b'From left: Mark Huston, Stuart Smyth, Karen Churchill, Jonathan Nyborg and Mark Brock were just a few of a slate of panelists at Seed Summit 2022.A VISION FOR THE FUTURESeed Summit 2022 brought stakeholders together to talk about what we need in a modern seed regulatory system.Marc ZienkiewiczCANADIAN SEED SECTORstakeholders converged last monthsince theres been major change also makes me wonder to put forth a vision for what the future of Canadas seedhow we can change that going forward, said Mark Brock, regulatory framework needs to look like to better enableco-owner of Shepherd Creek Farms in Ontario.innovation and bring new seed varieties to market faster. As a farmer who grows corn, wheat and soybeans, Seed Summit 2022 took place over three half-day ses- I actually buy three-quarters of my seed every year. As sions that focused on a trio of subjects, namely the past,I look to adapting to climate change, and the need to present and future of the seed regulatory system, whatimplement new technologies to do that, I dont want the producers need to thrive and feed the world of the future,system to delay me access to tools I need to help with and what plant breeders need to deliver new varieties tonitrogen use efficiency, or a system that delays me access market faster. to a corn hybrid that can improve that.The summit was initiated by Seeds Canada in partner- Brock said when he looks to competitors like Illinois, ship with a number of producer and commodity groups:Iowa, Ohio and Indiana, he often sees farmers there Cereals Canada, Canola Council of Canada, Canadianaccessing varieties and other tools that take longer to Canola Growers Association, Canadian Horticulturalaccess in Canada.Council, Western Canadian Wheat Growers, Soy Canada,According to Jay Bradshaw, former president of Syngenta Grains Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Agri-BusinessCanada, that will only happen if Canada has a predic-Association and the Western Grain Elevator Association. tive regulatory system that convinces seed developers and others to invest in bringing those technologies here.Session 1 Takeaway: Canada Needs a Better System toWe need a predictable regulatory environment so that Compete on the World Stage investors can not only invest their money, but do so in Canadian farmers are losing their competitiveness witha predictable, science-based fashion, so they can predict their global counterparts, and the answer is a much- potential outcomes, Bradshaw said.needed update to Canadas seed regulatory system. ThatOrganizations around the world will invest their was the message heard during the first Summit session onmoney where the best return on investment is. We need Feb. 7. to convince them Canada is a great place to do business.It concerns me when I hear that regulatory moderniza- While Stuart Smyth agreed investment by the private tion is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. As a farmer, thatsector is crucial, he said Canada is currently punching scares me a little because I think it should be more oftenbelow its weight in that department. The expert in agri-than once in a generation. The fact that its been 25 yearsfood innovation based at the University of Saskatchewan 10GERMINATION.CAMARCH 2022'