b'burden that exists, he says. and fostering innovation among theand cost escalation reduced, Moore Theres a need to go out and talkcontinents plant breeders and grow- added.to people about the need for changeers has long been in the works.and enlighten them about how thingsIn the fall of 2012, the EUsEmbracing Innovationcould be different. So much of whatDirectorate General for Health andBryan Gerard has faced the same exists in the Canadian regulatoryConsumers drafted a proposal for revi- challenges. The co-owner of Indianas framework exists because its alwayssions to EU legislation on the market- JoMar Seeds has been heavily existed, or its existed for an entireing of seed and propagating material.involved in working to make change generation. Moore says European food securityin the U.S. seed industry as part of According Senft, a broad, solidwas a major consideration when thethe American Seed Trade Association, coalition must be built across thecurrent standards, especially the valuethe International Seed Federation, value chain for SRM to be a success,for cultivation and use, were enactedIndependent Professional Seed which includes commercial growersas part of the original legislation.Association, and also Seeds Canada and the grain trade. The perceptionToday, the requirements for con- as part of its Stakeholder Engagement exists that SRM is a seed issue only,tinual genetic gain from new varietiesCommittee.and Seeds Canada needs to con- continue to be important due to theIn Canada, I think the place vince the broad value chain that theregions focus on sustainability. where things really can get held impacts of the regulatory system areFor Moore, the clear challenge isup when trying to make regulatory felt beyond the seed sector, he says. to balance incentivising private R&Dchange is in the West, specifically in Its a complex process, and whenwhile facilitating public recognitionthe cereal crops. Theres a lot of pride things are complex, people oftenof the benefits that this has deliveredin the historical cereal industry, and revert back to the status quo, andin the past and why it is essential forrightfully so. There are also probably tweaking little things might be goodthe future. It is crucial for the seedsome protectionist concerns around enough for them, he says. sector to enable an easier politicalwhat changes could come with The problem is that keeping theenvironment for policymakers tomodernization. Then add to that the status quo wont keep us competitive.meet that challenge. misunderstanding of seed certifica-Speaking as a farmer, we need toWere having the same discussiontion versus variety registration versus have access to the latest and great- in Europe as you are in Canada variety access, he said.est as far as seed technologies go,how much of what we do should beFor example, is the Canadian and we have to be competitive. Thatdriven by industry, and how muchcereal grower really, truly getting a requires big ideas. We just have to getshould be under official supervisionsignificant premium over the U.S. everyone on the same page to ensureby government? There is a spectrumgrower, even though theyre access-we can do it properly. of opinion. Often, people who wanting genetics sometimes up to three Mithani said discussions on theto retain government oversight tendyears later or not even at all? There big questions continue with theto be fearful about having a lack ofare so many other factors that go into Working Group and task teams incapacity, rising costs of doing busi- cereal registration other than just field order to consider policy and imple- ness, or losing a level playing field ofperformance. Corn and soybeans mentation issues and to find commonstandards, he said. have proven that innovation has been ground upon which to build the seedThey need to be able to makegood for the grower, and the grower sector of the future. sure that they have access to seedhas embraced that innovation.She noted that it is important thatinspection, laboratory testing, andAccording to McCann, there is a all stakeholders approach this processsampling services, and if they cur- need to get the right messages to the with a willingness to listen to therently get that from government, theyright audiences to help spur that big-needs of other affected sectors and aneed to have confidence that privatepicture thinking.willingness to compromise.providers will be reliable, high qual- Theres not enough discussion ity, more convenient and less expen- around what the needs are of com-Challenges with Change sive. People who see that as a riskmercial grain growers, for example. Nigel Moore has been in McCanntend to hang on to the status quo,People talk about the need for a and Senfts shoes before. The headand say, It works fine as it is, lets notstrong certified seed system, but of business development and strat- change it. certified seed represents a small, egy for the Cereals Business Unit atA good example, he says, stemssmall portion amount of the amount KWS Group in Germany has for yearsfrom the UK when the coordina- of seed that goes into the ground in been part of efforts to modernize thetion of Cultivation and Use (VCU)Western Canada every year, McCann European Unions regulatory systemtrials for field crops was moved fromadded.for seed. public institute coordination to beingRegulatory modernization affects Although the foundation oforganized by the British Society forso much more than just the certified Europes seed marketing rulesPlant Breeders. seed sector. remains solid, streamlining policyStandards were maintained, JANUARY 2022 GERMINATION.CA 7'