b'SEEDS CANADA / SEEDS-CANADA.CA / EDUCATION IS VITAL AS PART OF THE IP DISCUSSIONCANADAS IP PROTECTION FRAMEWORKWILL BE WORLD-CLASSIVE BEEN PLAYING the role of intellectualbuying pedigreed seed or paying a royalty property specialist for a long time, as youon farm-saved seed. We are doing the likely knowfirst as executive directorlatter through the Variety Use Agreement for the Canadian Plant Technology Agency,(VUA), which has only begun but will and now in my new capacity as director ofplay an important role in the future of our policy for Seeds Canada.industry. If you think that somebody is Our focus at Seeds Canada is ona top-notch breeder, you buy pedigreed encouraging our members and their staffseed or pay a variety use fee (VUA) and Lorne Hadley,to understand the rights they have and tothat breeder gets the money to create new Director ofunderstand the importance of educatinginnovations. Policy their producers and retailers on why intel-lectual property protection is vital.Earlier this year, two of our membersAlliance Seed and SeCanannounced the settlement of a joint Plant Breeders Rights case between Alliance Seed, SeCan and one other seed distributor versusITS AN IMPORTANT TIME FOR US TO SET THE a large farming operation in southern Alberta. The settlement relates to unau- FRAMEWORK FOR WHAT I BELIEVE WILL BECOME thorized advertisements and sales of PBR-protected barley and wheat varieties. AN IP SYSTEM THAT WILL BE WORLD-CLASS.The parties agreed to a cash settlement of $737,597 compensation for royalties, legal and investigative costs, and a declara-tion there will be no additional unauthor-ized sales. The settlement is the largest on a PBR case to-date.Of course, a big part of our mandate isThe VUA currently has 250 producers identifying those who are not living up totaking part, and over 110 retailers as well. their end of the IP bargain: making sureEight varieties are now included in the plant breeders are fairly compensated forVUA, with two new fall seeded varieties their innovations.coming soon.The other part of our mandate as SeedsWith Seeds Canada, we have a strong Canada is education. While we need tonew organization with unprecedented ensure there are adequate penalties inreach and resources that well use to talk place for those who violate intellectualabout intellectual property and get it fully property law, those same people (andintegrated into the regulatory system. others who are unaware of the IP frame- Regulatory modernization is important for work) must be brought on side so theyachieving this. Its an important time for can understand the need for IP protection. us to set the framework for what I believe The primary direct return a producerwill become an IP system that will be can give to a breeding program is throughworld-class. 38GERMINATION.CAJULY 2021'