b'REGISTER NOW FOR OUR SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING / SEEDS-CANADA.CA / SEEDS CANADASHOULD OUR SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING BEIN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL? THATS THE QUESTIONAT THE END of November, Seeds Canada will hostinflation result in rising fuel and travel costs, its first in-person Semi-Annual Meeting. It mightweve been discussing the possibility of moving be our last as we look at the possibility of transi- our Semi-Annual Meeting to a virtual format tioning to a virtual semi-annual gathering. beginning in 2023. We look forward to member First, some history: the in-person Semi- feedback on this idea.Annual Meeting was a longstanding tradition ofThe in-person Semi-Annual Meeting was an the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA),important CSTA event for many years, at a time one of our four legacy organizations. When itwhen some things just couldnt be done over formed last year, Seeds Canada decided to carrysnail mail and telephone. However, now that the on with the meeting and it was held via Zoominternet has changed everything in terms of what Barry Senft,due to COVID concerns. we can accomplish remotely, it only makes sense Seeds CanadaNow, here we are, having turned the cornerto possibly make this event a virtual one moving Executive Directoron the pandemic, and we look forward to seeingforward.you in person Nov. 28-29 at the Westin Ottawa. The agenda will be an exciting one. Were sending out an invite to the federal health and agriculture ministers, as both are deeply con-nected to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which is spearheading the Seed RegulatoryTHE IN-PERSON SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING Modernization process. WAS AN IMPORTANT CSTA EVENT FOR We believe it will be an excellent opportunity to hear from both of these ministers regardingMANY YEARS, AT A TIME WHEN SOME what they think should result from the SRM pro-cess. Also, we hope to get their thoughts on ourTHINGS JUST COULDNT BE DONE OVER idea for an Independent Standards Setting Body (ISSB) for the seed sector, which was proposedSNAIL MAIL AND TELEPHONE.at our annual meeting in Winnipeg in July.We will, of course, be giving an update on where the SRM process is at from the Seeds Canada perspective. Well also be talking about the Policy Framework and ISSB idea after weOur 2021 virtual Semi-Annual enjoyed signifi-spent the summer and early fall meeting withcant participation, and we dont have any reason members, stakeholders and partners about thoseto believe moving this gathering to a virtual policy pieces, including on an October SRMformat permanently would be detrimental in any update webinar that enjoyed excellent attend- way to the discussions.ance. Well also host meetings of our policy andQuite the opposite; the convenience and issues committees. low cost of the virtual format means even more Finally, we have the pleasure of presentingpeople can participate without being away from the Plant Breeding and Genetics Awardspon- home for several days and incurring expensive sored by Seeds Canada and Germination andtravel costsespecially considering the meeting given every year to an outstanding plant breedertakes place just four months after the in-personto Istvan Rajcan of the University of Guelph. annual meeting each year.It will no doubt be an important and enjoy- Should we decide to make this meeting vir-able in-person gathering.tual starting in 2023, this years meeting will be That said, as technology has progressed toone for the history books. To register, visit seeds-allow virtual meetings and economic factors likecanada.ca/en/2022-semi-annual-meeting/ NOVEMBER 2022GERMINATION.CA 27'