Industrial seed treatment (IST) applies pesticides, polymers, and drying powder to the seed in a industrial setting, with controlled dosing and uniform coverage.
The difference compared to on-farm treatment lies in precision. In industrial settings, dosing errors are reduced, and the operator does not handle chemicals directly.
With the 2025/26 crop estimated by Conab at 360.8 million metric tons of grain, seed has become the most cost-effective starting point for hedging that volume.
This guide explains what TSI is, what the steps in the process are, how it differs from on-farm treatment, and how to evaluate a treatment facility.
What is IST treatment?
Industrial seed treatment, also known as IST, is a process in which seeds receive phytosanitary products, such as fungicides and insecticides, in a standardized and controlled way within specialized industries. Unlike on-farm treatment (carried out by the grower himself on the farm), TSI uses high-tech equipment to ensure uniform and precise coverage of the products applied.
The main aim of this treatment is to protect the seeds against pests and diseases that could compromise their germination and initial development, providing safer and more efficient planting.
+ READ MORE: Corn seed: the essential choice for a successful harvest
What are the benefits of TSI for producers?
Industrial seed treatment offers a number of advantages for farmers, such as
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- Protection against pests and diseases: reduces the need for pesticide applications after sowing
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- Precise product dosing: avoids waste and guarantees the effectiveness of the pesticides applied
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- Greater uniformity in application: the technology built into industrial seed treatment machines ensures that all seeds receive the treatment uniformly
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- Reduced risks for farmers: at TSI, chemical products are handled in controlled environments, reducing workers' exposure to potentially toxic substances.
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- Better preservation of seed quality: industries follow strict standards to avoid physical and mechanical damage to seeds during treatment.
Process steps: how seeds are treated in the industry
Industrial treatment does not begin with the application of the pesticide. It begins with the inspection of the seed lot upon its arrival at the facility.
- Receipt and inspection of the batch. Germination, vigor, moisture content, and purity are measured first and foremost. Any batch that does not meet standards should not proceed.
- Receipt and inspection of products. Pesticides, polymers, and drying powders are checked upon arrival at the facility, and their lot numbers and expiration dates are recorded.
- Preparing the spray mixture. Fungicide, insecticide, nematicide, micronutrients, and polymer are weighed and mixed according to the crop’s formulation.
The order matters. Embrapa recommends applying fungicides and micronutrients before inoculation to ensure good coverage and adhesion. - Application. The seed passes through the treatment drum, where the spray solution is atomized onto the moving batch. ABRASEM recommends verifying the calibration of the dosage based on weight.
- Drying. The drying powder is added at this stage to speed up the drying process and restore the batch’s fluidity before bagging.
- Quality control. The guide requires procedures that demonstrate that the equipment applies the product accurately and uniformly, along with calibration records.
- Bagging and storage. It is recommended to store the batch in a well-ventilated area at a moderate or refrigerated temperature, protected from direct sunlight.
Each step is recorded. It is this traceability that makes it possible to investigate a field problem weeks later and know exactly what was applied to the batch.
+ READ MORE: Soybean seedeverything you need to know for productive planting
Polymers and desiccant powder: what do they do in the seed?
Fungicides and insecticides protect the seed. But it is the polymer that keeps these products on the seed’s surface.
This is not an optional detail. ABRASEM’s Good Practices Guide treats the polymer as an essential component for a treatment to be classified as a TSI.
The polymer forms a thin film around the seed. It reduces dust release, improves the adhesion of the pesticide, and minimizes the loss of active ingredient through leaching.
Without this film, part of the product comes off during transport, bagging, and in the planter’s hopper. What comes off the seed does not protect the crop.
The drying powder is added immediately afterward. It accelerates drying, prevents the seeds from sticking to one another, and restores flowability to the treated batch.
This flowability is what allows for bagging on the same day and reduces the need for graphite in the planter. Product lines such as LabFix, made of polymers, and LabSec, made of drying powders, serve this dual function.
The dosage matters in both cases. With too little polymer, the pesticide powder becomes loose again. With too much, coating studies show a drop in germination that varies by cultivar.
