b'ACOLOSSALSeed regulatory modernization is aUNDERTAKINGonce-in-a-generation chance to create a next-gen seed system for Canada. Heres the latest on whats happening. Marc ZienkiewiczROY VAN WYKis a busy man these days. As co-chair of the Seed Regulatory Modernization (SRM) Working Group, hes looking ahead to this winter as a possible time when the public could get an update on the task teams and working group progress and to provide additional input into the future of the seed regulatory system. Fall 2023 is when the working groupand the eight task teams whose members come from a variety of organizations within the seed sector and producer groups as wellis aiming to publish their proposals for regu-latory change in Canada Gazette Part I. The Canada Gazette is the official newspaper of the Government of Canada.This is going to be a colossal undertaking. Now that the work of the task teams is underway, my expectation is that the industry is very flexible on the issue of when we go to Canada Gazette Part I. We want to get this right, as this opportunity only comes along once every genera-tion, and maybe less often than that, says van Wyk, who serves as operations manager for Seeds Canada. If timelines need to be adjusted, Im confident there will be support for that.The first step in the process was a needs assessment survey issued to establish a baseline understanding of seed and seed potato stakeholder needs to provide impor-tant perspective to the process. That survey was sent out in January and has since closed.The survey provides a baseline understanding of stakeholders needs. What are the benefits of the current seed regulatory framework? Are there opportunities for change? What issues need to be addressed? What is the comfort level with further industry delivery of regulatory services? Were currently analyzing the survey, and weRoy van Wyk is co-chair of the SRM Working Group.30GERMINATION.CAJULY 2021'