b'INTRODUCING SEEDS CANADAHere are the basics of our new national seed organization.Marc ZienkiewiczAFTER YEARS OFhard work to get to this point, our industrys new national seed organizationSeeds Canadahas become a reality and will launch on Feb. 1, 2021.Seeds Canada will be born out of an amalgamation of the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA), Canadian Seed Institute (CSI), and Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC).In August, Canadian Seed Growers Association members voted not to join Seeds Canada, so the new design of Seeds Canada is somewhat different than the previous incarnation.Seeds Canadas membership will include national and provincial seed associations, as well as seed farms from across the country. Seed growers play an integral role in the seed system, and Seeds Canada needs their involvement to succeed, reads a news release issued by the Seeds Canada amalgamating partners.While there may be one less amal- Graphic courtesy Seeds Canadagamating partner, the vision for Seeds Canada to become the voice of theKEY POINTS:seed sector, including seed growers, analysts, and the seed trade, remains4 INSTEAD of 5 NEW COMMITTEECOMMITMENT TO the same, the partners say. The biggest changeSTRUCTURE GROWERS REMAINSThe new Seeds Canada design,is moving from fiveUnder the boardEven though the which was ratified by all four amal- amalgamating partnersof directors, therenational seed grower gamating partners in December 2020,to four.are three types ofassociation is no longer reflects the new context and incor- committees: Operatingan amalgamating porates member feedback from theSeed certificationCommittees; Steeringpartner, the goal is summer.services, whichCommittees; andstill to have Seeds are offered by thePolicy & IssuesCanadas voluntary Canadian Seed GrowersCommittees, whichmembership include Association (CSGA),are the direct routenational and provincial are no longer included.for members to bringseed associations, as Set board positions andspecific issues forwardwell as seed growers Stay tuned to germination.ca in the coming days,provincial representation weeks and months more for info and analysis as thehave been removed.to Seeds Canada stafffrom across the new Seeds Canada gets up and running. and the board. country.4GERMINATION.CAJANUARY 2021'