Seeds ExporterSprouting Alfalfa Seed (food grade) exporter — Pakistan origin
We export food-grade sprouting alfalfa seed to sprout and microgreen growers in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Poland, the UK and Australia: KN92 lots cleaned to 99.5% purity, 90% minimum germination, with Salmonella and E. coli O157 testing on every lot. MOQ is 500 kg, so a new grower can trial one pallet before committing to a container.
Sprouting seed is a different product from forage seed. It is grown on fields we select for low weed pressure, harvested at full maturity, cleaned twice on Sortex, stored separately from treated or agricultural lots, and released only after microbial results are back. No seed treatment of any kind is applied.
Quick answer
Specification
Standard export specification for sprouting alfalfa seed (food grade), as it appears on the pro forma invoice and the lot report. Custom specifications (higher purity, treated seed, different pack, private label) are quoted on request.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Medicago sativa |
| HS code | 121410 |
| Varieties / grades | KN92 food grade |
| Purity | 99.5% min |
| Germination | 90% min |
| Grade | Food grade, untreated, single variety KN92 |
| Moisture | 9% max |
| Inert matter | 0.3% max |
| Other crop seed | 0.1% max |
| Weed seed | 0.1% max |
| Dodder | Nil in 500 g |
| Thousand-seed weight | 2.1–2.3 g |
| Germination energy | 85% min radicle emergence at 48 h, 22 °C |
| Salmonella spp. (25 g) | Absent, per lot |
| E. coli O157:H7 (25 g) | Absent, per lot |
| Total aerobic count | Reported per lot |
| Sprout yield | approx. 1:8 by weight at 5 days |
| Colour / appearance | Bright, uniform, no discoloured or split seed |
| Packing | 25 kg bags |
| MOQ | 500 kg |
| Origin | Pakistan (Sindh / Punjab unless stated) |
Varieties and grades
KN92 food grade. The same NARC-registered variety as our forage alfalfa, but from a separate production stream: fields chosen for low weed pressure and no history of clover or melilotus, harvested at full maturity so that hard-seed content is low and germination speed is uniform, and cleaned twice on Buhler Sortex to 99.5% purity. Growers choose it because a single variety sprouts evenly: a tray of one genotype reaches the same length on the same day, which is what supermarket packing lines need. Mixed-variety agricultural seed sprouts unevenly and wastes 10–15% of the tray.
We supply one grade only. There is no "sprouting grade B": a lot that fails the microbial test or the 90% germination floor is diverted to forage use and never offered as food grade. Buyers who need certified organic can commission a dedicated lot under EU or JAS rules with a 12-month lead time.
Uses by industry
Who buys sprouting alfalfa seed (food grade) from Pakistan and what they do with it.
- Commercial sprout growers. Alfalfa is the largest single sprout line in Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese supermarkets and the core of the EU organic sprout trade; growers run 5–6 day cycles and need 90%+ germination within 48 hours to keep trays even.
- Microgreen and living-tray producers. Alfalfa microgreens for food service and retail clamshells, grown on coir or hemp mats; uniform seed size matters for mat coverage.
- Health-food and supplement makers. Sprouted and dried alfalfa for powders, capsules and juice; buyers value the pathogen-tested COA and the absence of any treatment.
- Home-sprouting retail packers. Re-packing into 100 g to 1 kg consumer packs in the EU, UK and Australia, which requires the microbial COA and lot traceability on the bulk bag.
- Food processors. Sprouted-seed breads and salad mixes that buy through the same growers; they specify the same 25 g pathogen absence.
Quality control and testing
Every lot of sprouting alfalfa seed (food grade) offered for export is tested in Kohenoor's own laboratory in Hyderabad to the ISTA International Rules: a submitted sample of at least 1 kg drawn with a stick trier from a minimum of 10% of bags, purity analysis by species on a working sample (pure seed, other crop seed, weed seed and inert matter by weight), germination on 4 x 100 seeds in a controlled chamber for the prescribed period, moisture by the oven method and a thousand-seed weight. Forage legumes and small-seeded grasses also get a separate 500 g count for dodder (Cuscuta spp.) and other quarantine weed seed, which is the item most import permits ask about. Results go on an ISTA-format report with the lot number that appears on the bag labels, packing list and phytosanitary certificate.
