b"THE SUCCESS OF THE SYSTEMS EXAMINED IN THE STUDY HINGED ON CONSENSUS BUILDING THAT INCLUDED ALL STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES.John GroenewegenWhile the study provided positive insights into the seed regu- and benefits. For instance, the Netherlands stood out with an latory environment, it also revealed the need for enhancementsindustry-led system, where industry bodies pioneered seed certi-to make it more competitive globally, Senft said. fication to facilitate exports. Over time, government stepped in Upon reviewing the report, we found it to be quite informa- to provide regulatory oversight, creating a flexible and responsive tive in terms of providing an overview of the current situation inframework.the five countries that were examined. One point that stands outIn contrast, New Zealand showcased a collaborative model to me is that conducting this environmental scan or benchmark- with the New Zealand Seed Authority acting as the coordinat-ing study right from the beginning of the SRM journey woulding body. The United Kingdom, influenced by EU require-have been advantageous, he said.ments, exhibited a similar approach, with the National Institute As we approach the conclusion of the SRM process in 2025,for Agricultural Botany playing a central role in coordinating theres a lingering question about how the findings will be uti- industry-wide decisions.lized by CFIA. Despite this timing concern, I want to emphasize that the study has offered valuable insights. Weve learned someImplications for Canada's Seed Industryencouraging things from it. The insights garnered from these global seed systems pro-The study serves as a benchmark to gauge Canadas positionvide valuable lessons for Canadas evolving seed landscape, as a seed development environment, he added. However, SenftGroenewegen said. said its noteworthy that Canada ranked fourth out of the fourThere are ongoing discussions within the SRM process countries that were identified by the World Bank in terms of anabout how standards are set for seed. Seeds Canada is actively environment conducive to seed development.promoting its independent standard-setting body (ISSB) idea, So, even though we often tout our seed regulatory environ- while the Canadian Seed Growers Association is advocating for ment as being unparalleled globally, the reality is somewhatits multi-stakeholder advisory committee concept. different, he said. The success of the systems examined in the study hinged The study was conducted by JRG Consultings Johnon consensus building that included all stakeholder perspec-Groenewegen on behalf of the Seed Regulatory Modernizationtives, ensuring that decisions were in the best interest of the working group of the CFIA, aiming to gauge the performanceentire industry, he said.of seed systems across various countries. The goal was to gatherAddressing the question of whether seed certification is a comprehensive understanding of the landscape and create anecessary for Canada, the studys findings offer a nuanced view. foundation for informed discussions within the SRM workingWhile export-driven industries necessitate seed certification to groups, Groenewegen said in an interview. meet importing countries requirements, domestic sales could He examined five global seed systems, in addition to Canada:potentially be governed by quality assurance systems tailored to the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (Englandthe needs of Canadian farmers, Groenewegen added. and Wales), the United States and Uruguay. These nations were selected to provide a diverse snapshot of different approaches to seed system coordination and governance.The study aimed to establish a foundation of information that could guide conversations and decisions within the seed regulatory modernization working group. By analyzing various systems strengths and challenges, this study sought to identify potential areas of improvement and innovation in the Canadian context, Groenewegen said.One key observation from the study was the prominent role that seed value chains played in coordinating seed systems in the countries under review. These seed systems demonstrated an effective balance between industry-led initiatives and government oversight, Groenewegen said. The coordination of seed systems was facili-tated by consensus-seeking bodies that included representatives from all segments of the seed value chain, he added.The examined countries offered a spectrum of approaches toThe Seeds Canada meeting in St. Johns included the first Innovation Showcase seed system coordination, each with its unique characteristicspanel! Listen to the full discussion at germination.ca/innovation-showcase-podcast30GERMINATION.CASEPTEMBER 2023"