In other words, the dosage cannot be copied from one batch to another. It must be adjusted to the cultivar and the finish the customer expects.
Embrapa is conducting a specific study on TSI with and without the application of drying powder and the effect of this step on the physiological quality of soybeans, which helps inform the decision.
It is also worth checking how the batch behaves throughout storage. That is where the quality of the coating becomes apparent.
Planting: What Changes When Planting with Treated Seed
Plantability is the planter’s ability to dispense one seed at a time, at the correct spacing, without failure and without double planting.
Improperly handled seed hinders this process. Loose dust, clumped seeds, and an uneven surface cause the metering disc to fail.
The result is visible in the field: gaps in the row, plants competing in pairs, and areas that don’t produce as much as they could.
TSI addresses this by treating the seed’s surface. Uniform coating and complete drying leave the seed batch smooth and loose, just as the metering unit requires.
Many growers compensate for poor flow with graphite. It works to some extent, but it dirties the equipment and doesn’t solve the problem of pesticide dust.
A well-chosen drying agent reduces reliance on graphite and maintains planting speed without sacrificing accuracy.
It’s worth measuring, and there’s a standard for that. According to the ABNT standard, a failure occurs when the spacing exceeds 1.5 times the average spacing, and a double failure occurs when it falls below 0.5 times the average spacing.
In an Embrapa field evaluation of corn crops, sampling was conducted on two 5-meter-long rows per area, measuring the distance between plants.
The results of that survey serve as a good warning: only 20% of the evaluated areas showed 100% accurate longitudinal distribution.
In soybeans and corn, where the final plant population largely determines yield, this check takes just a few minutes and prevents the need for replanting.
TSI vs. on-farm: What Are the Practical Differences?
Industrial seed treatment (IST) and On Farm treatment are different methods of protecting seeds before planting, and have significant differences in terms of efficiency, safety and final quality.
TSI is performed by specialized companies using high-tech equipment that ensures the precise, uniform, and controlled application of pesticides.
The entire process takes place in an industrial setting, with strict quality standards, which reduces the likelihood of dosing errors and limits physical damage to the seeds. Workers’ exposure to chemicals is also reduced, since handling takes place in a closed system.
On-farm treatment, which is carried out directly on the farm by the producer himself or his technical team, generally uses simpler and less precise machines. This can result in irregular application of the products, with gaps in coverage or excess pesticide, which compromises both the effectiveness of the treatment and the quality of the seeds. Another critical point of On Farm treatment is the increased risk of environmental contamination and the health of the applicators, due to the direct handling of the chemicals.
In short, while TSI offers greater control, safety and quality, On Farm treatment can present more risks and less standardization, negatively impacting crop establishment.
+ READ MORE: Protecting seeds: technologies and practices for good initial crop establishment
Which crops make the most use of TSI in Brazil?
Industrial seed treatment (IST) is widely used on various agricultural crops in Brazil and plays a crucial role in seed protection. The main crops that use IST and their economic importance for the country are highlighted below:
Soy
As Brazil’s leading agricultural commodity, soybeans are the crop in which TSI has made the most progress: according to a Kynetec Brasil survey released in 2025, more than half of the seeds sold in the country now undergo industrial treatment. Conab estimates production at 180.5 million metric tons in 2025/26, a 5.2% increase and a new record.
Corn
Used in human and animal feed and as a raw material for ethanol, corn is estimated by Conab to total 143 million metric tons in 2025/26. The second crop accounts for 111 million metric tons of that total, planted during a tight planting window, when planting conditions are even more critical.
Cotton
Brazilian cotton continues to gain ground in the international market. Conab projects 4.08 million metric tons of lint in 2025/26, with productivity gains even on a smaller planting area. Ginned seed requires extra care during recoating.
Wheat
Brazil still imports part of the wheat it consumes. For the 2025/26 crop year, Conab estimates 5.8 million metric tons, a 26.2% decline driven by a reduction in planted area and yield. In such a scenario, protecting the initial crop yield has a greater impact on the final result.
