b'Ultimately, seed companies across the Asia-PacificCanada exports over $700 million annually in seed to region need the tools and framework to provide high- over 100 countries. Sparry herself has been very active at quality seed to farmers. This means greater geneticthe international level, having been an active member of improvement, achieved through research and develop- the International Seed Federation.ment. APSA looks to enable the seed industry to makeOur participation in the global market is extremely improvements for farmer customerssomething evenimportant. Canada plays a big role on the global stage, more challenging than usual in a pandemic. and with everyone now at the table, we are in a better In the early stages of the pandemic, APSA deployedposition to grow that market even more.three detailed surveys to its members to determine theThe amalgamation was not without its bumps, though. impact it was having on the seed industry. Canadian Seed Growers Association members ultimately We saw at the time the pandemic hit last year thatvoted no to the amalgamation, meaning a second vote many countries asked for government support in terms ofhad to be held among the four remaining partners before seed movement because this was the first factor that weSeeds Canada could go ahead.saw had a huge impact, she says. As we studied more,The big challenge is getting everyone to take off their we learned that transportation was really difficult forindividual hat and play with a team mindset. Its often companies to find. human nature to come to the table with a somewhat Freight costs increased drastically in the region,protective stance, but we got there and moved forward, if transportation was available at all. However, APSASparry says.recently re-deployed the survey to find many of theIt took a couple of tries; mergers dont always get challenges first experienced in the pandemic have beendone on the first go-around. But when you start to move addressed. outside of your little bubble, you realize were a global We still see room for improvement in internationalcommunity. Remaining active within that international seed movement, she says. In addition, company repre- community will be very important as Seeds Canada sentatives told APSA theyre taking advantage of technol- moves forward.ogy more in fields and in situations where its not safe forAs the world begins turning the corner on the pan-them to appear in person. demic, the key to success will be a focus on innovation As a way to promote and facilitate seed business andand being mindful to not get caught up in the daily tur-smooth trade within the Americas and globally, its vital tomoil of the business world, says Garth Hodges, vice-presi-work on the harmonization and simplification of regula- dent of BASFs North American seed business. tions. A common approach to these matters is essential,Twenty years ago, I had a manager named John according to Diego Risso, executive director of the SeedWestridge. John taught me a very valuable lessonat Association of the Americas (SAA). the time I thought it was the worst piece of advice, ever, Seed movement is one of the challenges that mosthe says with a laugh. seed companies struggle with, Risso says.That advice? If you chase two rabbits, you wont catch There are also a lot of challenges in the Americaseither of them.with the implementation of UPOV 91, since there areI always thought if I can give John this long list of many countries under UPOV 78 Act, while few othersthings, I can really impress him. But he kept saying, have already moved to UPOV 91. There has been someWhats the most important one? Whats the one piece progress on this matter, but its extremely slow consider- thats really important? So, if I had to give advice, I think ing the benefits that could bring to farmers, breeders,we as an industry have to choose where it is we want to governments and other stakeholders.focus our energy. Whats the legacy that we as leaders are SAA has four primary working groups on four criticalgoing to leave to the next generation? topics: intellectual property, phytosanitary, seed treat-ments and biotechnology & plant breeding innovation.Helping Government Keep UpThese groups are being led by senior experts bringingTurns out, the most exciting opportunities for the seed knowledge, expertise and management to assure success- industry might also present the biggest challenges. As ful results. seed companies continue to innovate and move the Were really working to keep our members engagedneedle on what crops can do, regulatory agencies havent within these groups, Risso says. That way, they can feelalways kept pace.part of the association and see its benefits. Whenever youre dealing with government and youre working in an industry that is rapidly changing and dis-Engaging an Industrycovery is happening on a monumental scale, its hard for Engagement is a challenge Sparry is intimately familiargovernment to keep up, says Andy LaVigne, CEO of the with, and the Seeds Canada amalgamation brought thatAmerican Seed Trade Association (ASTA). Their natu-challenge to the forefront and kept her up at night.ral reaction is to try to put the brakes on things in some JANUARY 2022 GERMINATION.CA 19'