The role of women in the Official Seed Testing Station

By August 1917 over 1.5 million tons of food supplies carried by merchant ships destined for Britain lay at the bottom of the ocean; the First World War was causing devastation to the UK’s food security. But, in a small laboratory in Westminster the seed analysts of the newly formed Official Seed Testing Station (OSTS) were working their way through 7,744 seed samples in their first year.

These results contributed to battling the continuing food crisis, that eventually led to compulsory food rationing by the end of the year. The contribution of men to the war effort at this time is both self-evident and, in the main, tragic. However, the work being done at the OSTS was being carried out by women.

For a career that is for the most part unknown to the general population, UK seed analysis has a long history and an important role to play in agriculture. Ensuring quality and reliability in the seed trade and, subsequently food security, the practical methods have remained largely unchanged since their development.

It is the nature of these methods that historically made this career a female only avenue; the patience, attention to detail and intricate nature of the work was deemed to suit the perception of women when the OSTS was set-up in 1917. Consequently, for many years UK seed analysts were all female.

Of course, at that time career options for women outside the home were limited so it would seem that this opportunity should only be celebrated. However, in the 1920s not all women could yet vote and less than half the female population were employed, so there were inevitably limits to this opportunity. In 1921 the OSTS moved to the newly created National Institute of Agricultural Botany (as it was known then) on Huntingdon Road in Cambridge, and the female analysts that made up the majority of OSTS moved from London with the organisation.

These analysts would have been young and unmarried. They lived on site in the upstairs rooms of the old Niab HQ building, which is still there today, but converted into private resident flats. They were always chaperoned if they left the site, with documented cases of women being let go for breaking the strict rules. These women worked and trained very hard and made a significant contribution to the seed trade of the UK.

The results sent out would have been reported and signed by the chief officer, a role that would have been held by a man. Over the years the OSTS has taken many forms. In 1957 it expanded into new, custom-built, laboratories with four departments over three floors, and employed 88 analysts, still all women. The analysts of this time seemed to enjoy their work. There were social activities and, with the introduction of formal seed analyst qualifications, opportunity for career progression. However, there were still societal restrictions that bled into life at OSTS.

For example, women were not permitted to wear trousers to work and would need to request to return to work if they decided to marry. The next couple of decades would bring improvements, but it took until 1973 for the first male seed analyst to be hired, which suggests generalisations about a ‘woman’s character’ persisted. Greater change would come with the turn of the century. It took nearly 60 years before seed analyst positions were opened to men but it would take over 90 years for a woman to become Chief Officer, and it has been held by a woman since.

First, in 2008, Jane Taylor then Linda Maile (58 years’ service in OSTS including the final eight years as CO), to our current CO Helen Appleyard. Helen joined as a trainee seed analyst in 1988 and stayed in the role for 17 years before moving within analytical services at Niab to become a biochemical technician. She moved to seed pathology and a technical services manager before taking on the joint role of Chief Officer and Head of Niab Analytical Services in 2022. Despite seed analysis no longer being a female-only career path the team today is still 80% women.

So what is it about being a seed analyst that appeals to the women who work here today?

“There’s never a dull moment in seed testing. There’s lots of variety in the kind of tests and species we deal with.”
Anna Phipps

“Seed analysis has brought me back to the agriculture sector which is where I always wanted to be.”
Paula Castillo Marambio

“I’ve been a seed analyst for quite a few years now, it suits me, and it is supportive of my family commitments.”
Ruvini Udugampola

“Seed analysis may not be the most conventional career, but for those of us who have found our niche within it, it’s a journey filled with purpose, teamwork, and continuous learning. It provides a sense of purpose knowing that our work makes a difference by ensuring quality in the seed trade, and when job satisfaction is often elusive this purpose is invaluable.”
Nikita Acharya