(TFSS), located near Vernon, Texas, is a non-profit, stand-alone unit of Texas A&M AgriLife Research that services most of th ... e plant material improvement efforts of Texas A&M AgriLife statewide. Operations of TFSS are intended to be self-supporting by generating revenue through sales and services much as a commercial business would. TFSS is an essential link between the public plant breeder and the licensee farmer or company. The original mission of TFSS was to produce and market genetically pure seed of new cultivars developed by the scientists of Texas A&M AgriLife. Although the name implies that TFSS works only with seed, it is involved with production and distribution of vegetatively propagated plant materials too. TFSS works as a liaison between the various plant breeding programs of AgriLife and those companies that have an interest in licensing and marketing these plant material improvements. As a part of our duties, we handle business aspects of research commercialization in an effort to allow scientists to concentrate on their respective research projects. TFSS handles revenues from seed sales and non-licensed products. All funds generated by the sale of foundation seed are used to support the effort of providing quality seed of new, high yielding, better-adapted crop varieties to the agricultural industry. Another service provided by TFSS is production and/or seed conditioning services to public and private breeding programs. Additional services include longer term investment (funding) in AgriLife plant breeding programs specifically for production of breeder seed in programs that have commercial potential but lack adequate funding for these small and very expensive production blocks. TFSS, as a representative for Texas A&M AgriLife, is very active in state, regional, and national organizations TFSS, as a representative for Texas A&M AgriLife, is very active in state, regional, and national seed organizations. read more