colorado's state-designated seed certifying agency affiliated with Colorado State University, providing the same limited-generation certification structure as KCIA but serving a different geography with slightly different crop emphasis (grasses, small grains).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kansas-crop-improvement-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kansas Crop Improvement Association