Rice
A staple food on Brazilian tables, rice production is projected to total 11.1 million metric tons in 2025/26, a 13.1% decline from the previous crop year, mainly due to a reduction in planted area. The treatment helps maintain plant populations in irrigated fields.
+ READ MORE: Seed treatmentthe technology transforming agriculture
How to Choose a Seed Treatment Plant
Not every TSI unit produces the same results. The differences lie in the equipment, dose control, and batch traceability.
Start by asking how dosing is performed. Systems that use gravimetric dosing and batch recording are more accurate than manual adjustments.
Request the germination and vigor report before and after treatment. A significant drop between the two measurements indicates mechanical damage or an incorrect dose.
Check for certifications. ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 demonstrate that there is a documented quality and environmental management process in place behind the operation.
Be sure to ask about the available portfolio of polymers and drying agents. A facility that offers only one option is unlikely to tailor the treatment to the specific crop.
And the crop makes all the difference. Soybeans, corn, cotton, and forage crops all require different dosages, colors, and finishes.
Finally, consider the time between treatment and planting. Treated seeds have a storage window, and the industry needs to be able to specify that window for your batch.
A good technical partner answers these questions straightforwardly and monitors the results in the field, not just on the conveyor belt.
Frequently Asked Questions About Industrial Seed Treatment
What is industrial seed treatment (IST)?
TSI is the application of pesticides, polymers, drying powder, and other inputs to seeds within an industrial facility, with weight-controlled dosing and uniform coverage. The process includes batch analysis, slurry preparation, application, drying, quality control, and bagging, with each step documented for traceability.
What is the difference between TSI and on-farm treatment?
TSI is performed in an industrial setting, using calibrated equipment, automated dosing, and a report for each batch. On-farm treatment is carried out on the property, typically in a concrete mixer or adapted drum, with the dose adjusted manually. The difference lies in the uniformity of coverage, the risk of dosing errors, and the operator’s exposure to the chemical.
What products are used in industrial seed treatment?
The mixture typically combines a fungicide, an insecticide, and—depending on the crop—a nematicide. Micronutrients, biostimulants, inoculants, polymers, and drying powder are also added. The polymers bind the pesticides to the seed surface and reduce dust release. The drying powder accelerates drying and restores the batch’s flowability before bagging.
How long can industrially treated seed be stored?
It depends on the products applied, the crop, and storage conditions. In an Embrapa study on soybeans, early treatment with fungicides proved effective for up to 180 days of storage, with no negative effect on the physiological quality of the seeds. Inoculants have a much shorter effective window. Store the batch in a well-ventilated area at a moderate temperature and protected from direct sunlight.
Does industrial seed treatment replace applications during the growing season?
No. TSI protects the early stage—from planting to crop establishment—when the seedling is most vulnerable to soil-borne fungi, insects, and nematodes. After this period, management continues with the applications recommended for each crop. The treatment reduces initial pest pressure but does not eliminate the need for a phytosanitary program.
What is the purpose of the polymer in seed treatment?
The polymer forms a thin film over the seed and serves three purposes: it anchors the pesticide to the surface, reduces dust released during transport and bagging, and aids in the gradual release of the active ingredient. It also improves the seed’s appearance and reduces losses due to leaching in the first few days after planting.
Does industrial seed treatment improve plantability?
Yes, indirectly. Uniform coverage and thorough drying ensure that the seed batch is loose and has a smooth surface, which helps the metering disc dispense one seed at a time. Batches with loose dust or clumped seeds result in gaps and doubles in the planting row, compromising the final plant stand of the crop.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The TSI addresses three issues at once: the correct dose, uniform coverage, and reduced operator exposure to the chemical.
None of that appears on the seed invoice. It shows up at the field, in the evenness of the rows and in the amount of replanting you don't have to do.
If your facility is reviewing the polymers, drying agents, or the finish of the seeds you supply, it’s worth talking to the people who formulate these products.
Laborsan Agro has been developing lines of polymers, drying agents, and colorants for seed treatment for nearly three decades and holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications.
