b'CSGA GOES GLOBAL AT ITS ANNUAL MEETING IN ST. JOHNSThe Canadian Seed Growers Association is helping improve seed certification frameworks and systems worldwide.Marc ZienkiewiczSEED CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS play a crucial role in the global seed trade.A SNAPSHOT OF AOSCAS Canada is front-and-centre in effortsMEMBERSHIP:to ensure these systems functionCanadaefficiently and effectively.Sarah Wilbanks and Csaba Gaspar, two people at the fore-front of this sphere, sat down with Germination at the annual meet-ing of the Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA) in St. Johns,Sarah Wilbanks of AOSCA and Csaba Gaspar of the OECD Seed Schemes Nfld., to chat about the contribu- addressed the crowd at this years CSGASouth Africation Canadaand CSGA staffisannual meeting in St. Johns, Nfld. 45 U.S.Brazil Australiamaking towards improving andAgencies Argentina New Zealandmodernizing seed certification.Within AOSCA, we have 45worldwide. These seeds are produced U.S. agencies and seven participat- and officially controlled according to ing countries with partners therein,a set of harmonized procedures put and CSGA is one of those crucialin place in OECDs 61 participating partners. [Executive Director Dougcountries. WHAT ARE THE OECD SEED Miller] serves on our board asWe worked very closely withSCHEMES?vice-president. They also serve inCSGA on the digitalization of the an advisory capacity. Serving onOECD system based in France. WeThe OECD Schemes for the Varietal Certification our board, Doug is able to be anasked Doug to help us prepare aof Seed, established in 1958, promotes the use of active part in some of the standards- feasibility study, and now Doug is acertified agricultural seed that is of consistently high setting processes we go through,great consultant as we move aheadquality. These seeds are producedand officially said Wilbanks, who serves as CEOwith the digitalization process,controlledaccording to a set of harmonised for the Association of Official SeedGaspar said, noting that CSGAprocedures put in place in the 61 participating Certifying Agencies, based in themanaging director of policy andcountries.United States. standards Mike Scheffel has also Having a key person like Dougplayed an important role in theThe Schemes provide varietaland his forward-thinking approachprocess. certification for:has brought so much vigour toCSGA is very involved in the Grasses and Legumesour board. Were at a pivotal pointseed industry. They can help OECD Crucifers and other oil or fibre speciesat AOSCA, and I think havingto advance issues like standards set-Cerealssomeone with his tenacity and lovetinghemp being a good example. Maizefor technology is something wereCanada is moving forward with Sorghumfortunate to have. We look forwardnational hemp standards, and CSGA Sugar and fodder beetto continue utilizing his knowledgeprovides information on how that Subterranean clover and similar speciesto forward the work were doing incan be advanced internationally. Vegetablesour organization.Gaspar is the program manager for the OECD Seed Schemes, which promotes the use of Certified seed 8GERMINATION.CASEPTEMBER 2023'