GrainsWest Spring 2020

Spring 2020 grainswest.com 35 “In five years, seed growing won’t be the same industry it is today. It’s exciting and scary, as change always is, but I think it’s going in a good direction . .” —Renee Hoyme The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) is a national body representing all seed grower associations. It works on behalf of Canadian growers and grower associations, seed breeders and marketers to reduce trade barriers. It also works to increase domestic and international interest in certified Canadian seed and seed research as well as Canadian interest in imported seed. International trade developments are unpredictable and ripple through to the seed grower level. Recent disruptions in canola sales to China have seen many farmers adjust crop rotations, and thus their seed purchases. This has led seed growers to be more cautious in selecting varieties. “It’s certainly something we’re aware we’re vulnerable to, and it does happen. Non-tariff trade barriers and political barriers can impact our ability to import into those markets,” said Horner. “Unfortunately, it’s largely out of our control.” What is within the control of the seed growing sector, said Horner, is a focus on science-based reasoning and the maintenance of high standards to ensure the desirability of Canadian crops. This will drive growth of the seed industry. New technology makes mitigation of disease and pest risk easier for growers. While the seed growing business won’t soon switch to autonomous vehicles, Horner said a range of new innovations has made quality assurance easier. “The basic premise of seed growing hasn’t changed much in 50 years,” he said. “But we do have exciting new pieces like colour sorters, which help to screen for and remove contaminants.” Sorting wild oats from an oat crop at the cleaning plant, for example, is a challenge because both seeds are of similar weight and size. Colour sorters can now identify darker wild oats, thus improving seed purity. SEEDS OF THE FUTURE With the goal of creating the next-generation seed system, industry groups have united under the Seed Synergy Collaboration Project. Members include the CSTA, CSGA, the Canadian Seed Institute, Canadian Plant Technology Agency, Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada and CropLife Canada. The coalition’s goals are ambitious: streamline member services, ensure the continuation of plant breeding innovation, move forward on value creation and update the seed grower certification framework and traceability system. “The main motivator was to modernize the regulatory framework under which products move from concept and innovation through to commercialization,” said Horner. “What we have now is a fairly fractured system with many moving pieces that don’t mesh as well as they should.” Uniting these strong organizational voices under one banner will allow the industry to move further and quicker, he said. Hoyme said it’s clear the industry is changing for the better, suggesting updates to funding models and advocacy work bring about this evolution. “In five years, seed growing won’t be the same industry it is today. It’s exciting and scary, as change always is, but I think it’s going in a good direction.”