b'CSAAC / SEEDANALYSTS.CA / SEED ANALYSTS ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A BIGGER VOICE THAN EVERSEED ANALYSTS ARE STARTING THE NEXTCHAPTER IN THEIR EVOLUTIONTHE COMMERCIAL SEED Analysts Association of Canadaanalyst members of Seeds Canada (CSAAC) has survived almost 80 years of change.and gauging what their needs are and Looking at old photos from the early days of CSAAC ishow to fulfil those. like getting into a time machine. Theyre grainy, blackAfter that is when well begin and white, and offer a look at a time when life was fardeveloping specific initiatives, like different than it is today. more training programs. Analysts CSAAC was formed in 1944 by six seed analysts work- are required to continue their educa-ing in the private sector. The goals at the time were uni- tion and ensure they have the latest formity, education, keeping up with new technologies, andknowledge needed to do their jobs, cooperating with regulators. The founding members wereand as part of the new organization, Krista Erickson,all women, a trend that continues todayof CSAACstheyll have access to more opportu-Executive Director,active seed analyst members, the majority are female. nities than in the past. Commercial SeedWe are known as one of the smaller organizations Analysts Associationwithin the Canadian seed industry, but we are about to of Canada get a whole lot bigger as we amalgamate with three of our other partners to form Seeds Canada.Seed analysts will exist within Seeds Canada as the Seed Testing & Quality Assurance steering committee.THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT IS The committee: Oversees and makes recommendations to the boardDEPENDING ON US MORE AND and staff on issues directly related to seed testing andMORE TO PROVIDE SERVICES quality assurance; Establishes issue-specific sub-committees as needsTO THE INDUSTRY AS WELL AS arise (e.g., Methods and Procedures for Testing Seed, Research & Referee, etc.); TRAIN OUR SEED ANALYSTS. Provides guidance on seed testing issues, training development, and workshops; Works with other Seeds Canada committees on seed and quality issues where required.CSAAC has always been driven to modernize and change. That work drive has led to constructive changesThe CSAAC Seal will remain, within CSAAC over the years, driven both from withinalthough it will be the Seeds Canada and outside the organization. Seal moving forward. Stay tuned as The Canadian government is depending on us morewe unveil the new design and pro-and more to provide services to the industry as well asvide important progress reports.train our seed analysts. We added the executive directorLike any organization, Seeds position in 1995, which has helped CSAAC immenselyCanada will be a work in progress as in continuing to achieve our goals and progress as timesseed analysts find their footing within change. the new organization and begin help-Were ensuring there will be continuity on Day 1ing the future unfold.as we change into Seeds Canada. Right now, wereAs we celebrate nearly eight dec-very focused on implementation planning. First up willades of history as CSAAC, it is with be a meeting of the Seeds Canada Testing & Qualityan eye to our new and bright future Assurance Committee, which will decide the objectivesas professional seed analyst members that it wants to focus on in regard to engaging withof Seeds Canada. 18GERMINATION.CAJANUARY 2021'