Before the lab sees the lot it has been through air-screen cleaning, a gravity table and Buhler Sortex optical sorting, which removes off-colour, immature and weed seed that sieving cannot. A lot that misses the specification is re-sorted or dropped from export; it is never blended up. Prior-crop lots are re-tested before dispatch and no container leaves on a report older than 90 days.
For sprouting seed the lab adds a germination-energy count (radicle emergence at 48 hours) alongside the standard 7-day ISTA germination, because growers care about speed and uniformity as much as the final figure, and the accredited third-party laboratory in Karachi runs Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157:H7 on 25 g composite samples plus total aerobic count on every export lot. A Listeria or full STEC panel can be added for buyers whose approval scheme requires it. The COA and the ISTA-format report carry the same lot number as the bag labels, and seed is stored in a dedicated food-grade area away from all treated seed.
How to verify on arrival. Draw a composite sample from at least 10 bags with a trier, seal and label it with the lot number, and test within 14 days at your NPPO or any ISTA-accredited station. Compare against the report using the ISTA tolerance tables (about 6 percentage points between two 400-seed germination tests at the 85% level, 0.5–1.0 points for purity at 99%). If a result falls outside tolerance, send the report and the sealed bag labels within 30 days; we re-test the 1 kg reference sample we keep from every lot for 12 months and settle any confirmed difference by price adjustment or replacement.
Packing, loading and shipping
Standard packing for sprouting alfalfa seed (food grade) is 25 kg bags, in woven polypropylene bags with an inner polyethylene liner. Each pack is printed or labelled with product, variety or grade, lot number, net weight, origin (Pakistan), exporter and any text the importing country's labelling rules require, and closed with a sewn tear-off tag. Private-label printing is available with artwork two weeks before loading.
A 20ft container carries about 18–20 MT (about 720 x 25 kg per 20ft) loose-stacked on a kraft-paper floor in a brick pattern with a cardboard door wall; a 40ft carries about 26 MT. Palletised loads on ISPM 15 heat-treated pallets take roughly 10% less and are used for Europe, East Asia, North America and Australia where the container is unloaded by forklift. Desiccant bags are added for humid destinations on request. Every stuffing is photographed from empty box to applied seal and the photos go to the buyer the same day with the packing list. Full figures for every product are in the container loading guide.
Storage and shelf life. Stored below 15 °C and 60% RH in sealed lined bags, food-grade alfalfa holds 90% germination for about 18 months. We recommend ordering for 6–9 months of use at a time and re-testing on your side every quarter; a germination test dated within 60 days accompanies every dispatch.
| Container | Net cargo | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft standard | 18–20 MT | about 720 x 25 kg per 20ft; loose on kraft-paper floor |
| 40ft / 40ft HC | 26 MT | Weight-limited on dense seed; volume-limited on light seed |
| Palletised (any size) | ≈ 10% less | ISPM 15 pallets, shrink-wrapped and strapped |
| LCL / air | MOQ is already 500 kg (one pallet) | Higher per-kg rate; used for trial lots |
Documents and import compliance
Every container of sprouting alfalfa seed (food grade) leaves with the phytosanitary certificate from the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) Karachi carrying the importer's additional-declaration wording, a certificate of origin from the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce, the ISTA-format purity and germination report, commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading, plus a fumigation certificate and pre-shipment inspection report where the destination requires them. The table lists what the main destinations for this product ask for; the documents guide explains each certificate and the import guide shows the sequence.
