b'NEW WORLD, NEW CHALLENGES FOR THE SEED TRADEAmid a global pandemic and possible merger, members of the seed trade look to doing business in a different world.Marc ZienkiewiczTHE CANADIAN SEED Trade Association (CSTA) did not hold an election of new directors at its virtual annual meet-ing this year. As the association looks toward amalgama-tion with the seed industrys other associations to form a single national seed organization called Seeds Canada, it was the first of several acknowledgments during the meeting that this could likely be the CSTAs final annual gathering as the seed trade prepares to do business in a much different world.Looking ahead, I am shifting, as you all are, to what government relations looks like in the new norm. In the early days of the pandemic, the team here conveyed several pressing concerns to [the federal government] and provincial counterparts which we continue to do where necessary, Government and Industry Relations Manager Lauren Martin said. Connecting virtually is now the status quo and myLauren Martin, CSTA government and industry relations manager.calendar will be dotted with a number of these meetings as we progress on our priority files.CSTA was able to host its annual lobby day in February, prior to the pandemic. Scheduling conflicts kept the full roster of directors from attending but Martin noted a number of successful meetings were had including a meeting with Canadian Food Inspection Agency President Siddika Mithani, as well as a meeting with Neil Ellis, the new parliamentary secretary to the minister of agriculture. The February Lobby Day was CSTAs first chance to get in front of the new Parliament post-election.Seed regulatory modernization, which was paused due to the pandemic, is still a top priority for Regulatory Affairs and Trade Manager Claudio Feulner. He was hopeful the first official Seed Regulatory Modernization Working Group meetings would start as early as August of this year.These were just a few examples of how the seed trade is navigating a business environment that looks muchClaudio Feulner, regulatory affairs and trade manager for the CSTA.12GERMINATION.CASEPTEMBER 2020'