b'SEEDS CANADA / SEEDS-CANADA.CA / OUR EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVOURS ARE ONLY BEGINNINGSEED SCHOOL WAS A REMINDER OF WHATMAKES OUR INDUSTRY TICK HELPING ORGANIZE THEfirst Seeds Canada Seed School held in partnership last month with CerealsTHANK-YOU TO OUR CEREALS CANADA/Canada has given me a new appreciation for anSEEDS CANADA SEED SCHOOL PRESENTERSindustry Ive been involved in for decades.Krista ZuzakDirector, Crop Protection and Production, Held in Winnipeg at Cereals Canada headquar- Cereals Canada ters from Feb. 12-14, Seed School featured presenta-tions from experts in variety development, grainCurtis RempelVice-President, Crop Production and quality, seed production, quality testing and process- Innovation, Canola Council of CanadaLorne Hadley,ing. The location allowed for visits to grain qualityDana MaxwellCEO, Ag-Quest and Chair of the Prairie Member Relationslaboratories and tours of nearby seed facilities.Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye, and TriticaleDirector Despite our frequent discussions about the natureCurtis PozniakDirector, Crop Development Centre, of our endeavours, the profound discipline and sci- University of Saskatchewanence underlying the development of genetics remainDerek BunkowskyChief Grain Inspector for Canada, widely misunderstood. Seed School aimed to shedCanadian Grain Commissionlight on this, focusing on the journey from seed toMarta IzydorczykResearch Scientist, Grain Research field.Laboratory, Canadian Grain CommissionEach presentation and field trip highlighted theBin Xiao FuResearch Scientist, Bread and Durum fact that good seed is not just a commodity. It isWheat Research, Canadian Grain Commissiona two-fold producta testimony to the desiredVeronique BarthetResearch Scientist, Oilseeds genetics and a set of instructions tailored for optimalMonitoring and Research, Canadian Grain Commissiongrowth in the field.Jennifer SewardExecutive Director, Manitoba Seed On the first day of Seed School, we focused onGrowers Associationunravelling the mechanics of variety development. We explored how feedback from industry stakehold- Sarah FosterPresident, 20/20 Seed Labsersfarmers, agronomists and end-usersshapesMark MetcalfePresident, Nexeedthe goals and trajectory of crop development throughRoy Van WykDirector, Client and Intellectual Property engaging presentations and insightful discussions.Services, Seeds CanadaTours on the first day included visits to theTom GreavesPresident, Pitura SeedsCanadian Grain Commission and Cereals QualityLauren CominPolicy Director, Seeds CanadaLabs, providing a first-hand look at the scientific processes that drive our crop production. Brianna ChouinardCertification Manager, Canadian On the second day we delved into the practicalSeed Growers Associationapplication of our knowledgethe science and bestPeter WattsManaging Director, Canadian Malting practices that support seed production. With presen- Barley Technical Centretations from industry experts and immersive tours of the 20/20 Seed Labs and Pitura Seeds seed process-ing laboratories, we gained invaluable insights into to be held in Edmonton, Alta., from July 8-10 the physics and mechanics behind a truly efficient will explore more of these issues under the theme processing plant. The Future of Seed is Hereare we Ready? The As Seed School drew to a close, I reflected onsuccess of Seed School is just the start of what lies the camaraderie that developed during our timeahead.together. It was heartening to witness the growingWith feedback and collaboration as our compass, comfortparticipants had with one another, foster- Seeds Canada will continue to refine and expand our ing an environment ripe for curiosity and inquiry.educational efforts.The final day was a powerful reminder of our sharedI sincerely thank Cereals Canada and our speak-purpose to serve our customers with integrityers (see sidebar) for their support throughout this and care, guided by a commitment to excellence andSeed School journey. With partners like them, we are continuous improvement. charting a course towards a brighter, more sustainable As we look to the future, our annual conferencefuture for agriculture in Canada and beyond. 32SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADAMARCH 2024'