b'CSGA / SEEDGROWERS.CA / DO YOU KNOW WHY VARIETAL PURITY IS IMPORTANT?WHY CANADAS VARIETY VERIFICATION PROGRAM IS TRULY A HIDDEN GEMTHE CANADIAN Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) variety veri- plants each are examined closely for fication program evaluates the seed certification systemsoff-types. These are reported and effectiveness in preserving the varietal (genetic) identitydescribed on a seed crop inspection and varietal purity of pedigreed seed in Canada. A varietyreport, which is submitted to the is defined by its distinguishing characteristics or pheno- CSGA.type (the expression of its genotype). The CFIA monitorsThe CFIAs variety verification pedigreed seed lots by verifying those expressed char- plots are primarily intended to acteristics (which impact field performance and yield) inconfirm varietal identity. They grow field plots. multiple samples of the same vari-Every year, over 2,000 seed samples are submitted toety beside a plot planted with the Mike Scheffel,the CFIA for variety verification testing. These sampleslegal reference sample of the variety. CSGA Managingare planted in field plots at the CFIAs Fallowfield Farm inVariety verification testing applies Director, Policy &Ottawa, Ont. They are grown out alongside a referencethe seed varietal purity standards Standards sample of the variety, and CFIA staff examine the plotsestablished by the Association of throughout the growing season to monitor the varietalOfficial Seed Certifying Agencies identity and varietal purity of seed produced in Canada(AOSCA) and referenced by the and a limited number of imported seed lots as well.CSGA in Circular 6the Canadian Most of the samples are submitted by CSGA-accreditedRegulations and Procedures for pedigreed seed plot growers. These samples represent thePedigreed Seed Crop Production.first generations of seed (Select and Foundation) derivedVariety verification testing is from original Breeder seed of the variety. Accredited plotfundamental to Canadas interna-growers must submit seed samples from their plot pro- tional seed trade. As a participant duction to the CFIA to receive a crop certificate from thein the Organisation for Economic CSGA.Co-operation and Development The CFIAs variety verification program is a corner- (OECD) Seed Schemes, Canada is stone of the Canadian seed varietal certification system. Itobliged to conduct variety verifica-is a check not only on the seed grower and his/her abilitytion testing on all OECD Pre-Basic to maintain the identity and purity of pedigreed seed,and Basic status seed lots and a but also on the plant breeder, the licensed seed croppercentage of OECD Certified status inspector, and the processor. It confirms and safeguardsseed lots that have been certified for Canadas seed varietal certification system, occasionallyexport by the CFIA pursuant to the identifying problematic seed lots before they are multi- OECD Seed Schemes. plied and distributed. Seed growers have always been Varietal purity is a measure of the proportion ofproud of the high level of varietal plants or seeds within the population that conform to thepurity they provide, which gives varietys official description. Plants or seeds of the sameCanada a strong reputation on the kind that do not conform to the norm of the variety areworld stage. High levels of varietal considered varietal impurities or off-types. Canada haspurity also allow farmers to save seed some of the highest standards for varietal purity of seedof some crop kinds for several gen-crops in the world. erations and still produce a quality The main purpose of crop inspection is not so muchcrop in following years.to verify varietal identity but to verify varietal purity. AAs seed sector stakehold-seed crop inspector only spends a short time examiningers engage with CFIA on Seed a seed crop. The inspector has a description of varietyRegulatory Modernization, changes to to go by but is not expected to catch varietal identitythe variety verification program may issues unless they are quite obvious. Seed crop inspec- be proposed. These should be care-tion involves the inspector making six counts of 10,000fully studied in consideration of the plants.implications for crop production and Six areas of the field comprising approximately 10,000the international trade of seed. 26GERMINATION.CANOVEMBER 2020'