In agriculture and horticulture, a seed treatment or seed dressing is a chemical, typically antimicrobial or fungidal, with which seeds are treated (or "dressed") prior to planting. Less frequently insecticides are added. Seed treatments can be an environmentally more friendly way of using pesticides as the amounts used can be very small. It is usual to add colour to make treated seed less attractive to birds if spilt and easier to see and clean up in the case of an accidental spillage.