Grainswest - Spring 2025

Spring 2025 grainswest.com 21 S eed growers are at the forefront of advancement in crop production, said Kelly Chambers, executive director of Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers (ABCSG). They specialize in production and multiplication of plant breeder stock that produces certified, blue tag seed for commercial production. Alberta’s 662 certified seed growers farmed 307,711 acres of pedigreed seed in 2024, about 25 per cent of Canadian pedigreed acreage. “Choosing pedigreed seed provides several advantages for farmers and end-users because it is high quality, traceable and genetically pure seed,” said Chambers. She emphasized seed growers gain a great deal of insight on the agronomic performance of a new variety prior to its availability for sale. Being a seed grower entails greater risk, complication and expense, but with the promise of high reward. Growers must purchase high-generation seed, hire field inspectors and test seed for germination viability and the presence of disease. They must also factor in downtime to clean equipment between varieties and store varieties separately. In return, they are first in line to discover the latest in new seed genetics and crop management solutions they can then offer their customers. While seed growers face risk on an individual level, the sector as a whole confronts a broad set of challenges. Chambers noted the Canadian seed industry faces reduced funding and the potential restructuring of vital public breeding programs that could impact the accessibility of new seed varieties and valuable trial data that farmers use to make cropping decisions. The federal government is reviewing funding for public plant breeding programs. Without funding for these programs, said Chambers, the development of new varieties that address the agronomic needs of Alberta farmers could be in jeopardy. Canada’s Seeds Act and Seeds Regulations are also under review by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which is consulting with stakeholders for the seed regulatory modernization review process. Resulting changes may positively impact ABCSG members, and Chambers said the association continues to participate in CFIA regulatory consultations. “The seed industry has seen a lot of changes in recent years,” said Chambers. “From government funding and regulation concerns to weather events that impact seed production. Our growers face risks, but they are resilient and proud to deliver quality seed that is the foundation of every crop.” Chelsea Tomlinson launched True Seeds in 2007 and now operates the business with her husband Shane. Here, they and their two young daughters dip into a grain sample.