b'SEEDS CANADA / SEEDS-CANADA.CA / WERE BUILDING A NEW INDUSTRY FOR EVERYONEA MODERN SEED SYSTEM HAS TO WORK FOR EVERYONECHANGE IS INEVITABLE, and sometimes its hard.the direction needed to guide us towards a Meaningful, positive change requires carefulregulatory environment that will build a modern, considerationparticularly when billions ofdiverse, competitive, and growing seed sector dollars, businesses, livelihoods and the reputa- that benefits everyone in it. tion of Canadas high-quality grain value chainTo influence policies, regulations, services, are at stake.and programs that impact all actors along the Canadas seed regulatory framework willvalue chain, we must come at it from a sector-inevitably change, and a lot of that change iswide perspective. Our strength as an organiza-Ellen Sparry,long overdue. The Canadian seed sector hastionand what drove our amalgamationis Seeds Canadabeen working under the same regulations forthe belief that we need to work together. We President over three decades, and large parts of the regula- envision a seed regulatory system that works tory framework are over 100 years old. While thefor all actors along the value chain. It is why we regulations havent changed in over 30 years, theplace importance on a regulatory system that is seed sector has.seed sector-led and government enabled. That is why the federal governments initiation of the Seed Regulatory Modernization processa review that includes the oversight, stand-ards, and red tape that apply to seeds that are imported, conditioned, stored, tested, labelled, exported, and sold in Canadais widely sup-ported by the seed sector.MEANINGFUL, POSITIVEThroughout the past few months, a diverse group of our Seeds Canada membership ofCHANGE REQUIRES CAREFUL analysts, breeders, distributors, seed growersCONSIDERATIONPARTICULARLYand processors have been working to outline the principles needed for a modern, diverse,WHEN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS,competitive and growing seed sector to thrive in Canada. After hearing perspectives across theBUSINESSES, LIVELIHOODS ANDsector, we have endorsed the following principles that should guide regulatory modernization.THE REPUTATION OF CANADASA diverse and inclusive seed sector-ledHIGH-QUALITY GRAIN VALUEand government-enabled partnership;A system that supports certified seed andCHAIN ARE AT STAKE.delivers value for the seed sector and its customers;A regulatory framework that enables choice and is open, competitive, and accessible to all seed sector participants;An approach that is responsive, agile, and adaptable and easy to use and navigate; We will only get meaningful, positive change Regulations that foster innovation,if we all work together for it. We look forward to growth, diversity and inclusivity and sup- engaging with members, seed sector colleagues, port continuous improvement. and partners in the value chain as the regulatory We recently released our Seed Regulatoryprocess moves forward.Modernization position paper, which can beIf you would like to to engage, please reach found on our website at seeds-canada.ca. We feelout and connect with Seeds Canada directors or strongly that these principles and the recommen- staff. We look forward to building a better seed dations put forth in the position paper providesystem together. 44GERMINATION.CAJULY 2021'