b'SARAH FOSTERPRESIDENT AND SENIOR SEED ANALYST, 20/20 SEED LABSSarah@2020seedlabs.ca @Sarah2020labs2020seedlabs.caContra-Season Seed Testing in the Time of COVIDAS I WRITE THIS, I am currentlythen face another quarantine in Chile with two of our otherupon arrival in Canada.team membersIoana StroeExcept for the challenges and Joel Wenausdoing ourposed by COVID, Chile is as annual contra-season work.we remember it. The people #TeamChile2021, as were nowof Chile are resilient and have called on Twitter, made the tripgone out of their way to ensure here on Jan. 30.our safety and theirs as we Needless to say, travellingcarry out our work. today is a far cry from what isOur biggest hurdle was was before the pandemic. Ingetting here. We had to ensure 2020, we had to leave Chileour documents were clear and early due to the lockdown.concise and also had to ensure We have been making thisour COVID tests were no older trip annually for over 10 yearsthan 72 hours before our last to bring contra-season canoladeparture. We arrived in So back to Canada.Paulo 40 hours after leav-Travelling this time arounding Edmonton. Airports were involved much planning whichdeserted, making for a some-began in early November.what eerie travel experience Being an essential servicetotally unlike our harried jour-and needing to be in Chileney home in March of last year. meant consistently watchingI definitely do not recommend both Chilean and Canadiantraveling at the moment unless rules around border closures,it is an absolute necessity.flight availability and of courseOur host Eduardo de la COVID protocols.Sotta of Curimapu has been a We are elated to back heregreat support and keeping in with the wonderful peopletouch with friends from HyTech we have come to know andProduction in Alberta has also love. The work is getting done,been a comfort.but as of right now we do notWe are very much looking know how we are going to getforward to a successful time home to Canada. Travel is stillhere and are eager to keep fraught with challenges.you informed as we conduct Due to new restrictions, oursampling, processing, testing flight home was cancelled andand documentation for hybrid as of right now our only optioncanola seed companies multi-may be to fly to the Unitedplying seed for distribution in States in April once our workthe spring. is complete, find a connectingStay safe everyone.flight to Canada from there, and MARCH 2021 GERMINATION.CA 35'