b'What is the VUA Pilot Program WorkingAs a seed grower, what are your feelings Groups purpose? toward the VUA?The Canadian Seed Trade AssociationSome would say it goes against tradi-(CSTA) has collaborated with pro- tion. On the other side of the coin ducer organizations to populate theis the fact plant breeders need more Lauren Martin VUA Producer Working Group. TheKevin Runnalls investment to stay ahead or advance Chair Working Group held its first meetingSeed Grower crop genetics in Canada. When it VUA Pilot Programon May 6, where participants heardMember, VUA Pilotcomes to wheatcompared to other Working Group from pilot experts and shared theirProgram Workingparts of the worldCanada is a Raised on a farm inideas for Working Group goals andGroup low-cost producer. Most of our land southern Ontario,next steps. It consists of representa- A former presidenttoday compared to the last 20 years Lauren has workedtives from the seed industry and vari- of the Canadianhas gone up in cost. We have to be on a range ofous producer organizations.Seed Growerscompetitive. We need faster turna-local, national andAssociation, Kevinround in varieties, which means more international foodWhat have you heard? is highly activeinvestment. With the price of land and agriculturalWeve heard opposition and con- within the seedon my farm, I cant be competitive issues. A lawyercerns about the VUA pilot and theindustry and iswithout moving to a higher quality by training, shepath forward. Were reflecting on thepresident of Wabiproductwheat that can command practiced lawvalue creation discussion that hasValley Elevators ina higher dollar. I cant compete with-for a few yearsbeen happening for over a decade.New Liskeard, Ont.out investment in better genetics.before returning toWe need to keep communicating why agriculture. Priorthis is important and why its hap- How is the current practice of farm-to joining CSTA,pening. Its our job to communicatesaved seed use detrimental to you as a Lauren was in aand educate to hopefully alleviate theseed grower?similar advocacyconcerns of some producers. Everyone has seen those 20-year role with theyield gains in canola, corn and Canada OrganicWhere do you go from here? soybeans. I sell soybeans that come Trade Association.Were at the beginning of our jour- with a Technology Use Agreement ney. We have to define what thethat farmers happily sign. Farmers structure looks like and what suc- pay into the system to bring those cess looks like. We wanted this to beadvancements to the market. Yet a collaborative and wanted membersgood wheat variety comes along and to have input into the terms of refer- then farmers keep it and plant it. ence. We have to determine how thisIts hard as a seed grower to take a pilot will feed into discussion at thebusiness plan to the bank to invest in national level.new seed cleaning equipment when you dont know how much seed What do you need from industry atyou can sell. Right now, good cereal large? varieties can stay on a farm for years When it comes to our farmer audi- without contributing to the system to ence, I need engagement. If youreadvance it.in the seed industry, I need your advocacy and expertise. You knowAs a seed grower how do you see the that status quo is not an option. YouVUA working? know what investment means forIn the long run its going to be an your business and the value chain asadvantage for the seed grower to a whole. Those in the seed industryworks with farmers to advance the know weve been talking about valueVUA. I think farmers may realize its creation for years, but there is still anot so cheap after all to use farm-segment of the producer populationsaved seed when you factor in seed asking why we are doing this. Wecleaning and the fact that youre need to educate. not paying into the system to fund the development of better varieties, which affects you in the long run.SEPTEMBER 2020 GERMINATION.CA 29'