b'Putting Canada on the MapFor Ellen Sparry and Seeds Canada, whats happening around the board table now will help create future success in the seed world.Marc ZienkiewiczWHEN ELLEN SPARRYthinks backlittle longer without having everybody to January of 2021, she remembers antogether under one umbrella (the CSGA industry landscape that was much differ- opted not to amalgamate to become part ent than it is now. At the time, the seedof Seeds Canada), but she was confident sector in Canada was comprised of fiveSeeds Canada and its members had the industry associations, with Sparry herselfresolve to move ahead.serving as president of the CanadianA year later, her prediction has come Seed Trade Association (CSTA). true.Fast-forward to today, and thatThe Seeds Canada board structure number has gone from five to two, andis very forward thinking. Having people Sparry finds herself president of Seedsinvolved in all areas of the seed sector Canada, which marked its one-year anni- from a developer, distributor, retailer, versary earlier this year. seed testing aspect has really brought It was on Feb. 1, 2021, that Seedsincreased strength and depth to our dis-Canada formed as a result of the amal- cussions at the board table, she says. gamation of the CSTA, Canadian SeedFor Barry Senft, executive director of Institute, Canada Plant TechnologySeeds Canada, having the entire value Agency and Commercial Seed Analystschain and stakeholders as members of Association of Canada. Seeds Canada is key to Seeds Canada The last number of months have beenbeing what he calls the go-to voice of unique because of the ongoing pandemicCanadas seed sector.and not getting together face-to- Everyone along the value chain, face in one room, but I think thatwhether its the analysts, the auditors, the benefit of bringing those fourseed growers, the seed developers big associations together and having alland small, theyre all around the table those different voices in the roomnow. Thats a great starting point to work has been apparent even on a virtualfrom. We held our very successful Seed level, says Sparry, who also servesSummit 2022, which I think showed what as general manager of Ontariosan appetite for change there is in this C&M Seeds. country, Senft says.Leading a 15-person board isntThe summit brought together the seed easy, but Sparry has risen to theand agricultural communities to explore challenge. After the Canadian Seedthe future of the Canadian seed system Growers Association (CSGA) votedand discuss solutions and opportunities not to join Seeds Canada back into best meet the needs of producers and late 2020, she acknowledged thatend users.getting things done might take aThe discussions complemented the Ellen Sparry82/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2022'