| Country | Authority | Documents required | Transit from Karachi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | BAPHIQ | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 18–22 days sea |
| South Korea | APQA | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; Import declaration; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 20–25 days sea |
| Japan | MAFF Plant Protection | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 22–28 days sea |
| Germany | BVL / EU | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; EU TRACES CHED-PP; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 22–26 days sea |
| France | DGAL / EU | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; EU TRACES CHED-PP; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 20–25 days sea |
| Netherlands | NVWA / EU | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; EU TRACES CHED-PP; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 22–26 days sea |
| United Kingdom | APHA / DEFRA | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; IPAFFS pre-notification; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 22–26 days sea |
| Poland | PIORiN / EU | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; EU TRACES CHED-PP; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 24–28 days sea |
| Australia | DAFF Biosecurity | Phytosanitary certificate; Certificate of origin; BICON import permit; commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading | 20–28 days sea |
HS classification. Sprouting alfalfa seed is classified as seed for sowing, HS 121410, not as a food product, in the EU, UK, Japan and Korea, so a phytosanitary certificate is mandatory and the importer files a CHED-PP (EU) or IPAFFS (UK) pre-notification. In the EU the sprout producer must also be an approved establishment under Regulation (EU) 210/2013 and the seed must meet the microbiological criteria of 209/2013; the importer's certificate under 211/2013 is issued against our COA. Duty is zero in all these markets.
Season, new crop and availability
Same crop cycle as forage alfalfa: harvest April–June, new-crop food-grade lots released from July after the microbial results are back. We hold a rolling stock so that growers can order year-round; each dispatch carries a germination test not older than 60 days and a microbial COA for the lot.
Because most sprouting buyers order by the pallet rather than the container, there is no seasonal loading peak; LCL and air shipments go out weekly. Buyers who want a full-year allocation of a single lot (for consistency in a supermarket programme) should reserve it in July when the new crop is graded.
The availability calendar shows every product month by month, and prior-crop lots are always described as such on the pro forma.
Price factors and how to get today's rate
Kohenoor does not publish a price for sprouting alfalfa seed (food grade) because a price is only meaningful for a specific lot, grade, pack, quantity and date. A firm FOB Karachi or CIF quote in USD per kg or per MT comes back within 24 hours of an enquiry and is held for 7–14 days. What moves the number, in order of size:
- Crop year and timing. Pre-harvest bookings are fixed and usually lowest; spot prices rise in a short crop or when prior-crop stock runs down before new crop. Difference between the two can be 15–20%.
- Grade and purity. Food grade is priced above forage grade because of double cleaning, the pathogen panel on every lot and the smaller pack economics; the 500 kg MOQ is priced per kg and drops in steps at 1 MT, 5 MT and a full container.
- Packing. 25 kg loose bags are the base; 50 kg is slightly cheaper per kg; 10 kg, cartons, private label and palletising add 2–8%.
- Quantity. Each additional container in one contract is priced 2–5% lower; LCL lots cost 20–40% more per kg because inspection, documents and handling are the same for 2 MT as for 20 MT.
- Incoterm. FOB Karachi is the base; CIF adds freight and insurance at the current line rate for your port; road delivery to Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia is priced per truck.
- Tests and treatment. Third-party COA, residue or aflatoxin panels, SGS inspection, fumigation and seed treatment are itemised at cost.
Samples. 200 g to 1 kg from the offered lot is free against courier charges (typically USD 40–90) and goes out with the current report. Larger trial lots are invoiced at the container rate. The full logic, MOQ table and sample policy are on seed prices and MOQ.
How this compares
Sprout growers usually run alfalfa alongside fenugreek and cress. Alfalfa is the mild, high-volume line; fenugreek is the bitter, fast-cycling line; cress is the peppery microgreen with the shortest cycle.
