b'SARAH FOSTERPRESIDENT AND SENIOR SEED ANALYST, 20/20 SEED LABSSarah@2020seedlabs.ca @Sarah2020labs2020seedlabs.caThe Need for a Global Seed Testing Standard is ParamountTHIS WILL BE the first time ever that we might not be able to help perform important work in Chile this spring. Right now, safety is paramount, and we have to think about the wellbeing of our staff and the people we work with in Chile. As I write this, plane tickets are booked, and we fully plan to go, but nothing is certain as the situationIF MORE SEED LABS AROUND THE WORLD WERE continues to evolve. ABLE TO ADOPT THE ISTA STANDARD, THE SEED If were not able to go, the Canadian seed industry could experience major delays for the coming season.TRADE COULD CONDUCT BUSINESS A LOT MORE Rather than doing our work in person in Chile, we would have to coordinate seed samples being sent here toEFFICIENTLY.Canada. The whole reason we go there is to make sure as soon as the seed is harvested and conditioned, we get it into the lab within hours.Chile does not have the seed testing standards needed to do the work Canadian seed companies rely on. In some cases, seed cannot leave the country without andocumentation with respect to a laboratorys scope of analysis thats been done to the Canadian standard. accreditation. If seed was sent to a Chilean lab in our absence, itUnfortunately, global seed testing standards are still would still take three to six weeks to get those resultspatchy, with many labs around the world still not being back, which is an eternity in the seed testing world. ItsISTA-accredited. This makes for a more difficult global really important that we be on the ground in Chile to doseed trade.the work. If more seed labs around the world were able to adopt This is all a good reason to adopt a global seed testingthe ISTA standard, the seed trade could conduct business standard. That standard exists in the International Rulesa lot more efficiently. This will happen faster if more labs for Seed Testing, which are laid out by the Internationallike ours work to become certified to ISTA standards, and Seed Testing Association (ISTA). more people helped preached the gospel of seed testing As an International Seed Testing Association technicalstandards.auditor, I have a lot of experience in the area of stand- Want to get involved in this? Let me know and I will ardized seed testing procedures. I help prepare detailedpoint you in the right direction.JANUARY 2021 GERMINATION.CA 29'