b'Close the Training GapPRO:According to the University of Alberta, nearly 60% of the Krista Erickson Canadian workforce lacks training in new technologies. POSITION:This skill shortage results in decreased productivity and a Director of Member Strategyhigh turnover rate that costs Canada more than $70 billion and Solutions in GDP, says a recent study.As director of member strategy and solutions for ORG:Seeds Canada, Krista Erickson knows the importance Seeds Canada (Kelowna,of training. She spent her life as a seed analyst prior to B.C./Ottawa, Ont.) becoming executive director for the Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC), which in 2021 merged with four other industry associations to form Seeds Canada.She says many are surprised to learn there is no formal 59%training program for seed analystsinstead, aspiring ana-lysts must train in an accredited seed lab under supervision of businesses areof other experienced, accredited analysts. To become an experiencing a skills shortage accredited seed analyst, you must pass an exam adminis-tered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). She now helps Seeds Canada members with career 68% and skills development, including its seed analyst Professional Class members. said they are having a hardIn order to apply to write your exam to become an time hiring people with theaccredited seed analyst, you must have 1,500 hours work-skill sets they need to grow ing under the supervision of an accredited analyst for AWB_Germination-March2022-SylviaWulf.pdf 1 2022-03-08 10:45:35 AM both purity and germination respectively. It takes a mini-Source: Statistics Canada/KPMG mum of two years to be able to write both the purity and germination exam for all crop kinds. Seed analysts make up the majority of Seeds Canadas Professional Class membership category, and Erickson is working hard to begin creating new ways for aspiring seed analysts to enter the profession. Seeds Canada can offer training for them, as it currently falls on employers to train their seed analyst employees. I know both the labs and the analysts them-selves would appreciate that. I think we can look to other seed testing associations and build collaborative relation-C ships with them, she says. M We dont by any means have to reinvent the wheel. There are training opportunities out there, and we can Y collaborate with others to our mutual benefit. I think CM thatll be great for our members and for the other associa-MY tions as well.CY Asking herself how to fill that gap is a daily part of Ericksons job at Canadas newest seed industry associa-CMY tion, which launched Feb. 1, 2021, and recently marked its K first anniversary.Where are there gaps within our membership base? And how can we fill those gaps with anything from formal professional development opportunities to more informal opportunities to connect with like-minded people? Thats what were working to discover.16GERMINATION.CAMARCH 2022'