| Criterion | Sprouting Alfalfa Seed (food grade) | <a href="/products/fenugreek/">Fenugreek Seed</a> | <a href="/products/cress/">Cress (Garden Cress / Halim) Seed</a> |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprout type | Mild, fine, 5–6 day cycle | Bitter, 4–5 day cycle | Peppery microgreen, 5–7 days on mat |
| Purity / germination | 99.5% / 90% | 99.5% / 90% | 99% / 90% |
| Seeds per kg | 440,000–480,000 | ≈ 60,000 | ≈ 400,000 |
| Sprout yield (weight) | 1:8 | 1:5 | 1:4 (cut microgreen) |
| MOQ | 500 kg | 1 MT | 1 MT |
| New crop | July | June | May |
Markets served
Kohenoor has shipped sprouting alfalfa seed (food grade) to Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Germany, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Poland, Australia. Demand comes from supermarket sprout programmes in Japan, Korea and Taiwan, organic sprout and microgreen growers in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Poland, and re-packers in the UK and Australia. Each destination has its own permit and phytosanitary wording; the country pages under markets summarise them and we prepare the certificate to match before DPP inspection.
Specialist site and further reading
Detailed agronomy, variety trials and technical downloads for sprouting alfalfa seed (food grade) are published on our specialist site alfalfaseeds.org. Variety-level agronomy (sowing rate, cutting schedule, seed standards, trial data) is on our reference site worldseed.net: alfalfa kn92. For pricing, MOQ and shipping use the quote form on this page; the lab and sorting line are described on the quality page, and all 28 lines are listed under products.
Frequently asked questions
Which microbial tests come with sprouting alfalfa seed?
Each lot is tested for Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157:H7 (absent in 25 g) and total aerobic count at an accredited laboratory in Karachi. Results go on the certificate of analysis with the lot number. Buyers in Japan and Korea often re-test on arrival and we accept an accredited result as the reference if a discrepancy arises.
Is the seed organic?
Our sprouting seed is untreated and grown without post-harvest chemicals, but it is not certified organic. If you need EU or JAS organic certification for a programme, we can grow a dedicated lot under certification with a 12-month lead time and a volume commitment.
What is the minimum order for sprouting seed?
500 kg (20 bags of 25 kg), which ships as one pallet by LCL or air. Most repeat buyers then move to 5–10 MT LCL or a full 20ft container of 18–20 MT.
How long does sprouting alfalfa seed keep its germination?
Stored below 15 °C and 60% RH, food-grade alfalfa holds 90% germination for about 18 months. Order for 6–9 months of use at a time and re-test quarterly; a test dated within 60 days accompanies every dispatch.
Is the seed pre-treated or sanitised?
No. Seed is supplied with no chemical, heat or irradiation treatment so that the grower's own decontamination step (calcium hypochlorite, hot water or approved alternatives) works as the protocol assumes. Any treatment would also void its status as seed for sowing under EU rules.
What germination speed can I expect?
A 90% lot typically shows 85% or more radicle emergence at 48 hours at 22 °C and full germination by day 4. We test germination energy as well as final germination because uniform speed is what keeps trays even.
Does sprouting alfalfa need a phytosanitary certificate in the EU?
Yes. It is imported as seed for sowing under HS 121410, so the DPP phytosanitary certificate is mandatory and the importer files a CHED-PP in TRACES. The sprout producer must be approved under Regulation (EU) 210/2013 and the seed must meet 209/2013 microbiological criteria; our COA supports the 211/2013 certificate.
Can I get a different variety for sprouting?
We supply KN92 only as food grade because single-variety lots sprout uniformly and we control the whole production chain for it. Multi-variety or open-market alfalfa is not offered as sprouting seed.
How is a 500 kg order shipped?
On one ISPM 15 pallet, shrink-wrapped, by LCL sea freight (20–28 days to Europe and East Asia) or by air freight (3–5 days) at the buyer's choice. Documents are the same as for a container: phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin, ISTA-format report, COA, invoice and packing list.
What sprout yield does the seed give?
About 1:8 by weight at 5 days for alfalfa under standard tray conditions, so 25 kg of seed gives roughly 200 kg of sprouts. Yield falls with low germination or slow lots, which is why we test energy as well as final germination.
Get today's FOB rate
Tell us the product, quantity and destination port. The export desk replies within 24 hours with price, MOQ, documents and transit time.
export@kohenoorint.com · +92 310 4929292 · Reply within 24 hours